Nobody likes cockroaches, but cockroaches are a common problem. How can you prevent a
cockroach problem? If you do have cockroaches, how can you get rid of them? This
article contains information on these and other questions on how to prevent and
control cockroaches more safely in your home and business premise.
Filthy Cockroach Dust
Many houses have problems with cockroaches. And many people with asthma are
allergic to "cockroach dust." cockroach dust is made up of cockroach body parts
and droppings. Cockroach dust is a very strong asthma "trigger." Triggers cause
asthma attacks.
The cockroach dust is still around even after you get rid of the cockroaches.
And the dust can trigger asthma. A thorough cleaning is important to get rid of
all the cockroach dust, especially after treatments have killed large
populations of roaches.
For years, these unsightly creatures have defeated our best efforts to get rid
of them. We sprayed and sprayed, but they always came back. Now we understand
there are better methods and products that really work.
All Guard pest control technician are the experts in the use of these low &
non-toxic methods and products
Cockroach Control
The new products are also safer than the cockroach sprays that have been
commonly used. The new cockroach control method is called "integrated pest
management" (IPM). Pest control firms, landlords, homeowners and tenants can all
use IPM.
Follow These Easy Steps for Fast German Cockroach Control:
1. Limit cockroaches' food and water by strict hygiene. Clean everywhere,
especially behind fridges, stoves and washing machines. Don't leave dirty dishes
overnight and remove empty bottles, cans and garbage from the kitchen.
2. Use cockroach bombs for fast knockdown and control of large quantities
of cockroaches, especially the German Cockroach. They breed at twice the rate of
other breeds. Females produce one egg capsule every 3-4 weeks. Each capsule
contains 25-45 eggs. The female will carry the egg capsule with her until it is
ready to hatch. The young (nymphs) will be able to breed in as little as 36
days. MORTEIN Roach Bomb is our recommendation. It seems to have
longer control than the rest on the market
Adult German cockroaches can live up to one year These roaches are mostly active
at night .If they are seen during the day, it is usually because their hiding
places are overcrowded due to a large population or there is a shortage of food
and water supply.
Infestations are generally found in kitchens and bathrooms, but can inhabit
other areas if there is a heavy population or you have run them into each other
with the repellent effect of insecticides.
3. Use cockroach baits. Place them everywhere where cockroaches travel,
along skirtings, under stoves, dishwashers, refrigerators, in electric switch
boxes, around shelves, sinks and cabinets
Cockroach baits contain food that attracts the cockroaches and have a sticky
surface that binds them to the surface when they search for food. Some have
poison in the bait which kills them. After a cockroach eats the bait, it goes
back to its hiding place and dies. Other cockroaches eat the body of the
poisoned cockroach and they die too.
Each cockroach that eats the bait can poison dozens of cockroaches. So only a
small amount of bait is needed to do the job. The baits should be placed where
people do not come in contact with them.
Baits come in the form of gels, pastes, granules and dusts. Gels and pastes come
in syringe applicators. This allows tiny amounts to be placed exactly where
needed. Gels contain water and work best in the first three days. It may be
necessary to put bait out twice, a week apart. Bait stations are bait containers
that the cockroaches find and eat from. MORTEIN Lure 'n' Kill is the most
effective of the baits both immediately and long-term.
4. Use Dead End mats. It's literally a cardboard mat (about 25 x 40 cm) that you slide under things
like the microwave or fridge or onto cupboard shelves (not where you keep food
or crockery/cutlery). When cockroaches walk on it they pick up the poison on
their feet. It's also designed to be separated into four smaller pieces if
required .
Unfortunately it's only available in parts of the country
5. Use Low toxic Sprays. These insecticides are fourth-generation synthetic pyrethroids (a class of
chemicals based on the naturally occurring insecticide pyrethrum). The
best according to a recent test by Choice magazine were:
BAYGON Advanced High Performance
MORTEIN High Performance
RAID Protector
ATLAS Crawling Insect
- all contain the insecticide cypermethrin, with all but the RAID containing
imiprothrin as well.
The not-so-hot sprays generally had older second and third-generation pyrethroid
insecticides (permethrin and tetramethrin) in their formulations, to which the
roaches might have developed some resistance.
If you are still having problems after taking all of our advice, get All
Guard Pest Control out to your home for a professional treatment, before your
problem gets right out of control!