These pests are so resilient, it's been said that they'll be the sole survivors of a nuclear war. Needless to say, they're not easy to get rid of, even if you correct the conditions that attracted them in the first place. Here's why it's nearly impossible for a cockroach infestation to go away on its own.
Most species can't survive when the temperature drops below 15° F. When winter approaches, most cockroaches will move indoors to stay warm. However, the cold weather affects cockroaches' ability to reproduce and develop. Many cockroaches enter a state of hibernation called diapause.
If you're battling an infestation, you may wonder why cockroaches even exist. They appear to serve no real purpose. Cockroaches recycle decay and waste while promoting the nitrogen cycle. They're a food source for predators and assist the ecosystem in inhospitable places.
Cockroaches have an incredible sense of smell that they use to find food. You can take advantage of this fact by using scents they dislike such as thyme, citrus, basil, mint, and citronella to repel them from your home.
The myth that killing a cockroach will spread its eggs isn't true, but killing a cockroach with force can attract more. But that can be used to your advantage if it brings bugs out of hiding to be eliminated.
Roaches come into your home in search of three things: food, shelter, and water. They have also developed the ability to use even the smallest of openings as an entryway into your house. They can come in through cracks in the exterior walls, dryer vents, or even the gaps between walls and floors.
Fogging systems are great at killing roaches on contact, but foggers can actually push the majority of them further into their safer hiding places. Fogging or bombing roaches creates a long-term problem for you and your loved ones that will not go away.
Exterminators use wet-and-dry vacuums to suck up dirt, small debris and any cockroaches hiding in these areas. Then, they seal holes and openings with mesh or caulk to keep bugs out. Finally, an exterminator will look at storage areas and bedrooms, exploring every crack and crevice.
In general, most insects prefer the warmer months and are most active in the spring, summer and early fall. So, it can come as a real surprise to come down into your kitchen during the dead of winter, turn on the lights, and see cockroaches scurrying around on the floor.
The most common places for a roach nest in the house are in kitchens or bathrooms, particularly behind refrigerators, in cracks and crevices, and under furniture. Roaches prefer a warm, humid environment, so these places should be considered first, especially if they are close to a food source and water supply.
At night, cockroaches crawl on humans. They are inclined to seek warm, humid environments. Also, they are fond of the soft tissues of the human body. Thus, if there is a chance for the cockroach to crawl on you, they will most likely do so.
Roaches cannot come back to life but can play dead convincingly. If exposed to deadly circumstances, roaches may go into shock and remain immobile until they can move again. If you think you've killed a cockroach, but it begins to move a short time after, it was never really dead in the first place.
Why Do Flying Cockroaches Fly Toward You? If you think flying cockroaches are flying right toward you, they actually aren't. Most cockroach species aren't good "flyers," and what you take as them flying toward you is actually just them being startled and gliding uncontrollably in a certain direction.
When you are squishing a roach to death, always do it by wearing a shoe. Please don't do it barefoot. The mucus that comes out of the roaches belly when squished can cause skin problems on your foot.
Seeing roach feces or droppings.
Seeing an unusual number of droppings in a specific area will also help you track where the roach shelters are. Best to cut off any water or food source near this location so prevent further infestation.
Baby roaches – in kitchens or bathrooms – are usually an indication of a German cockroach infestation. These roaches are commonly found in kitchen and bathroom areas because they offer a warm, humid environment with plenty of moisture and access to food.
Can Cockroaches Live in Walls? Cockroaches are likely to live inside the walls of your house if the area offers them darkness and humidity. Likewise, cockroaches normally reside near their main sources of food. So, they'll always seek out cracks, crevices, and other structural flaws throughout your home.
There is no significant difference between roaches and cockroaches. Both refer to a scavenging insect that resembles a beetle, having long antennae and legs and typically a broad, flattened body. Several tropical kinds of roaches have become established worldwide as household pests.
Since microwaves vibrate water molecules, causing them to heat up, cockroaches can take up a permanent residence in microwave ovens. Cockroaches can be found in the LED time display of your microwave or you may simply see them walking around in the interior of the microwave.
Cockroach lifespan
American cockroaches can live for about one year while German cockroaches are estimated to live for about 100 days. On average, cockroaches can live for a month without food but only a week without water.
Add some food like a small piece of meat or some sweet stuff like chocolate on the roach bait in the bowl. Keep the bowl near one of the hiding places of roaches. To cover all the hiding places, you'll need multiple bowls with sticky roach trap and food. The smell of the food will draw the roaches out.
Boric acid is one of the best home remedies to get rid of roaches naturally. Mix equal amounts of boric acid, flour, and sugar to make a dough. Set balls of dough around the home where cockroaches can feed on it. The flour and sugar will attract the roaches while the boric acid will kill them.