When cockroaches appear in the apartment, you need to pay attention to the zones that are usually their favorite habitat. And oddly enough, household appliances belong to such places. Here insects feel warm and well protected. The equipment is supplied with "stuffing", but there are also voids in it, where you can safely hide from the master's eyes. How to bring to light and destroy the red-haired invaders?
What does the appearance say?
In an apartment in the kitchen, 2 types of cockroaches are capable of settling - black, red. The latter are often called the Prussians. They do not get along under the same roof, so do not rush to rejoice in the sudden disappearance of black insects. This may mean that they were replaced by red-headed Prussians.
The body length of a black cockroach rarely reaches 5 cm, usually about 3 cm. Pests prefer to settle in basements and sewers. In multi-storey buildings, apartments appear with a high degree of basement infection, mainly on the first and second floors. Rarely insects grow above 3 floors.
The size of red cockroaches is usually less than 2 cm. However, not all are the same. In the colony of females there are always more males, there are also larvae of different generations, which gradually increase in size.
On a note!
If you see a cockroach in the kitchen, and after a time there are small insects, you need to start taking action until the Prusak colony has increased significantly.
How to get rid of cockroaches forever
There are many ways to help eliminate parasites. Each roster has its own advantages. But, first of all, it is important to learn simple rules. Only their strict observance will bring complete deliverance from cockroaches.
- Whatever remedies for cockroaches in the apartment you choose, patience and perseverance will be required to win. All premises of the apartment must be processed regularly, according to the instructions.
- The longer cockroaches live indoors, the longer it will take to get rid of them, and the more funds will be required. Even if there are not very many parasites.
- After the insects have completely disappeared from the eyes, the room will need to continue to be treated for preventive purposes. Especially if the parasites live in neighboring apartments or in the entrance.
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Red Prussians
Red Prussians
The most common type of domestic cockroach. Red Prussians usually reach sizes of 10-16 mm. Males are slightly smaller. Insects are nocturnal; during the day they hide in cracks, in shelters.
Cockroaches reproduce sexually. A few days after fertilization, eggs are formed in the female in a special abdominal section - the ootheca. Ooteca protrudes half of the genitals, the female drags her constantly along. Up to 50 larvae can form inside.
Where are they hiding
Cockroaches are heat-loving insects and at low temperatures (about) they are simply not comfortable living (read more about this here). Where do they live? In most cases, pests live in the layer of thermal insulation, which is located under the skin of the refrigerator.
There are also many different slots in the back of the refrigerator (where the grill is installed) and at the bottom.
In very rare cases, cockroaches can crawl through the rubber pad and live inside the freezer. This applies to old units produced in Soviet times.
Black cockroaches
Black beetle
They rank second in terms of contamination of residential buildings and apartments. This species is called sewer, eastern Prussians. Black cockroaches prefer to live in basements, sewer manholes. Their appearance in the house occurs mainly through pipes.
On a note!
The presence of a black cockroach in the kitchen means the presence of cracks in the sewage system, malfunctioning pipelines, and severe contamination of basements.
Adults especially reach 3 cm in size. Larvae of different ages are even smaller. The body is dark, closer to black, with a greasy sheen. The female differs from the male in body structure: a wider abdominal shape.
Mechanical cleaning of the refrigerator after baiting cockroaches
The presence of dead cockroaches inside the device threatens it with breakage, short circuit. It is necessary to remove insects. To do this, remove the back panel, all structural parts that can be removed and then put back in place. Do this after disconnecting the refrigerator from the power supply. Remove pests with a brush. Be sure to apply a new layer of gel to prevent re-infection.
Cleaning
White cockroaches
White cockroach
Larvae always differ from adults in lighter color. Immediately after molting, the chitinous cover is white. The shell quickly hardens, acquires a dark color, but seeing such a cockroach at home, it may seem that it is a completely different species.
White cockroaches are not at all the result of a mutation, they have not developed resistance to poisons, they are even more vulnerable than other members of the family. Since they molt 5 times, their size may be different. Gradually, small individuals grow up.
An effective remedy for cockroaches: buy and not be mistaken
Gels
Gels are recognized as the best remedies for cockroaches. They give reliable results when processed sequentially, but are slow to act. Low speed is the only drawback of cockroach gel.
How to properly handle an apartment with gel
You should not lay out "homeopathic" doses of the remedy in the expectation that one cockroach will get to the poison and then infect the rest, as they say in the advertisement. The entire room must be treated, especially areas near hard-to-reach places.
It is recommended to grease all skirting boards, as well as to lay out pieces of foil with poison next to cracks, plumbing fixtures and furniture. It is also recommended to put and regularly renew the foil with the composition in cabinets, bedside tables and on them.
Aerosols
Means of this group are effective for large concentrations of cockroaches. They are inferior to gels, but give quick results. Therefore, if there are a lot of insects, then it is advisable to first spray the room with an aerosol, and then apply the gel.
Cockroach aerosols are less convenient to use than other products. Before processing, people and animals must be removed and all products removed. After work, you should wash, wash your hands and rinse your mouth, even if the packaging says that the composition is safe for people.
Fighting cockroaches in the kitchen
Fighting cockroaches in the kitchen
The sudden appearance of small Prusaks may indicate that the residents of the house have begun active persecution and that cockroaches are fleeing from their neighbors. Insects of all ages are forced to flee. In this case, you can use several effective means to cleanse your own home from pests:
- Boric acid. Powder is sprinkled on the space under the bathroom, sinks, toilet, near doorways, trash cans, baseboards, in the kitchen behind furniture. Forms poisonous baits. Boiled potatoes, yolk are chopped, boric acid, a little water are added. Lay out the bait in the same places.
- Traps can help get rid of pests in the kitchen. You can stick duct tape along the baseboards, or think of something more interesting. Vegetable oil is added to the water, crumbs are sprinkled, a ladder is placed. They put a beer bottle at an angle, leave 100 ml of beer at the bottom. Cockroaches are attracted by the strong smell of yeast.
- Cockroach gel containing venom can be purchased at any hardware store or market. The product is safe for humans and pets. Attracts cockroaches with a specific aroma, poisons them for a week. Valid for about 14 days. They are laid out in the kitchen, bathroom, corridors. The most popular are Global, Dohlox, Raptor, Kombat.
Are insects not afraid of the cold?
In fact, cockroaches do not live in refrigerators, but under the rear paneling. It's dark and dry there. If you touch the back of the appliance, you will feel warm.
In older models, rubber bands are attached to the doors, which dry out and deteriorate over time. Insects easily crawl through the cracks formed and enjoy eating crumbs, wet spots from food with pleasure.
Although cockroaches do not like the cold, they tolerate temperatures down to minus 10 degrees for a short time. 10-15 minutes is enough to run inside the refrigerator and refresh yourself.
Chemicals
Scarers
To expel cockroaches from an apartment, use:
- poison in the form of powder;
- crayons;
- gels;
- sprays;
- call professional disinfectants.
Not all products are safe for animals and children, therefore, when choosing a specific chemistry, they carefully study the packaging and instructions. When buying a poison, they proceed from the size of the living area and the number of cockroaches. So, if there are few insects (2-3 run at night on the table or floor), then they use crayons, gels or loose powdery poisonous agents. They are the safest for the inhabitants of the apartment, they easily cope with a small number of cockroaches, and can be used repeatedly.
Crayons "Mashenka", powders "FAS" and "Clean House" are effective. They draw the surface of the floor along the plinth with crayons, cabinets from the inside and outside, scatter powders around the plumbing, behind the stove in the kitchen, and pour them into all the cracks found. Treatment for cockroaches is also carried out with Global and Dohlox gels. The principle of use is the same. Crayons, gels and powders are safe, economical, easy to use, but if they do not help, use sprays and aerosols such as:
- "Executioner";
- Raptor;
- "Regent";
- "Get";
- "Cucaracha";
- "Karbofos".
They can treat large surfaces, sprayed in the air, the aerosol penetrates into the most secret cracks, expelling cockroaches from there and leading to their death. But, unfortunately, these funds are moderately hazardous, they, of course, can and should be used, but it is better to leave the room for 2-3 hours immediately after spraying the funds, as mentioned in the instructions. After returning, the apartment is cleaned and ventilated. If necessary, the treatment is repeated after 1.5-2 weeks.
If there are a lot of cockroaches and conventional products are useless, use professional spray solutions:
- "Sinuzan";
- Sichlorom;
- "Averfos";
- "Ksulat s25";
- "Tetrix".
The listed means are classified as 3-4 hazard class, work with them carefully in a protective mask, glasses and gloves. It is better to entrust the matter to professional exterminators. The processing of an apartment by specialists takes no more than 50 minutes. The result is almost 100%, but it is possible that after 2 weeks re-treatment will be required, since by this time new cockroaches will appear from the larvae.
Professional pest control
What folk remedies can be used and how effective and safe they are compared to chemistry
To get rid of cockroaches, folk methods of struggle are often used, including:
- freezing (in winter all windows in the apartment open wide open, leaving the room for 1-2 hours, the method is effective only when the outside air temperature drops below 10 degrees);
- sticky tape (you can use regular tape);
- homemade traps;
- essential oils (cockroaches are extremely sensitive to odors, essential oil will serve as a repeller, the product is applied to all surfaces accessible to cockroaches);
- ammonia (recommended to be applied to surfaces as a repeller);
- borax (boric acid salt is unsafe for insects, it is mixed with boiled yolk or potatoes, forming balls and laying them out in places accessible to cockroaches);
- pyrethrum (powder, created from chamomile inflorescences, is completely safe for animals and humans, but acts on cockroaches as a poisonous agent, used in the same way as boric acid salt);
- vinegar (to treat surfaces on which cockroaches often run, use a 9% solution of acetic acid);
- kerosene and turpentine (these products are unsafe due to the smell, but reliably and permanently get rid of insects in the house).
These folk remedies can be used individually or in combination. Cockroaches cannot stand the smell of mint, geranium and wormwood. The first two plants can be planted in pots and placed in the kitchen and other areas. Flowers will serve as natural insect repellents. Freshly harvested wormwood is tied in bunches and hung in the bathroom, in the kitchen, and a wormwood fence is made at the front door.
Prevention measures
An effective measure to prevent the appearance of cockroaches in the refrigerator is to prevent its contamination, to maintain cleanliness in the kitchen. Since the temperature in this household device ranges from 3 to 18 degrees, the constant presence of food in it attracts parasites. Therefore, this technique is a common breeding ground for the Prussians.
For prevention purposes, it is recommended to adhere to the following rules:
- regular washing of the refrigerator shelves, wiping the partitions to a dry state;
- throwing away uneaten food, airtight packaging of perishable vegetables, fruits;
- keeping kitchen utensils clean, emptying the trash can every day.
Subject to simple rules of hygiene at home, insects will not settle in household appliances.
For prevention purposes, it is recommended to carry out a general cleaning of the house weekly, paying special attention to the kitchen.
Conditions in the apartment for the appearance of cockroaches
Cockroaches do not harm a person directly, but their presence in the house is highly undesirable. It contributes to the deterioration of sanitation and the spread of disease. But if it is warm in your apartment, there is water and food for cockroaches, then at the first opportunity they will rush to settle with you. Here are a number of favorable factors for cockroaches in the house:
- Availability of water. Insects cannot live long without moisture. Even if the sink is completely dry, and there is no tiny puddle left on the working surface, they will rush to flower pots in search of water from the ground. This feature can be used to protect housing from insects. It is recommended to wipe down the sink at night and not to leave a damp cloth. It is advisable to water the flowers in the morning so that the water has time to be absorbed.
- Favorable temperature. The apartment buildings are warm all year round. Human-friendly temperatures are also suitable for cockroaches. The main thing is that it does not drop below five degrees. The relative humidity in the house is what insects need.
- The presence of secluded corners. Cockroaches do not like bright light, so they try to hide in the darkest corner, somewhere between the wall and furniture, cockroaches are comfortable behind the batteries. Any nook and cranny of your home, where there are many secluded places, can be a prerequisite for the appearance of parasites in the house.
- Food.Cockroaches will always find food for themselves. They need very little, and they even feed on paper. Any crumbs on the table or behind furniture, much less a trash can nearby, will provide them with a lifetime of food. In any case, cockroaches can live a long time without food, which cannot be said about the absence of water and heat.
Where can cockroaches hide inside the refrigerator?
Most often, insects choose a place for themselves under the casing behind the back of the refrigerator:
- behind the compressorcompressing the refrigerant into a gaseous state;
- behind the condenser, in which the refrigerant coming from the compressor is converted into a liquid, while giving off heat to the surrounding environment.
This creates a warm, dry environment for pests. In addition, this place is hidden from human eyes, has many different crevices and depressions that make it safe, located next to food and water. Sometimes cockroaches get inside the device. This usually happens in old devices, in which the sealing gum on the inside of the door wears out over time, does not adhere well, and form gaps between the chamber and the door. Insects also crawl through them.
