What Does A Roach Nest Look Like and How to Get Rid Of Them
Most people are familiar with the look of a cockroach; they’re usually about an inch long, brown, and hurry away quickly when they hear humans nearby. Some people know that if there is one cockroach, then there must be more. Roaches like to travel in groups because it allows them to feel safer as they can rely on each other for food and shelter; find out what does a cockroach’s nest looks like. But many don’t know exactly what does a roach nest looks like. While you might encounter some visible signs of their presence (i.e., egg capsules), most nests are actually hidden inside walls or small cavities where humans rarely see them.
What Does A Cockroach Nest Look Like?
Roaches infesting your house is unpleasant. These filthy insects can contaminate food, make a mess in your kitchen and bathrooms, and spread germs and disease wherever they go. If you see roaches scamper across your floor or walls, there is likely a nest of them somewhere hidden away from plain view.
Roach nests are usually located in dark areas of homes such as under sinks or behind appliances where roaches feel safer than out in the open. Though roach eggs can be pretty small (1 mm), there are often too many for one female to carry at once, which is why it’s common for them to create new nests with each batch of eggs.
Nests can range from a consistent clump of eggs to hundreds laid out in a seemingly random pattern. The most common type of nest is shaped like a football and around half an inch thick. It’s not always easy to tell if you have roach eggs, but their droppings will be visible once the roaches hatch.
Knowing what cockroach poop looks like can help homeowners determine whether or not they have an infestation on their hands. Roach droppings are usually small and dark and resemble black pepper or coffee grounds. Since roaches travel quickly, their droppings tend to be found in clusters rather than spread apart.
Getting Rid of a Cockroach Nest: Identify its Location
Before we start getting rid of cockroaches, we need to know and understand some basic information about this particular pest.
Cockroaches are one of the most prevalent household pests. These insects find their way into our house through so many ways, like cracks in concrete walls, empty boxes, and bags that might have been left unused for so long, etc. Once they enter your home, they will begin nesting and multiplying at an extremely fast rate.
The most disturbing fact with roaches is that these pests can be carriers of certain diseases, such as salmonella, diarrhea, and dysentery (if you have kids at home). Also, these insects can be extremely painful, and their bites might even cause allergies in many people.
Cockroaches may seem like a trivial problem at times; however, these creatures can prove to be quite dangerous if not taken care of early on. With the help of this article, we will take you through some excellent cockroach prevention tips and effective ways to get rid of a cockroach or, instead, learn how to kill roaches.
How To Get Rid Of A Cockroach?
Step 1: The first step is always the most important one when getting rid of any kind of pest from your house. If you fail to follow this step correctly, then all other efforts will be in vain.
The first step for getting rid of a cockroach is finding the entry point from where these pests are entering your house. Cockroaches can enter your home in many different ways, such as via cracks in concrete walls, open doors, windows, etc. So finding the exact entry point can be pretty helpful when it’s time to kill roaches or get rid of them. This is why it is essential to note all possible infestation areas and pay a visit with a flashlight at night (in case you suspect that there might be cockroaches present).
Also, while searching for the entry point, check out places like garages, kitchens, pantries, cabinets, etc. If you suspect that there might be a nest in your house (which can happen if you see droppings or egg-cases), then make sure to follow the next step.
Roaches are always looking for dark and damp places to build nests and safely lay their eggs. So checking under sinks, appliances that stay in moist areas, around kitchen tiles, etc., is essential (this is why it is important to know how to prevent roaches). Cleaning these areas thoroughly will help kill any present roaches in your home.
Checking behind pictures hanging on the wall also proves helpful when searching for an infestation point. Also, check out electrical appliances like washers, dryers, etc., as cockroaches tend to nest in these appliances if they aren’t used for a long time.
The main aim here is to find the point from where roaches are entering your house and then sealing it with an air-tight sealant which can prevent them from getting back inside once you have killed them or instead gotten rid of the nest.
Now that we know how to find an infestation spot, let us take a look at how we can get rid of a cockroach:
Step 2: How to kill roaches? Since we now know about what kind of places roaches might be nesting in, it’s time we took care of these pests once and for all. This step is a bit tricky, but try your best to eliminate each roach from your house.
As you might have noticed, these creatures multiply at an extremely fast rate, so killing them all can be quite a task. But with some patience and time, this job can be done effectively without much hassle. In case you want to learn how to kill roaches, here are effective steps that will help you in this matter:
1. Roach Motels – are great for trapping cockroaches in infested areas because they come with bait inside, which will immediately attract the pests the moment they enter the motel. After catching many of them, throw away the motel and replace it with a new one.
2. Roach Foggers – Using a roach fogger is also an effective method for getting rid of cockroaches because all you have to do is place them in the infested area and leave the premises. After 10 minutes, vacate your house until the bomb has died out completely. This will help kill all present insects inside the house and those harboring inside vents or holes that are difficult to reach otherwise. But make sure not to vacuum anything before giving these fumigating bombs enough time to take effect properly.
3. Insecticides – Many insecticides are available in stores that can prove helpful when getting rid of cockroaches. Just follow the instructions carefully and keep all pets and children away from the infested areas until you are done with it.
4. Boric Acid – One of the most commonly used methods for getting rid of roaches is boric acid. This is known as a highly effective method, especially when it comes to killing German cockroaches. Since this powder is completely non-toxic, you can mix it in your food or sprinkle some on their nesting spots.
5. Ammonia Solution – It might sound a bit weird at first, but ammonia is one of the best solutions that prove amazingly effective when getting rid of roaches. Mix ammonia in equal parts with water and spray the solution on areas you suspect a roach infestation. You will see dead bodies around these spots within 24 hours if done correctly.
6. Diatomaceous Earth – This powdered sediment is known for being completely natural. It can prove helpful when getting rid of German cockroaches and other species because simply sprinkling some diatomaceous earth proves quite effective.
7. Neem Oil – Neem oil makes a fantastic repellent that helps prevent future infestations by cockroaches. Plus, neem oil can also help kill insects like ants, termites, bed bugs, etc.
8. Ammonia And Bleach Solution – Mixing equal parts of ammonia and bleach proves quite effective when killing roaches because it forms a toxic gas that is harmful to cockroaches. This mix should be left overnight in infested areas for best results.
9. Catnip Spray – Believe it or not, catnips are natural insect repellents that prove amazingly helpful when trying to get rid of any insects, including roaches! All you have to do is mix 3 tbsp of dried catnip leaves with water and add some drops of dish soap into the mixture. Pour this solution into a spray bottle and then spray on all areas where roach droppings have been noticed.
10. Bay Leaves – Another commonly used method for getting rid of roaches involves using bay leaves because these leaves smell bad and are known to keep most insects away from your home. So add some fresh or dried bay leaves near areas where cockroaches have been seen to get rid of them.
11. Peppermint Oil Spray – Mixing peppermint oil with water proves quite effective when killing German cockroaches because this oil serves as an excellent repellent that can be sprayed on all the entry points that lead into your house.
12. Finally, sulphuric acid is highly effective in killing insects, including roaches, so make sure not to use it around your house if you have pets or kids! Because this solution is highly toxic and will prove harmful for both humans as well as animals.
