Organic Roach control

Cockroaches are known to people as dirty, disease carrying insects that infest homes and cause distress and havoc. They are flat looking insects with long antennae and they have long spikey legs. Pest cockroaches are generally brown or black but tropical ones can be anything from green to orange.

Cockroaches are all scavengers that will eat anything and even turn on each other when food sources are low. They hide in various places including:

• Under floorboards
• Cracks in the walls
• In baseboards

Cockroach facts include:

• They are nocturnal creatures which mainly hide during the day
• They can withstand lot of radiation
• They can run up to three miles in one hour
• Females may breed only once but they become pregnant for the rest of their lives

cockroaches hard little creatures and they can survive through quite severe conditions. As long as there is food and water, they are happy.

What are the Different Types of Roaches?
Altogether there are over 3,000 different types of cockroaches. However out of those, only a few are actually pests.

In California alone there can be five different types of cockroaches including:-

• German cockroach
• Brown Banded cockroach
• Oriental cockroach
• Smoky brown cockroach
• American cockroach

Out of these, the most common, persistent pest in the home is the German cockroach. These roaches always find themselves in places where they are close to food and water, which are usually the most humid rooms in the house.

Oriental cockroaches are also quite common but unlike other types of cockroaches, they cannot climb up smooth surfaces. This is because they do not have sticky pads on their feet whereas other cockroaches do. The male can fly and may do when startled but the females can't, they will run really fast if they feel threatened. Generally they mainly live outside but in colder months they may venture inside.

The Brown Banded Cockroach can survive in much dryer conditions than the German cockroach. Both the males and females have wings but it is mainly the males that fly. Not only do these cockroaches feed on left over food, but they can also feed on nylon stockings. In appearance they have two light colored lines across their wings. Their hiding places include behind loose wallpaper, inside furniture such as sofa's and even in electrical appliances such as TV sets or toasters. As they live virtually anywhere in the house, these can be really hard to get rid of.

The Smoky Brown Cockroach grows to around an inch long and both sexes have wings that cover their abdomens. They are dark mahogany in color and they live in moist areas. They are usually found in sheds and drains. Poor ventilation and moisture is a potential habitat for this cockroach. They may even be in the attic so it is best to check the whole house.

American Cockroaches have a yellowish color behind the head and they are mainly reddish-brown in color. They mainly live in moist areas but they can survive in dry areas if they have access to water. The adults can fly but young cockroaches will run around really fast if frightened. They can usually be found in basements and they may even move outdoors when the weather is really warm. Large infestations of this kind of cockroach aren't common and you will mainly find German cockroaches throughout the home.

Do Roaches Trigger Asthmatic Attacks?
Some people may be allergic to insect remnants and if there are cockroaches in the home they could produce asthma attacks. This is because when a cockroach dies, its wings and body parts fall off and join with the other dust and particles lying around the home. If these are then breathed in they could cause a reaction and in some severe cases it could lead to hospitalization.

It is thought that roaches cause problems than pets and dust mites for people who have asthma.

What are the methods to prevent and control and eliminate roaches?
When you have an infestation of cockroaches, being able to identify the species puts you in the best stead for treating and eliminating the problem. Doing research allows you to be able to place bait and traps in the right places. Also for this to work, changes need to be made to the area. If the area is the same with regards to providing water, food etc the cockroaches will no doubt come back.

There are a number of steps you can take to prevent a cockroach infestation. These include:

• Monitoring
• Good Hygiene within the home
• Fix any hiding places
• Place Bait around the home
• Use organic pest control

Monitoring Cockroaches
In order to see just how bad the infestation is, you need to first identify where the cockroaches are and how many are there. This can be done by placing traps around the house. Place them in different locations for example the bathroom, the kitchen and living room. This way, you should be able to see where you have a problem and how serious that problem is.

Good Hygiene within the Home
Cockroaches will find it extremely difficult to live in a clean, tidy, food free house. A Hoover is a good weapon against cockroaches as it sucks up all left over crumbs and grease and even cockroach eggs. The Hoover can also work by directly picking up cockroaches if you spot one. Funnily enough if you place the Hoover nozzle behind the cockroach, the air that touches the cockroach will fool it into thinking it is being attacked from the front and it will turn around and run directly into the nozzle. The dust inside the Hoover will make sure that the cockroach can't breathe hence it will not be able to crawl back out in a hurry.

Always wiping down worktops, polishing and just doing ordinary every day cleaning will prevent cockroaches from infesting your home.

Fix Any Hiding Places
To effectively control all cockroaches whether that is Oriental cockroach control, German cockroach control or any other types of cockroaches' control, you have to seal and fix all potential hiding places.

If you have any cracks in the walls, seal them. If you notice gaps in the floorboards, cover them up. Make sure your home is as damp free as possible and make sure any gaps under the doors are also covered. It is also important to note that by putting all uneaten food away in storage containers, it will reduce the risk of cockroaches hanging around as it stops easy access to food.

Place Bait and Set Traps around the Home
Placing bait around the home is an ideal way to catch and control cockroaches. The bait will lure the cockroaches to the trap and therefore it controls the infestation. However, it depends on how bad the infestation actually is. You may need several traps around the home. so make sure you monitor the cockroaches first in order to see what you are dealing with.

You can either make your own traps or purchase them online. Most cockroach traps come with a sticky substance and compartment that the cockroaches are drawn to, meaning they get trapped inside and they cannot escape. If you want to make a trap similar to this you can use a can and inside the top of it you should put something like petroleum jelly to prevent the cockroaches from escaping. The bait could be something such as white bread. If you want to destroy any cockroaches you can use hot, soapy water.

Generally, traps are not effective for German cockroach control as they breed far too quickly and their infestations are usually quite large.

Organic Control
Many people turn to organic pest control, especially when they are faced with large infestation. Organic cockroach control is generally used in dust form. These are known as insecticidal dusts. They are low in toxicity to humans and pets but they are highly toxic to cockroaches. However, it is advised that you cover up wearing a dust mask when you apply the powder as it can still have some affects if used inappropriately.

If you are unsure of how to safely use insecticides it may be best to contact a professional and get them to do it for you instead.

Overall, a cockroach infestation can be serious and can really affect your health. It is always best to prevent these pests before they can become a problem. This means regular cleaning, sealing and fixing any potential hiding places and generally being on your guard.