Cockroaches often upset people. People know that roaches are capable of carrying diseases, triggering allergies and asthma, and contaminating food. And many people think that cockroaches look nasty and disgusting.
However, when it is time to get rid of cockroaches, people are also concerned about safety. They want a way to get rid of cockroaches that will not smell bad, cause stains, or make anybody sick. At first glance, cockroach traps seem to be the perfect solution.
Cockroach traps are intended to capture the roaches. The benefit of traps is that they hold the roaches until someone can dispose of them. Over the years, there have been many types of cockroach traps.
Some of the earliest cockroach traps involved containers filled with liquid. Many times beer was used because people thought that roaches like beer. The trap included a ramp for the roaches to walk up so they could drop into the liquid. The roaches were supposed to drown in the liquid. This type of trap often became so smelly that it had to be removed before many of the roaches could be captured.
Sticky Traps
A more recent cockroach trap is made of light cardboard. The trap is coated with a sticky glue-like material. Many brands of cockroach traps also have an odor attractant. Many of these traps can be folded to keep children and pets from getting into the glue. The sticky trap catches and holds the roaches.
Experts have found that traps alone will not usually eliminate a cockroach infestation. One reason for this is the cockroaches’ ability to reproduce quickly. By the time roaches are visible in the daytime, there are often hundreds of them hiding in the cracks and crevices.
Experts recommend using cockroach traps as part of a cockroach elimination program. The program should begin with sanitation. People who are fighting cockroaches should wipe up spills, store food in sealed containers, put away leftovers promptly, wash dishes before going to bed, and empty the trash regularly.
If large roaches are the problem, sealing outside entryways will help. Make sure exterior doors close tightly. If a dime can slide under the door, experts say a cockroach can too. Move the firewood away from the house and rake mulch and dead leaves away from the foundation.
If the small roaches are the problem, inspect boxes and bags that are brought into the home. Check carefully before bringing home a yard sale bargain or a thrift shop treasure.
Most experts recommend using some type of cockroach bait to eliminate cockroaches. The gel bait comes in an applicator that works like a syringe. The gel goes into the cracks and crevices where the roaches hide. The plastic bait stations are ready-to-use. The stations can be placed under sinks, in the back of drawers, and under appliances.
It is very important to have enough bait available for all of the roaches. As long as there is activity, the bait should be kept full and fresh. If any roaches survive, they will reproduce at amazing speed and the problem will start all over again.
Cockroach traps can be best used to monitor how the bait is working. The traps will tell where the roaches are and where they have been eliminated. This program of Sanitation-Bait-Monitor has also been called Integrated Pest Management (IPM for short). To be successful, there must be routine follow-up. Roaches are nut eliminated in one treatment. Because of that, many people ask a pest control professional to do the baiting and monitoring parts of the program.