The results of the investigation on what color will repel the greatest number of cockroaches, indicate that red light repels a greater number of roaches than the other five colored lights and the control group of no light. Green light deterred the second most roaches followed by white, yellow, and blue.
Cockroaches are nocturnal and seek to avoid light. However, that's not because light harms them. It's because cockroaches understand that they can't hide or evade predators in open sight. Leaving a night light or lamp on throughout the night won't drive them away.
Nope. Most don't like it one bit. That's why they tend to scatter when you walk in a room and flick that switch. And it's not just artificial light that cockroaches dislike.
Insects generally see 3 colors of light, Ultraviolet (UV), blue and green. Bright white or bluish lights (mercury vapor, white incandescent and white florescent) are the most attractive to insects.
Cockroach Myths
Contrary to popular belief, cockroaches are not afraid of light. Although most species do prefer darkness, some are actually attracted to light and can be found gathering near windows or on television screens at night. Most of these nocturnal insects will scatter when a light is shone upon them.
Do Cockroaches Like the Cold? Generally, cockroaches don't like the cold one bit. They are cold-blooded arthropods that don't survive very well in either extremely cold or hot circumstances. They're always at whatever temperature their environment is and generally slow down with cooler temperatures.
Raid Ant & Roach Killer Insecticide Spray was found to be one of the most effective at killing cockroaches. A can is helpful for the times when you spot a roach in your home and you don't want to get too close. A roach spray should kill the bug almost instantly.
Eyesight Limitations
Cockroaches also cannot see in red light, though they do see quite well in green light. As important as the eyes are, however, it is important to note that cockroaches, unlike most other animals, can live for some time without their heads.
Wavelengths and color temperature:
The color that's emitted from a light source is important because of its ability to attract bugs. As previously stated, shorter wavelengths (UV, blue, and green light) are more visible to bugs than longer wavelengths (yellow, orange, and red light) and, therefore, will attract them.
LED bulbs are less attractive to bugs because they produce low heat and long wavelengths of light. Moreover, they produce little or no ultraviolet radiation. It makes them perfect for outdoor lights for events and around the home.
Roach Repellents
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.
Roaches tend to go out during the night because they are cautious of humans. But, when the night falls, it is also the time for them to bite humans because their targets are asleep. Because of this, it will be harder for you to monitor the pest and might as well wake up with bites on your body.
It's a fact that cockroaches are afraid of humans and other mammals or animals that are bigger than them. They see us as predators and that fear triggers their instinct to scatter away. However, they dislike strong and distinctive scents such as citrus, peppermint, lavender and vinegar.
First of all, cockroaches like to go around during the night, which coincidentally is when people sleep. So by virtue of just lying there motionless, we become likely victims. Cockroaches also like small, warm, humid places. And ears qualify as all of the above.
Cockroaches can be a menace, to say the least. However, nothing is worse than cockroaches disturbing your sleep by crawling all over you or your bed. Just the thought of these creatures scampering and crawling on your bed is enough to make anyone's skin crawl.
The refrigerator houses all of your favorite foods and drinks, but they also house one thing you never want to see in your home — cockroaches! Between the humidity near the fans and motor, and the food crumbs that drop to the floor, your refrigerator is the perfect place to house a cockroach infestation.
Although there are some differences between species, it should come as no surprise our domestic cockroaches are best adapted to temperatures we maintain in our homes. They do not develop or reproduce when temperatures are too cold (below 45° F) or too hot (above 115° F).
Cockroaches do sleep and just like other animals and insects, they also follow a specific circadian rhythm. They are nocturnal insects, which means that they rest or sleep during the day. Cockroaches are usually active for four hours after dark and then go into a period of immobility.
- Cockroaches (Periplaneta) have two types of eyes, the simple and compound eyes. They have three simple eyes known as ocelli on their forehead and two large, sessile, black, kidney-shaped structures located on the dorsolateral sides of the head capsule. - The group of ommatidia together constitutes compound eyes.
Maxillae - basically the teeth of the roach. These are secondary chewing parts that further grind down the food into smaller and smaller pieces so they can be pulled into the digestive areas for nutritional purposes.
Cockroach brains are considered primitive, as are most insect brains. Cockroaches are not capable of the same level of thought and consciousness as humans. Still, they are one of the more intelligent insects as they: Can learn.
Boric acid: Used correctly, boric acid is one of the most effective roach killers. It's odorless, has low toxicity to pets, and since it isn't repellent to roaches, they will not seek to avoid it, crawling through it repeatedly until it kills them.
Cockroaches are famous for loving warm, humid areas, so they will typically be found congregating in certain areas inside homes, such as kitchens and bathrooms. And when temperatures get too hot outside, they will find their way into buildings to escape the heat.