Poor sanitation is a key contributor to cockroach infestations. Spills and crumbs should be cleaned immediately; unwashed dishes and utensils should not sit overnight; and stacks of paper bags, cartons, and newspapers should be discarded or stored in tight containers.
Until recently, spraying for cockroaches was only possible through residual sprays that required homeowners to clean everything after the exterminator left. This changed with the advent of roach-specific insect growth regulators (IGRs).
1. It Kills Cockroaches
Cockroaches are filthy little contortionists, able to fit their slim bodies into the narrowest cracks in walls or under furniture. They have well-developed wings but seldom use them because they prefer to scuttle on their stomachs across floors or up walls instead. Their droppings smell like ground coffee and taint anything they touch, including food packaging, books, leather items, and other furnishings.
During the day, cockroaches remain hidden in cracks and other dark places, but at night they emerge to search for food. They eat a wide range of human foods, plus soap, toothpaste, glue, hair, excrement, and other materials. They also produce a musky odour that attracts other cockroaches to their aggregation sites.
Sprays kill cockroaches by attacking their exoskeletons. Chemicals in the spray penetrate a cockroach's exoskeleton and disrupt nerves, blocking their ability to send or receive messages. The insect's metabolism and excretion processes speed up, eventually causing it to dehydrate and die.
Surface sprays can be effective if the cockroaches are exposed, but they often fail to reach the deep cracks and crevices where these pests hide. Residual sprays and dusts, such as diatomaceous earth, are better options. These products are made from fossilized remains of aquatic algae, and when sprayed on surfaces, they dry out the insects' exoskeletons. As the cockroaches walk over them, they absorb the chemicals through their skin, poisoning them over time. These products typically work for two weeks after application.
2. It Kills Other Pests
Cockroaches do not just cause damage to your property, but they also can make people sick. The pests are believed to carry and transmit bacteria responsible for gastroenteritis, dysentery, hepatitis, typhoid fever, and more. This is why it’s important to keep the pests away. While cockroach traps and bait can work in the long term, spraying is a good short-term solution that helps control the infestation.
Most commercial cockroach sprays contain toxic chemicals, but the good news is that these same products are effective against other pests as well. These sprays are also relatively safe for children and pets, but they should always be applied with caution. Wear protective clothing when applying the spray and clean the area afterward to ensure the chemicals don’t get into the environment where they’re not wanted.
If the spray isn’t applied correctly or is not repeated enough, roaches can develop resistance to it. In order to prevent this, a trained professional should be used to apply the pesticides.
When a home is properly treated, it can help prevent roaches for years. Moisture is what attracts cockroaches, so sealing leaky pipes and ensuring appliances have good seals can be a big deterrent. It is also helpful to regularly check garbage cans, pet food dishes, bird feeders and squirrel feeders, and other outdoor areas for cockroaches that may be attracted to your home.
3. It Reduces Odor
Cockroaches often contaminate food and kitchen utensils, as well as leave unpleasant odors. They are also capable of spreading microorganisms that cause illnesses in people, including gastroenteritis, dysentery, hepatitis, and typhoid fever. Using a combination of cleanliness and pest control techniques, however, cockroaches can be eliminated from homes.
The most effective way to keep cockroaches at bay is to clean regularly, especially where they tend to congregate. Make sure all spills are cleaned up, discarded food containers are sealed, and unwashed dishes and utensils are not left sitting overnight. Garbage should be taken out daily, and stacks of paper bags, cartons, and newspapers should not be allowed to pile up.
Taking steps to reduce the available food and water in your home is another important step. Eliminate garbage piles, and consider investing in a trash can with a tight-fitting lid or a swinging lid to prevent roaches from accessing your food waste. Also, keep pet food in airtight containers when not feeding them, and consider placing the food bowl on a raised platform to make it more difficult for cockroaches to reach it.
Diatomaceous earth is a powdery substance made from the fossilized shells of microscopic ocean organisms called diatoms. When sprayed on cockroaches or other pests, it sticks to their bodies as they groom themselves, and when they lick it off, they ingest it. This dehydrates and disables their nervous system, and they die shortly afterward.
4. It Reduces Infestations
Cockroaches aren’t just annoying; they can cause many types of diseases and illnesses in humans. These insects contaminate food, spread pathogens in their saliva and waste, and even damage books and leather items like handbags and wallets. Infestations can make people feel uncomfortable, afraid and uneasy. They can also leave a foul odour that can affect the air.
The best way to prevent and control cockroaches is to reduce their water supply. This means removing superfluous water containers from the environment and repairing leaking faucets, sinks and pipes. It is also important to empty garbage on a regular basis and keep trash cans tightly sealed. It is also helpful to store food in airtight containers, not leaving uncovered items on countertops and keeping shelves and cupboards free of clutter.
Pestemite management professionals can use gel baits to treat cockroaches and other pests in homes and businesses. These baits contain ingredients that poison the roaches as they consume them. In addition to causing immediate death, these baits prevent future infestations by infecting other cockroaches that come into contact with them.
In addition to using a combination of baits and surface sprays, pest management specialists can use an IGR residual spray like Temprid 75 on cracks and crevices where cockroaches hide. These products infect the cockroaches that crawl over it, delivering a long-lasting residual effect.
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