Cockroach is one of the most common household pests. This insect relatively prefers warm environment and feeds on human food. Since this pest is known to carry various kinds of diseases, this is considered to be the most unwelcome visitor to people’s home.
These are few methods to solve the cockroach problem:
- Keep all foods sealed since cockroaches stay in an environment where there is a constant supply of food.
- Maintain a clean environment especially the kitchen.
- Seal entry points such as cupboard cabinets, doors, baseboards, pipes, windows, etc.
- Home owners can use gels which contain fipronil or hydramethylnon. These can be drop in pathways where cockroaches are often seen.
- Boric acid powder is known as a highly-toxic agent for cockroaches. This chemical works by damaging the pest’s shell covering. When a cockroach has touched this chemical, its cuticle will eventually dry out and the pest will die sooner. This chemical can also be mixed with flour to make it more appealing to the pests. (This method is not advisable in highly-humid environments since it will take a longer time for cockroaches to be dehydrated.
- Pandan, which is an endemic plant found in Southeast Asia, is used as a cockroach repellent.
- Insect sprays, one of the most common ways to kill cockroaches, usually contain these chemicals: cypermethrin, permethrin, and imiprothrin. The use of sprays has long been considered as harmful to the environment and to people’s health. Another drawback of using insect sprays is that cockroaches which had survived the chemicals are known to develop stronger immunity from this, and in effect, its offspring will also be immune with the spray’s chemicals.
- Live traps can also be effective in killing cockroaches. Its usual structure is a basin which consists of steep sides. At the bottom of its container, there is a bait or food which can attract cockroaches, when these fall from the traps, it would not be able to climb back; people can then flush the trap cockroaches from the toilet. People can also make their home-made live traps. Use a bowl which has steep sides and cover its inner side with a petroleum jelly to prevent the cockroaches from climbing back. To attract these pests, place a mound of food near the top of the basin.
- People can also use the insect growth regulators (IGRs). This chemical works by sterilizing cockroaches which prevents it from producing eggs. This method is only complementary to other means of killing cockroaches since this alone will not exterminate these.
- Another way to effectively kill cockroaches is a method called sulfur-burning. Leave a saucepan with sulfur and allow this to burn. Since this practice will produce noxious gas, people should leave their homes when doing this method or until there is no longer the presence of gas.
- When there is a very large population of cockroaches, it is better to seek a professional help in order to effectively kill these pests.
