Repelling Cockroaches

Cockroaches are considered one of the most common indoor pests. They like to settle in dark, warm, and humid areas, places that contain available food and water sources, and spaces where they can easily hide and breed such as cracks on walls or kitchen cabinets.

However, cockroaches are not just simple insects: A new study by scientists at Queen Mary, University of London, has found that cockroaches are social beings who "talk" to one another about food and prefer to dine in groups.

In an earlier study, Queen Mary, University of London and Cambridge University researchers used computer simulations to show that, even with their tiny brains, insects have enough neural circuits to possess consciousness, and they may even be able to count.

Nevertheless, having roaches around the house should be considered a serious matter. These night crawlers are prone to carrying salmonella, hepatitis virus, coliform bacteria and other disease-causing organisms.

So, if you're not ready to roll out the welcome mat quite yet, here are a few simple steps to help keep unwanted bugs at bay:

• Don't provide cockroaches with food – wash dishes promptly and store food in tightly sealed containers – and remove their hiding places, such as piles of old newspapers.
• Prevent cockroaches from entering your home by sealing up holes and cracks. Baby cockroaches can squeeze into a space as thin as a 5p.

Another thing to bear in mind is that cockroaches are generally more active in wetter conditions. They can forage farther for food because humidity keeps their exoskeletons from drying out. The mistake they make is going into an air-conditioned building. Air-conditioning sucks the moisture out of the air and cockroaches can't survive as long in low humidity.

Of course, air-conditioning is rare in homes in the UK, but there is another option. Purchasing a dehumidifier will perform the same function in drying out the air, and so will help combat a cockroach infestation, and prevent other damp-loving pests, such as silverfish.

If you do see cockroaches, scatter whole bay leaves or catnip throughout your house: scientists from Iowa State University, USA, found that catnip is 100 times more effective at repelling cockroaches than DEET is.

You can also do your own mixture of insecticide at home with the use of powdered sugar and baking soda. Mix equal amounts of sugar and baking soda, put it in a shallow dish and position it to places where you often see roaches come and go. The effect of this mixture is deadly to cockroaches.

Article provided by SDA Pest Control