Humanity must admit: there will always be cockroaches! The 21st century is no exception. Even nanotechnology has not been able to rid us of unwanted insects completely.
But this does not mean that you need to resign yourself and “surrender” your homes to them. The fight against uninvited guests can be waged, and victory over them is quite possible!
The convincing thing about this is that not all housewives today are puzzled by solving this problem. Many have been able to cope with cockroaches and keep their homes inaccessible to them.
The arsenal of serious insect control is diverse. But not everyone knows that smell can be an effective remedy in this confrontation.
How do cockroaches smell?
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It is not known for certain whether cockroaches hear us, whether they have hearing. But the fact that they have a sense of smell, and it is extremely developed, is a fact.
On the body of insects there are long antennae, as well as special appendages - cerci, with the help of which they can recognize various odors. At the same time, cockroaches react differently to them.
To some they remain indifferent, others irritate or are generally poorly tolerated by them. This perception allows the smell to be used in the fight against insects.
Signs of cockroaches
It is almost impossible to detect cockroaches in your own apartment when their numbers are small. They hide very well, hiding under wallpaper, behind cabinets, under baseboards and in other places that are difficult for humans to reach. During the day, these insects sleep, and at night they go out to fish in search of food and water. If you see a cockroach walking on the table or floor, then this is clear evidence that there are many of these parasites. In this case, it will be more difficult to fight them than to destroy a small colony of insects. You can suspect the presence of pests based on the following signs:
- Small whitish or yellowish cockroach eggs are found in the corners of the floor. Their dimensions do not exceed one millimeter in length;
- an unpleasant musty odor appears in the room, reminiscent of mold;
- small black dots remain on clothes, dishes, wallpaper, furniture - these are cockroach excrement;
- Small brownish and black scales are found on the floor and furniture - these are the scales of cockroaches, which they shed during the molting period.
If you tear the corner of the wallpaper where there are the most black dots, you can find a whole colony of insects
Does the smell kill or repel?
Most unpleasant odors repel insects, causing them to leave the room and not return there. This allows you to use a variety of odors, both to expel cockroaches and as a preventive measure.
The industry has also used odors to control pests by combining unpleasant odors with chemicals that can kill them.
Let's take a closer look at what odors can be used to get rid of cockroaches.
Mistakes that are important to avoid
Avoid mistakes that could jeopardize your success in preventing cockroaches.
- Do not throw dead cockroaches in the trash, because if the females carry ootheca eggs, they will hatch and the infestation will be present again. In addition, dead insects can attract other pests such as flies and ants.
- Always recheck after 7-14 days. Sometimes additional baiting may be necessary to eliminate an infestation.
- Do not use the same insecticide on the same treated area.
- Don't treat all cockroach species the same: German and Oriental cockroaches, for example, have very different feeding and reproductive habits. Therefore, the removal methods will differ.
Herbal aroma
An affordable remedy that cockroaches cannot tolerate can be ordinary grass collected in the garden or during a walk in the forest. True, not the first herb you come across will do, but one that has a specific aroma.
Small bunches of herbs can simply be laid out in problem areas (behind the refrigerator, under the sink, under kitchen cabinets, etc.) or hung indoors. You can also fill small cotton bags with them and place them on the shelves of your cabinets.
How to poison cockroaches in an apartment yourself - top 9 proven means.
If you live in Moscow or another large city, you can invite specially trained guys to exterminate insects. They will most likely help you cope with the problem. The room will be treated. The premises will be disinfested and disinfected. They will find where the influx of pests is coming from. They will do everything correctly. But for this you will have to pay a considerable amount of your own money.
Why not try to solve the problem yourself. Moreover, there are plenty of drugs on the market to kill cockroaches.
Cucaracha.
Sold in the form of gel, granules, spray, bait, powder. The line also includes ECO, a boric acid-based option. The choice is large. The product has proven itself on the positive side. Cockroaches die within a week. Some drugs are professional. The price, depending on the type of product, ranges from 35 to 300 rubles.
Agran.
Here prices start from 300 rubles. Professional insectoacaricidal drug. Destroys both larvae and adults. You must follow the instructions and precautions. Poses a danger to people.
Hector.
Gektor is a popular remedy for controlling cockroaches. Contains silicon dioxide and boric acid. With proper treatment, it will quickly deal with household pests. Safe product for both people and pets. The price fluctuates around 500 – 700 rubles per bottle of powder.
Dohlox.
Various types of syringes, gels, traps and powders, boron balls are on sale. The self-explanatory name promises an instant effect. Manufacturers promise an effect in 5-7 days with prolonged protection for one year. Safe for pets.
Get Total.
Destroys eggs, larvae and adult insects. The domestic manufacturer does not promise an immediate effect, but at the same time guarantees protection for six months. Can be used both in a city apartment and in a private house. Has a neutral smell. Safe for children and pets. It's easy to treat the room yourself. The average price of the drug per 100 grams is 1000 rubles.
Clean house.
Available in various forms (glue traps, syringes, gels, powders, spray and others). For quick use, traps are of interest. A kind of option for the lazy. We placed the cockroaches in all the “favorite” places and are waiting for the results. And he doesn’t keep himself waiting. The insects really are disappearing. True, after a couple of months they appear again, as if by magic, if the result is not consolidated with a fresh batch of traps. The cost is about 200 rubles.
Battalion commander
Combat is a universal means for exterminating insects such as fleas, ants, ticks, cockroaches, bedbugs, spiders. The line includes drugs that can work even outdoors. And this is very valuable if you have open verandas, balconies, or canopies adjacent to the house. The average price is 500 rubles (depending on the type and size of the package).
Ecokiller.
It is a natural insecticide.
How to properly treat the kitchen with ecokiller against cockroaches?
To do this, apply the powder into the gap behind the stove and between the work table. Also treat the desktop itself. The drug consists of 100% natural substances. Therefore, you do not have to worry about the safety of your family. Apply the powder near trash containers, inside kitchen cabinets, and other areas where cockroaches are most likely to live. Treat areas behind the refrigerator and baseboards. The convenient spray nozzle allows you to treat hard-to-reach areas without much effort.
If you are looking for how to get rid of cockroaches without chemicals, then this safe remedy was created for this.
Leopard.
Insectoacaricidal spray for dogs Bars will also help cope with hated insects. As in previous cases, you need to thoroughly process all possible places where they appear. And wait for some time. The result does not promise to be immediate. But gradually the population becomes smaller and smaller. And it gradually fades away. This remedy is especially relevant if you have pets living in your apartment. A very good product, but lately there have been a lot of fakes on the market. Hence the mass of negative reviews on the Internet about the effect of this drug.
I hope you have figured out what cockroaches are most afraid of in an apartment and how to get rid of them, once and for all, without having much experience in this matter. If you have any questions, write them in the comments. Share the article with your friends. You have your secrets - share them with your readers.
Herbs that can repel insects
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Sagebrush
Bunches of wormwood retain an odor undesirable for cockroaches even after they dry. In addition to laying out wormwood branches, you can prepare an infusion to wipe the shelves, wall surfaces, stove, sink and sink with it.
When working with wormwood, you will have to be especially careful: the plant has the ability to burn the skin of your hands upon contact. You need to be careful when infusing wormwood: if you add more than 1 tbsp to 1 liter of water. herbs, the solution can become dangerous to humans.
Mint
The specific minty smell, which creates a feeling of freshness, does not please cockroaches. Mint is used both fresh and after drying.
If you don’t stock up on mint, you can buy pharmacy packaging. Bags of mint intended for brewing emit the same unpleasant smell for cockroaches as the decomposed branches of the plant.
Elder
Elderberry of any kind, both white and red, can help equally well in the fight against insects.
Honeysuckle
Extremely beneficial in its effects on the human body, honeysuckle also has the ability to repel cockroaches.
Laurel
A common kitchen spice is a real danger from which cockroaches flee. Bay leaves can be placed in different places in the kitchen, or you can prepare a tincture that is useful for adding to water when cleaning.
Preparing a laurel infusion takes time: at least 72 hours must pass from the moment the leaf is brewed (200 g and 1 liter of boiling water).
Signs of cockroaches
It is almost impossible to detect cockroaches in your own apartment when their numbers are small. They hide very well, hiding under wallpaper, behind cabinets, under baseboards and in other places that are difficult for humans to reach. During the day, these insects sleep, and at night they go out to fish in search of food and water. If you see a cockroach walking on the table or floor, then this is clear evidence that there are many of these parasites. In this case, it will be more difficult to fight them than to destroy a small colony of insects. You can suspect the presence of pests based on the following signs:
- Small whitish or yellowish cockroach eggs are found in the corners of the floor. Their dimensions do not exceed one millimeter in length;
- an unpleasant musty odor appears in the room, reminiscent of mold;
- small black dots remain on clothes, dishes, wallpaper, furniture - these are cockroach excrement;
- Small brownish and black scales are found on the floor and furniture - these are the scales of cockroaches, which they shed during the molting period.
If you tear the corner of the wallpaper where there are the most black dots, you can find a whole colony of insects
Smell of oils
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When cockroaches are discovered, it is not always possible to have fresh or dry grass on hand, the smell of which they cannot tolerate. In this case, it is convenient to use essential oils made from eucalyptus, cedar, anise, and tea tree.
Cockroaches cannot stand these odors. All the natural aromas of plants are contained in them in concentrated form, so the oils are very effective.
They are easy to use: 2-3 drops are applied to a cotton cloth, bandage or gauze, and then laid out indoors. You can also lubricate the surfaces of furniture, walls, doors, and water drains in the bathroom and kitchen with a napkin with oil applied to it.
It is not necessary to use pure oil; it is better to dilute a small amount in water and then dip a napkin into the resulting solution.
There are other options for using oil. You can fill an aroma lamp with it, add it to saucers of water placed around the kitchen, or use it as an air freshener. In this case, a few drops of oil are added to the water, which is poured into the spray bottle. Spraying water and oil will fill the room with a scent that will encourage the insects to leave.
If the required concentration of oil is not exceeded, people will feel a subtle, pleasant aroma that will have a beneficial effect on humans. And insects will be forced to leave their fragrant home. Therefore, it is useful to have different essential oils in your home medicine cabinet.
Pet owners should be careful when using essential oils and prevent animals from accessing them or treated surfaces.
Essential oils against Prussians
There is a certain set of smells that Prussians try to avoid. The easiest way to fill your home with aroma is with essential oils. They are inexpensive, safe for people, have a pleasant aroma and have a good insecticidal effect. Washing the floors with water with the addition of essential oils will have an excellent effect. You can use oils in their pure form, they can mix them with water and use a spray bottle to spray them onto the habitats and movements of the mustachioed enemy:
- on the back surfaces of furniture;
- under carpets;
- in corners and behind baseboards;
- on the wall behind the peeling wallpaper;
- on kitchen cabinets and on shelves inside them;
- in the corners of the bathroom;
- onto the ventilation shaft mesh and into the sewer riser.
The following oils will help get rid of hated insects:
- anise;
- mint;
- cedar;
- eucalyptus;
- tea tree;
- Noble laurel.
An excellent way to spread the aroma of oils throughout the apartment is an aroma lamp. It is a candle stand with a bowl suspended above it. The candle is lit and it heats the bowl containing the essential oil. It must be said that the method is not suitable for those who react too sensitively to odors - oils can cause a headache. The rest can successfully and with pleasure use the fragrant method of expelling the Prussians.
Eucalyptus oil
Eucalyptus oil and eucalyptus leaves are effective in repelling cockroaches. Add 10 drops of eucalyptus oil per hundred grams of water. Spray the mixture in and around the infected area. Your home will be free of cockroaches very soon.
Anise oil and anise herb
Anise herb is a wonderful plant that was popular among the ancient Greeks and Egyptians. It has many health benefits, for example, anise oil helps in the fight against excess weight. But in our case, it is important that anise oil repels cockroaches.
Tea tree
Tea tree oil is very effective against cockroaches. Mix a quarter cup of tea tree oil and a quarter cup of vinegar with two cups of water. Spray the mixture in and around the infected areas.
Clove oil
Clove oil works best against cockroaches when combined with other essential oils, such as citrus oil or peppermint extract. Mix a few drops of these oils with one liter of water and spray the mixture in and around the infected areas.
Strong chemical odors
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Not only natural but also some chemical odors repel cockroaches. Insects cannot stand it if the rooms smell of ammonia or boric alcohol, kerosene or turpentine. However, these pungent odors in high concentrations are harmful and poorly tolerated by people, and therefore require extreme caution when used.
Of the listed substances, ammonia (ammonia) or chlorine is most often used, which are mixed with water used for cleaning premises. You can simply pour ammonia into a saucer and leave it in a secluded place. Alcohol fumes will be harmful to cockroaches.
Boric acid, which has the ability to kill insects, is added to special food baits.
Unpleasant odors for insects will appear after cleaning if you use water diluted with drugs such as gasoline, kerosene, mothballs or vinegar.
And if the room is being renovated, even the smell of oil paint, wallpaper paste or synthetic detergents used during cleaning can help get rid of cockroaches.
In addition to household products, you can use chemicals specially designed to combat cockroaches. Their action is based on the effect of toxic insecticidal vapors on animals.
Moreover, the composition of the drugs is designed in such a way that a person does not feel an unpleasant odor, as happens when using ammonia or gasoline.
Natural enemies of cockroaches
Cockroaches have many enemies, ranging from predatory insects to large primates. The most exotic hunter of these pests is the emerald wasp. She hunts cockroaches and, having found an insect, injects poison into it with a sting, which has a neurotoxic effect. After being bitten, the cockroach loses control of itself and loses the ability to move. The wasp takes the prey to its burrow, where it is eaten by the larvae. In addition to wasps, a large number of animals feed on cockroaches:
- arachnids;
- monkey;
- hedgehogs;
- shrews;
- birds;
- rodents;
- other insects.
At the beginning of the last century in Russia, to combat cockroaches in winter, people caught small birds and put them in cages. They were released to fly around the home, during which the birds hunted, pulling cockroaches out of cracks in the floor and walls.
Fear of rats
Cockroaches have an extremely negative attitude towards the presence of rats nearby; they cannot even tolerate the smell of these rodents. The Prussians do not like such competition, since they may not have enough food. They will be forced to leave the apartment and search for another place suitable for their residence.
Of course, wild rats released into an apartment is not the best solution. Buy a decorative rat from a pet store and release it into the kitchen area for a couple or three days. The result will certainly please you!
Garlic
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In almost every kitchen there is garlic, which also affects insects, encouraging them to leave the premises.
In order for the air to be saturated with garlic aroma, which cockroaches cannot stand, you need to peel a few cloves and place them in the room. These teeth smell for 3 days; if necessary, they can be replaced with new ones.
Fresh cucumber
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The news that cockroaches cannot bear the smell of cucumbers comes as a surprise to many! But not an ordinary smell, but the one that results from its interaction with aluminum.
To do this, you need to cut the cucumber and create conditions for its oxidation, making it possible to combine with aluminum (for example, put it on the lid of a tin can).
Oxidation will be accompanied by the appearance of an odor that is not perceptible to humans. For a cockroach, this smell will be unbearable.
Boric acid
What are cockroaches afraid of, besides the above? They don't like boric acid either. Once inside an insect, this substance paralyzes the nerves and muscles, resulting in the death of the animal. Usually this poison is mixed with some goodies.
The use of this substance has its pros and cons. Advantages of boric acid:
Safety for children and pets. No toxic aroma. The pests die rather than escape.
Disadvantages of the substance:
The acid has a contact effect. That is, the cockroach dies only when it comes into contact with poison, which is not always convenient. The parasite can survive if it drinks water after drinking acid. Therefore, when baiting Prussians, you need to block access to the liquid.
Smell of flowers
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Plants that usually attract attention with their blooms can become a tool to rid your home of unwanted insects. Such plants include:
pharmaceutical camomile
Chamomile has proven itself well as a medicine. The plant is also effective for expelling cockroaches. For this purpose, not the whole plant is used, but only its flowers. They are dried, crushed, and then laid out in different places in the room.
Tansy
Freshly picked and also dried tansy is used - a plant whose smell causes cockroaches to flee, its smell is so undesirable. In order for the use of tansy to give the best results, it must be prepared in the summer, when flowers appear on the plant.
It is at the moment of flowering that tansy is most fragrant. The collected flowers are used to prepare an infusion (for 1 liter of cold water - 1 tablespoon of flowers), with which the room is sprayed.
Bright light
Anyone who is familiar with the problem of cockroaches in the house first-hand could have observed the following picture: going into the kitchen at night and turning on the light there, you can see hordes of Prussians scattering in all directions in search of shelter.
In fact, they are frightened not so much by the light itself as by the approaching danger.
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Barbels treat humans as their sworn enemy and, of course, do not feel love for them.
Cockroaches lead an active night life; before turning on the lights, sensitive insects feel the vibration of the floor from the steps of an approaching person and take off running as fast as they can.
As an experiment, you can turn on the light and leave it on for several days. As a result, you can notice that insects get used to the light, stop being afraid of it and come out of their hiding places.
What smells attract cockroaches?
Food scents can be used if cockroach traps are placed in the room. It is not always easy to find the most optimal place to attract insects en masse. This is where the smell that lures cockroaches can help.
Insects, of course, react to particles of any food, but there are products that are most effective for these purposes.
What to put in a trap to attract cockroaches? To do this, you can use a piece of onion, banana peel (which has just been separated from the fruit), an overripe pear, an apple, or another fruit that emits a sweetish aroma.
You can put some bread in the trap; its smell also attracts cockroaches. Using these products and duct tape, it's easy to make a homemade trap. You just need to lay out the tape cut into pieces with the adhesive surface facing up, and put a little bait in the middle of the tape.
Are cockroaches dangerous for people?
Cockroaches are of little danger to people.
Is it true? Common known fears are associated not so much with their unpleasant appearance, but with the fear of contracting some disease from them. Many people with a good imagination see how these insects climb through sewers and trash cans, and then crawl onto the table, into bread bins, into cabinets with food and dishes. After all, they probably pick up tons of bacteria with their paws in the sewer, and then bring them into the house. In fact, this is nothing more than speculation. Although theoretically this is possible. Because individuals living in a private house or apartment, as a rule, rarely leave the confines of the room where they currently live. This is confirmed by numerous studies. If pathogenic bacteria get onto the product, it will be in very minimal quantities. Until now, there is not a single known case of people becoming infected with an infection brought into the house by cockroaches. Cockroaches are very dangerous due to their allergens. Their chitinous cover contains several dangerous allergen proteins. It is to this shell that people with allergies react. It is believed that a certain part of rhinitis in children is associated precisely with the shed chitinous covers of cockroaches. Or with particles of dead insects. Which, when destroyed, fall into the dust, and then, along with the dust, are inhaled by humans. As a result, an allergic rhinitis develops. If the cause of this runny nose is not identified in time, then such rhinitis can become chronic. Give complications and provoke bronchial asthma.
A shocking fact is the processing of cocoa beans in tropical countries. Or rather their processing. Apparently they don't worry much about sanitary standards there. This is how, when making chocolate, particles of cockroaches end up in the finished product. The consumption of which provokes a food allergic reaction in people. Which manifests itself in the form of various skin diseases, urticaria, dermatitis and other diseases.
Moreover, scientists say that most allergic reactions to chocolate are most likely a reaction to insect particles that got into the finished product during the processing of cocoa beans. According to the sanitary rules of these countries, 100 gr. chocolate products are allowed to contain up to 60% microspores, particles of cockroach bodies visible to the naked eye. Unfortunately, all this is not considered some kind of gross violation. And it is allowed for sale. Moreover, such unexpected gifts are contained in both cheap and expensive chocolate. Since they are made from the same raw materials.
By coincidence, it may turn out that cheap tiles may contain much less of such particles.
Cockroach larvae are actually the most dangerous part of the entire cockroach population in an apartment. They are the ones who bring the largest amount of various contaminants into your home from entrances, garbage chutes, sewers and other not very clean places.
It is the larvae of domestic cockroaches that are the source of the most powerful allergens.
Perhaps because of them, someone in your family has to constantly put drops in their nose. It is because of them that allergic chronic rhinitis develops. Young children are especially sensitive to these allergens.
Is it possible to use odors to get rid of cockroaches?
Among all the aromas that cockroaches smell, there are odors that repel them. They are usually quite sharp and distinct. Now you know which odors insects cannot stand in the vicinity.
The correct selection of natural or chemical products that emit unpleasant odors for cockroaches will help get rid of uninvited guests and protect your home from their appearance.
At the same time, you need to keep in mind: having received odor poisoning, cockroaches try to weaken its negative impact with the help of water. Open access to it can ruin all your work.
Are cockroaches afraid of ultrasound?
High-frequency radiation that is not perceived by human hearing is very unpleasant for cockroaches. They cannot kill these insects, but they will force them to look for more comfortable living conditions. It is on the basis of this feature that all kinds of ultrasonic repellers that are offered on the market today are designed. Their developers promise that unwanted guests will leave your home within a few days or a few weeks.
But you shouldn’t be deluded by such promises if you live in a multi-apartment high-rise building. After living with neighbors, they will certainly return as soon as you stop turning on the device that drove them out.
conclusions
If you notice a cockroach in your apartment or office, do not despair! You can get rid of insects, including using odors.
However, the maximum effect can only be achieved by maintaining cleanliness, timely removal of debris, and regular wet cleaning using ammonia.
But if you need to sanitize a neglected room in which massive colonies of cockroaches live, you need to act comprehensively.
Smells alone cannot achieve complete destruction of insects: odors do not affect insect eggs.
In this case, you need to use special chemicals, and to consolidate the effect when cleaning, regularly add aromatic agents to the water.
Herbal preparations with a strong odor will help in the future as a prophylactic agent. This will make your home a cockroach-free area.
Ultrasound and electromagnetic rays
An ultrasonic repeller uses high-frequency sound to send cockroaches into a state of panic. Human hearing does not perceive such an impact, and pests cannot tolerate sound vibrations and leave the home.
There is an opinion that the reduction of pest colonies in modern cities is associated with the widespread appearance in human homes of microwave ovens, the principle of operation of which is based on electromagnetic influence.
The most popular models of repellers with ultrasonic and electromagnetic action:
- Typhoon. According to the manufacturers, it will rid your apartment of cockroaches in 4 weeks of work. It is expensive - from 1500 rubles, but gives quick results.
- Rexant. Compact and easy to use, safe for humans. Average price – 600 rubles.
- EcoSniper. A universal device for repelling most household pests, including ants, mice, bedbugs. Cost – from 1000 rubles.
- Tornado OTAR-1. Easy to use, but only needs to be installed in an open space - even a light fabric curtain becomes an obstacle to its operation. Costs 900–1000 rubles.
- Riddex. Covers an area of 200 m2 with electromagnetic action. The most affordable - from 200 rubles.
- Pest Reject. Magnetic resonance device, advertised, but inferior to competitors in performance characteristics. Costs from 300 rubles.
