How to Win At Hide and Seek Against Cockroaches
Written by Darren K. Thompson   
Sunday, 06 December 2009 10:43
No one likes cockroaches. They're large, quick-moving, insidious pests that can quickly take over your house. They eat human food and pet food, and carry microbes on their bodies that can be potentially dangerous to people, including tropomyosin, which has been linked with asthma. Finding one may be a sign that you have an infestation somewhere in your house.
by DarrenK.Thompson


No one likes cockroaches. They're large, quick-moving, insidious pests that can quickly take over your house. They eat human food and pet food, and carry microbes on their bodies that can be potentially dangerous to people, including tropomyosin, which has been linked with asthma. Finding one may be a sign that you have an infestation somewhere in your house.

Cockroaches are so difficult to kill that they can go with no air for over thirty minutes and survive with no food for over a month. They are very elusive and difficult to find. Roaches can fit through holes as small as half a millimetre. They have been known to survive nuclear explosions with no damage! The question is, how would you even know if you had these pesky creatures in your home?

Roaches are usually only found out and about at night and the best way to catch them is with light. Cockroaches can be difficult to surprise since they contain a nerve from their head to tail that alerts them that something is behind them and they are in danger.

Catching roaches off guard can be done by walking quietly into a dark room, preferably at night, be sure to walk softly. Switch the light on and be ready to look for these creatures as they scurry about trying to find a dark space. If you want to actively seek out the bugs, the best places to begin are behind pictures, under furniture and sinks, inside cabinets and other cold, dark rooms such as your garage.

It is vital to not leave food lying around and if you spill something, especially something sticky, clean it up really well. Keep your dishes clean and sweep and mop very often, specifically in corners. Store your food in air tight containers, some stores even offer pest resistant storage containers. Keep in mind that once you have roaches, it is hard to get rid of them, so prevention is the best way to keep roaches out. Woodpiles and cardboard are roach vacation spots, so keep these items far away from your home.

Cockroaches can fit through the most unexpected spaces to find food. Check your home often and seal all cracks that you find in the walls, floors, ceilings and foundation. Caulk regularly around tubs, sinks, windows and any other outlets you find that lead to the outdoors.

But how do you take care of them if you are infested? There are a variety of bait traps out there, though the ones using boric acid, or containing hydramethylnon gel are the most effective. Any bait with an egg killer agent can help you reduce the cockroach population in your house. However, while these are useful against the occasional roach, what do you do against a full infestation?

To truly remove a cockroach infestation from your house, you should hire a professional extermination service. They have more tools at their disposal to take care of the problem, the ability to answer your questions, and a guarantee that you won't find in a small boxed trap. Exterminators can also tell you if you have more than just roaches.

Cockroaches are hardy, clever pests that wreak havoc on homes around the world. Preventing them takes only common sense, but getting rid of them takes the knowledge and experience that a professional can bring. If you think you may have an infestation, rather than play a game of hide and seek with cockroaches, win! Call an exterminator and get rid of the roaches forever.

About the Author:

Author: Darren K. Thompson knows all about Sydney termite control and his experience can assist you in receiving the best results for pest control Sydney.