How many times did you turn on the kitchen lights in the middle of the night only to see the spooky, little insects running around freely? Do you enter your dining space on tiptoe, examining every crevice behind the door with the care of a detective; just to avoid these cockroaches?
The tropical species of the Order Blattodea (Latin name) are often larger than those found in other climes, with some species reaching lengths exceeding 50 mm (2 inches). Six legs, two antennae, and sometimes wings are present on these cockroaches that everyone fears.
The majority of cockroaches with wings, however, are not very good flyers. The bodies of cockroaches are oval-shaped and flat. Depending on temperature, cockroaches have greasy, warm or cool bodies.
A cockroach's head is covered by a small pronotum that resembles a shield. A cockroach's mouth points both backwards and downward. The male cockroaches are smaller than the females. In certain species, the females are wingless while the males have wings.
Egg cases known as ootheca, which are typically oval-shaped and dark brown, contain cockroach eggs. Indeed, learning about them in such detail is quite distressing. Are you looking for ways to get rid of cockroaches? Continue reading!
4 Signs Of Cockroach Infestation
Signs of a cockroach infestation include:
- Spotting live cockroaches, especially at midnight when they are most active, is frequently visible.
- If you find tiny, black, or brown droppings that look like pepper or coffee grounds.
- Finding oval-shaped egg cases, or toothache, in obscure places such as crevices or under furniture is known as egg casings.
- The smell is musty and disagreeable, indicating the presence of cockroach pheromones.
What Kind Of Harm Could Cockroaches Cause To Your House?
Cockroaches can cause a variety of damages to your home, including:
- Their excrement, saliva, and shed skin can introduce bacteria, pathogens, and allergies into food and surfaces.
- As cockroaches contain proteins that trigger allergies and asthma attacks, infestations may be linked to these conditions.
- Cockroaches have the potential to cause structural damage when they chew through organic materials like paper, cardboard, and textiles.
- Their presence may cause a lingering bad odour in the affected locations.
Read More: Natural Hacks To Protect Food And Dining Space From Pests This Monsoon
DIY Cockroach Remedy Hacks
Soda Remedy
The first home remedy in the list of top techniques for managing cockroaches in the kitchen involves using a mixture of baking soda and sugar. Here, the sugar attracts them, whereas baking soda destroys them. Apply this mixture to any areas where you see these roaches, as well as any places where they might be hiding. It is a cost-effective and efficient way for households to get rid of cockroaches.
Boric Acid
Boric acid is the most effective and fastest-acting chemical that you can use as a home remedy for cockroaches. If you suspect little cockroaches in any of the nooks and corners of your kitchen, scatter a small bit of boric acid powder there. These pests will perish from thirst the moment they eat it. However, use this powder with extreme caution, and make sure that small children and pets are away from it.
Bay Leaves
Don't undervalue the effectiveness of regular bay leaves when discussing the best techniques to get rid of little cockroaches in the kitchen. These herb leaves give the Indian dishes a wonderful aroma, but when employed as cockroach repellent, they really do wonders. To easily keep roaches out of sight, boil a few handfuls of bay leaves in water and use the resulting liquid as a cockroach repellent.
Neem Oil
Use a mixture of water and potent neem oil to get rid of cockroaches in the kitchen, especially the tiny ones. Without worrying about any negative effects, use it as an effective spray in your kitchen's minor cockroach infestation areas. When these tiny pests emerge from their hiding places at night in search of food and water, do use the neem oil spray, and you can guarantee you won't see them in your kitchen again!
Silica Aerogel
Pest control professionals use silica gel to repel cockroaches. Why not try it on your own and witness the incredible effects? To make a combination, combine white sugar and silica aerogel in a 3:1 ratio. Apply this mixture inside kitchen cabinets and in the corners, where cockroaches typically reside. If necessary, repeat this process to eradicate all cockroaches from your house in an environmentally friendly and fully safe manner.
Pinesol And Bleach
To keep cockroaches out of your kitchen, you might try the best natural cockroach repellent. To do this, use a solution of pine sol and bleach diluted with water. To get rid of cockroaches in your kitchen and house, spray this mixture. It is a safe, chemical-free method of controlling little cockroaches, the kind that especially likes to hide within kitchen cupboards.