You know all those smells we love — peppermint, bay leaves, tea tree oil? Well, roaches hate those scents, along with mothballs and citronella. They love the smell of vanilla though, because vanilla means food.
On the other hand, the commercial flavor extracts of vanilla and chocolate attracted cockroaches of both strains more than any of the single compounds (Figure 3A, Table S2). Over 80% of the insects responded in the olfactometers at all tested concentrations.
The smell of a vanilla extract seems to be very effective in repelling different types of pests as well. While we use it to give more taste and life to the food that we eat, the effect seems to be very different for pests.
Does vanilla repel bugs in the garden? Yes, pure vanilla extract can repel bugs, especially mosquitoes. However, imitation vanilla can attract insects due to its sugary aroma. Coconut oil mixed with Rosemary oil or lavender oil can also be used as a natural mosquito repellent.
Peppermint oil, cedarwood oil, and cypress oil are essential oils that effectively keep cockroaches at bay. Additionally, these insects hate the smell of crushed bay leaves and steer clear of coffee grounds. If you want to try a natural way to kill them, combine powdered sugar and boric acid.
While vanilla extract can serve as a temporary and natural alternative for repelling mosquitoes, its effectiveness is limited. For long-lasting protection, consider using EPA-registered repellents.
Insects and Arachnids
Strangely enough, one of the most prevalent kind of predator that cockroaches face are fellow insects! The emerald cockroach wasp, Ampulex compressa, for example, has an unusual way of preying upon cockroaches. The wasp stings the cockroach's brain, which paralyzes the cockroach.
Cockroaches are most attracted to the smell of garbage and rotting food–one of the biggest reasons they enter homes is in search of food sources. Because of this, it is important to regularly clean your kitchen and remove your trash before it gets too full.
Leaving the light on doesn't deter cockroaches effectively because they can navigate in low-light conditions. While they're mostly active at night, they may still come out in search of food or water. During the day, cockroaches hide in dark areas not directly exposed to light.
Cockroaches are blessed with an amazing sense of smell. This is what they use when seeking food and mate but at the same time, this is also their weakness. A cockroach's sense of smell can be used to get rid of them.
There's a long-running joke that cockroaches could survive the apocalypse, as getting rid of unwanted roaches is difficult if you have an infestation. But if you want to kill them on contact, all you need to do is reach for your handy bottle of Pine-Sol! Considered a "contact insecticide," it kills them quickly.
The strong odor of vanilla extract around the house will repel insects, but it will be pleasing to humans.
Ultrasonic Cockroach Repellents
There are electronic devices that emit high-frequency sound waves that act as cockroach repellents. These devices emit sound in the 22-65 Khz range which is inaudible to humans but can be detected by certain pests, including cockroaches.
For homemade cockroach control, you can make a simple bait using boric acid, sugar, and water. Mix equal parts of boric acid and sugar, then add a bit of water to form a paste. Place this mixture in small containers or on pieces of cardboard and put them in areas where you have seen roaches.
Cockroaches are repelled by the smells of peppermint, eucalyptus, lavender, citronella, and cedarwood oils. These scents can be used as natural deterrents to keep them away from your home.
Roach nest, unlike birds' nests, isn't a physical structure but rather a hidden congregation point for roaches, typically in dark, moist areas close to food and water sources. To find a roach nest, look for signs like droppings that look like coffee grounds, oval-shaped egg casings, and increased night-time activity.
Cockroaches are attracted to clothes primarily because they offer warmth, shelter, and potential food sources such as sweat, body oils, and food residues. Dirty or soiled clothes are especially appealing to cockroaches.
Squashing cockroaches can spread these pathogens onto surfaces, increasing the risk of disease transmission to humans. For example, if you squash a cockroach, now the sole of your shoe is contaminated. Wherever you walk next may also become contaminated.
Attractor #1: Food
What attracts cockroaches more than anything is food. Roaches need food to survive. Eliminating access to food can help eliminate a roach problem. Throw away any food that has been left out on the counter.
The best roach killer, based on our research, is the advion 383920 Cockroach Gel Bait; a commercial-grade roach killer set that is easy to use and lasts months after application. It can kill all sorts of cockroaches, including the American and German variety, and it's even safe to use if you have pets or kids.
Vanilla extract is a staple ingredient in baking, but some bugs hate its smell. Pure vanilla extract is said to repel mosquitoes. However, if the extract contains sugar, it will have the opposite effect. Many bugs are attracted to sugar and its sticky residue.
All flavours that were tested on house mice had a positive effect on bait uptake, and the mice took up more flavoured than untreated food (hazelnut 57.7%, chocolate 61.2%, peanut 62%, and vanilla 73.1% of total food uptake).
Try a combined tablespoon of citrus juice and zest or a pinch of salt to cut the floral sweetness of vanilla while deepening the flavor of the dish.