Are you looking for the best roach killer? You are in the right place, as we have a comprehensive guide on all roach-related things, including their habits, signs of infestation, and most importantly how to get rid of roaches.
The cockroach is one of the most common and persistent pests found in many homes in the United States, and although they rarely bite they can be very destructive and dangerous.
So, if you are ready to end the roach infestation and you want to know everything about your enemy, keep on reading and let’s jump right in.
What Do Cockroaches Look Like?
Cockroaches are flat and oval insects that have 6 legs and a brownish to black color, depending on the species. The roach head is small but equipped with a strong mouthpiece to easily chew through anything edible.
Some roaches have wings, but many species don’t use them to fly a long distance. However, they are very fast and can walk on almost all surfaces thanks to adapted pads on their legs.
Cockroaches are nocturnal insects, and they love humid and warm places.
This is one of the reasons why so many people see roaches crawling around when they turn on the lights at night, in rooms where there is a lot of food like the kitchen or the basement.
Cockroaches have been present for thousands of years and they evolved into resilient and resourceful pests that are very hard to get rid of.
What Do Cockroaches Eat
Cockroaches are omnivores and they will eat almost anything to survive, including even other roaches.
They are not picky eaters and will consume plants, sugars, starches, meat, other insects, pet food, and human food. They also don’t shy away from glue found in book bindings, wallpaper, and other places.
Their eating habits make them very resilient and adaptive, so they can thrive and multiply everywhere.
Where Do Roaches Come From
There are many roach species in the world but some roaches developed particular tastes in human homes and food resources found there.
Most of the time the roaches come from your garden, through cracks in the walls and piping, or hitchhike on items you bring into your home. Considering they are always looking for the best place to grow a colony, your clean and warm home might be the perfect location.
What Attracts Roaches
Roaches, like silverfish and some other pests, are attracted to humid, warm, and food-abundant places. They like the leftovers on the kitchen counter, opened food containers in your pantry, full garbage cans, and hiding places.
Most homes, even the cleanest ones, can lure in resourceful roaches.
They will always follow the food and hiding places and stay in one location as long as they have decent living conditions.
Signs of Cockroach Infestation
Before we find the best roach killer we need to make sure the pest you are dealing with is actually the roach. While it’s hard to mistake the adult roach for any other bug you might see some other signs of infestation before you notice any crawling around.
Here are a few infestation signs to look for:
Most roaches emit a strong and musky odor that can easily spread all around your home. So, if you smell something unusual every day it might be a good time to investigate further.
One of the first signs of a roach infestation is small, pellet-like droppings you can find on floors. They look like black pepper and the number of feces can tell you a lot about the severity of the infestation.
Roaches have oily exoskeletons and legs, so you might see smear marks or smudges in places where there are a lot of roaches passing through.
Before you notice any live and adult roaches you might see a few dead ones, or part of the skeleton considering the other roaches will eat the dead ones.
Oval-shaped cockroach eggs can be found behind furniture and in hidden places. They are usually laid in large groups, so it’s easier to find them.
Once there are many roaches in your home and the infestation is severe you will notice adult roaches roaming around and looking for food. Most of the time they are seen in the kitchen, basement, pantry, and attic, but they will explore the entire home.
How to Get Rid of Roaches?
Now that we are familiar with the cockroaches in the house you might be wondering what is the best way to get rid of roaches. We have the best roach killers on the list, so let’s mention the most efficient steps you can take:
Set up Roach Traps
Cockroach traps are one of the easiest and most efficient tools you can use to capture roaches. The eco-friendly and non-toxic traps are the best solution as they are completely safe for your family and pets but deadly to pests.
The strong and durable adhesive in the traps will capture all of the roaches that cross over it, and they will last a long time depending on the severity of the infestation.
It’s a good idea to set up multiple traps and assess the infested areas, so you can use additional roach killers from our list and have even better results.
Use Boric Acid
Many people like to use DIY solutions to get rid of roaches and boric acid might be a good idea if you are looking for natural powders.
All you have to do to make this roach bait is mix boric acid with sugar, water, and flour. The dough balls you form will attract and kill roaches, but you need to be extremely careful as boric acid can be deadly to pets.
Use Diatomaceous Earth Powder
Unlike boric acid, the Diatomaceous Earth (DE) powder is a safe and eco-friendly solution for many pests including roaches, bed bugs, and silverfish. The DE powder is not a poison but rather a fine powder that will dry out the exoskeleton of bugs and dehydrate them to death.
For better and precise application of the DE powder, it’s recommended to use specialized long nozzle applicators. This way you can reach all the cracks and crevices where the roaches and other pests hide.
Use Roach Sprays
You can use the cockroach spray to eliminate live and adult roaches you see around your home. These sprays contain harsh chemicals and pesticides, so make sure you are following the directions carefully.
If you don’t want to inhale pesticides there are some amazing eco-friendly and pesticide-free solutions on the market.
Call Professionals
At the end of the day if you notice the infestation is severe it’s a good idea to call an exterminator for roaches. There is pest control in every area prepared to help with specialized tools and years of experience.
How to Prevent Cockroaches in the Future?
Cockroaches are very persistent and always prepared to invade your home, so just because you got rid of one roach infestation doesn’t mean you are forever safe. However, there are some tips and tricks that can help you maintain a bug-free home longer.
Here is what you need to consider:
Clear the clutter
Cockroaches and other bugs need a place to hide in your home.
While they can crawl into walls and floors they rather thrive in clutter, boxes, and newspapers. So, if you want to make your home a less desirable place for pests make sure you don’t have too much clutter.
This is also true for your garden and trash bins, as they need to be clean and clutter-free to attract fewer bugs.
Seal leaks and cracks and prevent bugs from entering
Cockroaches will use any opening to enter your home, so fix all the cracks in the walls and leaking pipes that create moisture. In addition, it’s a good idea to close all the doors and windows, or use the screens and door sweeps to prevent the bugs from coming in.
Limit food sources
In addition to keeping a clean home and kitchen, and throwing out the garbage can and leftovers you should also keep all the food in tight containers. Fewer food sources will make the bugs leave in search of better conditions.
Don’t forget that pet food is also a delicacy for the roaches, so keep that in a container too.
Set up more traps
Durable glue traps are a great way to monitor the bugs in your home. Set up a few adhesive traps and check on them from time to time to see if new bugs are caught.
When you manage the infestation from the start it’s easier to get rid of all roaches and you will spend less time stressing about the pests in your home.
So, How to Kill Cockroaches?
Cockroaches are very persistent, adaptable, and resilient so you might think getting rid of them for good is not an option. Luckily, with our detailed guide and some amazing tools, tips and tricks you will end the infestation and keep your home bug-free for a long time.
No matter what way you choose to deal with the roach infestation, be persistent and rely on pest control experts if you can’t manage the infestation on your own.
