Karbofos against cockroaches is one of the very effective remedies that allows you to get rid of cockroaches in a house or apartment efficiently and for a long time. Its important advantage remains the possibility of additional influence on ants and bedbugs, which makes the insecticide universal and in demand among people facing relevant problems.
Karbofos is a professional means for exterminating insects, which is often used by specialized pest control teams. At home, it should be used with caution due to the possibility of developing unwanted reactions.
Purpose and scope of use
Karbofos is an insecticide designed to destroy:
- garden and vegetable pests (aphids, Colorado potato beetles, mealyworms, weevils, spider mites and others);
- blood-sucking insects (lice, fleas, mosquitoes that carry malaria);
- synanthropic insects found in the house and outbuildings (ants, wasps, cockroaches, bedbugs, flies).
The drug works equally both outdoors and indoors. It can be used by private individuals in their gardens and at home, subject to safety rules.
Which release form is better?
The product is produced in 3 forms:
- Powder - packaged in 30 or 60 gram bags. The active ingredient is 5-10%. To work, the mixture is dissolved in water, after which the desired areas are treated.
- Emulsion concentrate - packaged in ampoules, 1 liter bottles and 5 liter canisters. Contains 50% of the active substance - malathion. Before use, dilute with water. In this case, the emulsion is consumed more slowly than the powder.
- Water emulsion is a completely ready-to-use product, sold in 5 liter canisters. The solution contains up to 44% malathion.
Less common is Karbofos in tablets. It is diluted in the same way as powder. At the same time, the concentration of the active substance in them is slightly higher - up to 14%.
The ease of use of the drug depends on the form of release. Therefore, it is better to choose powder for those who need a one-time treatment and who do not want to overpay for the product.
The emulsion concentrate is convenient because one bottle is enough for several uses. However, you will have to prepare a solution for work. The water emulsion is consumed faster, but it can be sprayed directly from the canister.
What you need to know
You can buy the drug in two types: a thick oily liquid or a fine powder with a brown tint.
The composition is the same - the active insecticide malathion and auxiliary components.
The drug is often sold under the name “Malathion,” so if the store offers such a remedy for Prussians, feel free to make a purchase.
How does it affect cockroaches?
The active substance, which enters the body through the respiratory system or contact, leads to paralysis of red and black individuals in a short time.
Paralysis, in turn, stops the functioning of the most important organs. As a result, death occurs; whiskered insects will not be able to escape from the effects of the insecticide.
The uniqueness of Karbofos is that it can destroy not only adult individuals, but also larvae at the development stage.
Another one is that you can use it yourself, without resorting to the help of specialists. Knowing how to use the drug correctly, you can get rid of the Prussians quite quickly, but provided that all the manufacturers’ requirements are met exactly.
It is almost non-toxic, making it possible to use even in rooms with children and pets. Of course, you shouldn’t be present when spraying the product; it’s better to send everyone for a long walk.
In addition to the effectiveness and speed of destruction of red “tenants”, it has a significant disadvantage - an unpleasant odor.
It stays indoors for a long time; even daily ventilation for a week will not be able to completely remove the undesirable consequence of the treatment.
Preparing the apartment
Before you start exterminating Prussians, it is advisable to carefully inspect your home - perhaps the apartment needs preliminary preparation.
Even the most powerful insect repellents will be powerless if piles of debris accumulate under the surfaces, food is constantly lying on the table, and the sink is flooded with water. So where to start?
It is recommended to perform the following work:
- Sweep away all the rubbish and food particles from under all the kitchen furniture.
- Throw the trash out of the bin.
- Send the products into tight bags, tie them tightly.
- Wipe the sink and wipe off the condensation on the walls of the bathtub.
- Place children's toys in boxes and plastic bags.
- Send pets to relatives.
- Take the aquarium to your neighbors; if this is not possible, cover it tightly with polyethylene.
We should not forget: longhorned beetles do not scavenge for food and at home they can even feed on old magazines and newspapers.
There is no point in accumulating waste paper; it is better to throw it away before bullying. After all, several mustachioed representatives of the cockroach family can hide there and safely survive the use of a poisonous drug.
Preparation of solution and application of insecticide
Both the concentrated solution and the powder product require preliminary preparation - preparation of a working solution.
It is not recommended to store it, so the toxic liquid should be prepared before processing.
The instructions for use explain in detail and clearly how to properly prepare the toxic substance.
Per liter of water, add 10 to 15 milliliters of liquid concentrate or 4-6 grams. powder. This is enough for a home that is heavily infested with pests.
There is no need to increase the dose of insecticide - this will not affect the effectiveness in any way. It is better to take water at room temperature, the powder will dissolve in it much faster.
In order to achieve uniform distribution of the insecticide, it is allowed to add a little thick soap solution to the solution.
It’s easy to prepare – take a bar of laundry soap and rub vigorously in a small amount of warm water.
Then the working solution is poured into a household spray bottle - it is with the help of this device that it is recommended to spray the poison.
The kitchen area is treated most carefully, because red cockroaches tend to flock here, thanks to the large number of tasty products:
- all kitchen surfaces;
- spaces between the floor and the bottom of the furniture;
- surface near the trash bin;
- cracks in the walls;
- baseboards;
- ventilation ducts;
- holes in the walls;
- door frames;
- window frames;
- spaces between the wall and refrigerators, kitchen cabinets;
- risers and pipes.
If the home is severely infested, the drug should be sprayed throughout all rooms, because it is enough for a few representatives of the Prussian family to survive so that after some time the apartment will again be occupied by red insects.
One application of Karbofos is usually not enough to completely eliminate the harmful family of cockroaches.
But in order to get rid of cockroaches once and for all, you will have to poison them again, in just 2-3 weeks. This time is enough for young Prussians to emerge from the eggs - it is against them that the battle will be fought in subsequent processing.
Precautionary measures
Despite the fact that Karbofos is quite harmless, it is better not to tempt fate and send everyone outside the home for a few hours.
The person who remains to carry out the bullying must also take care of his safety:
- Wear thick, long clothing (a tracksuit is perfect).
- There must be a headdress on the head.
- Protect your hands with gloves made of polyethylene and rubber.
- Put a mask or respirator on your face.
Despite protective measures, the toxic agent can get onto the body, even mucous membranes.
Wash the skin immediately with warm water and soapy water. If your eyes are damaged, rinse them with plenty of cool water.
Immediately after finishing, remove protective clothing, wash and leave the premises. Leave doors and windows tightly closed - ventilation is carried out only after returning home, after 3-5 hours.
Home cleaning
There are no special rules or requirements for cleaning your home after using Karbofos.
Upon returning home, immediately begin ventilation, which should last at least two hours. It is ideal when it is possible to open not only the windows, but also the door - this will speed up the disappearance of the unpleasant odor.
General cleaning with washing of all surfaces is not recommended; the sprayed substance must act on the red insects for several days, otherwise it will not be possible to remove them completely.
Wipe the surfaces with which apartment residents most often come into contact with a sponge. It is recommended to add a little detergent and soda to the washing water.
Wash clothes that were disinfested and kitchen towels in hot water. It is also recommended to wash kitchen curtains; they quickly absorb the smell and then store it for a long time.
Only 2-3 weeks after applying the insecticide is it possible to wash all surfaces. At the same time, the solution applied in hard-to-reach places can be left - if cockroaches appear from neighboring dwellings, the product will destroy the aliens, serving as an excellent preventive measure.
Prophylactic use
Karbofos can also be used for prevention - in addition to its toxic effects, the poison has a strong odor, which will permanently relieve mustachioed Prussians from the desire to enter clean territory.
For the purpose of such prevention, it is better to use a not very concentrated solution, taking only half the amount of insecticide.
Apply it only to hard-to-reach places where barbels can enter the apartment. Usually Karbofos is sprayed:
- in ventilation ducts;
- under the baseboards (here it is better to apply the product with a cotton pad or a thin brush);
- near wall cracks;
- under kitchen surfaces and furniture.
If your neighbors have red insects, they will probably try to explore new territories, making their way not only through ventilation ducts, but also through targets in windows and door frames. These loopholes should also be sprayed with the preparation.
For preventive purposes, Karbofos can be used only once every 2 months.
If you saw cockroaches much earlier (there is a high probability of them entering from neighbors), you should not delay the fight - an immediate response will help prevent infection of the apartment.
Karbofos is an excellent option for combating mustachioed Prussians. The product is affordable, has an effective effect on cockroaches, the insects get used to it for a long time - this period is enough to completely cleanse the home of red “tenants”.
If you adhere to all the requirements of the manufacturers, you can completely get rid of cockroaches, and preventive measures will allow you to not even think about the unpleasant red “neighborhood” for a long time.
Operating principle
The active substance in Karbofos, malathion, is particularly toxic to insects. The effect of the drug begins after the pest enters the body through the surface of the body. There, under the influence of oxidative processes, the toxicity of the substance increases even more.
In practice, this leads to the fact that the animal’s nerve endings stop transmitting impulses to each other. The result is paralysis and death of the insect.
Drug safety
Back in the 19th century, a substance was discovered that was somewhat similar to today’s prototype. The first tests of the poison showed that it is dangerous to human health and is highly toxic. Over the years, scientists in the USSR, Germany and the USA have tried to remove harmful components without sacrificing effectiveness against barbels.
The US company was the first to achieve a positive result. Thanks to this, the words “Karbofos” and “cockroaches” became opposites. They began to actively use it at home, adhering to the rules and having previously prepared the room for processing.
Protection against garden and household pests
To treat garden plants against pests and to get rid of insects at home, solutions of different concentrations are used. Since the drug is a contact agent, it is applied directly to areas where animals gather.
From bedbugs
Bedbug solution based on concentrate:
- 10 ml emulsion;
- 1 liter of water.
Before applying the solution, the room is cleared of unnecessary objects and access to it is blocked for animals and children. It will be necessary to simultaneously treat all rooms where insects live.
Karbofos against bedbugs is sprayed onto clusters of beetles, their paths of movement, into cracks and holes in walls and furniture. The solution consumption is 100 ml per square meter.
From cockroaches in the apartment
The concentrated emulsion is diluted in a liter of water. Its volume depends on the type of cockroaches:
- for red and black - 20 ml;
- for American - 30 ml.
Just as in the case of bedbugs, you will need to limit access to the room, then spray the solution into all hard-to-reach places and on clusters of cockroaches. Product consumption is 50-100 ml per square meter.
From ants
The solution is prepared on the basis of a concentrated emulsion or powder:
- 20 ml of emulsion is diluted in 1 liter of water;
- 30 grams of powder dissolves in 5 liters of water.
The resulting mixture can be sprayed on the insects themselves or only on their paths of movement. Approximate consumption - 10 ml of product per square meter.
From spider mites
Powder-based solution for killing spider mites:
- package of Karbofos weighing 60 g;
- 5 liters of water.
Pour the product into a sprayer and treat the above-ground part of the plant. Spray the leaves on both sides.
From wasps
The pungent odor of the drug helps fight wasps in domestic premises. The solution is prepared from the concentrate:
- 20 ml of Karbofos emulsion;
- 1 liter of water.
The wasp nest and the surfaces next to it are generously moistened with the preparation.
From fleas in the house
To get rid of fleas, prepare a solution in the following ratio:
- 10 ml of concentrate;
- 1 liter of water.
Treat the floor, walls up to a height of 1 meter, and gaps between baseboards. It is important to pay attention to carpets and paths - they need to be sprayed on both sides.
The drug should not be used on pets; poisoning with Karbofos can be fatal.
From aphids
To destroy aphids, a 60-gram package of Karbofos powder is diluted with 8-10 liters of water. The greater the concentration of pests, the higher the concentration of the solution.
The resulting liquid is moistened with the entire green part of the plant. Shrubs and young tree plantations require 1-2 liters of water, large trees - 10 liters. The leaves are treated on both sides, otherwise some of the aphids will remain untouched.
From the Colorado potato beetle
Karbofos for the destruction of the Colorado potato beetle is prepared from powder or emulsion concentrate:
- In the first case, take 60 grams of the product and dilute it in 8 liters of water.
- If using an emulsion, measure out 40 ml and dissolve them in 10 liters of water.
The resulting solution is generously applied to the surfaces of plants. Treatment is carried out in dry weather in the early morning or evening. If the plants are in a greenhouse, then it cannot be closed after the procedure.
| Bedbugs | 10 ml of emulsion per 1 liter of water |
| Cockroaches | For red and black, 20 ml per 1 liter of water, for American - 30 ml; |
| Ants | 20 ml of emulsion per 1 liter of water or 30 g of powder per 5 liters of water |
| Spider mite | 60 g of powder per 5 liters of water |
| Wasps | 20 ml of emulsion per 1 liter of water |
| Fleas | 10 ml of concentrate per 1 liter of water |
| Aphid | 60 g of powder per 8-10 liters of water |
| Colorado beetle | 60 g of powder per 8 liters of water or 40 ml of emulsion per 10 liters of water |
Rules for preparing the premises
To achieve a high-quality result, before using Karbofos it is necessary to carry out appropriate preparation.
It includes the following steps:
- Hide all food. It is best to pack it in airtight containers.
- Move furniture away from the walls to be able to treat hard-to-reach places.
- Pets and children should be evacuated from the house for the next 2-3 days due to the strong odor and the possibility of negative effects on their bodies.
- Carry out preliminary wet cleaning.
After appropriate preparation of the premises, you can begin a full-fledged fight against cockroaches with Karbofos.
Instructions for use in the garden
Karbofos is a toxic drug. Although its ability to accumulate in parts of the plant is small, if the dosage is exceeded, you can be poisoned by the treated fruits.
For strawberries (after harvest)
Strawberries should be processed after fruiting in early autumn. For spraying, prepare a solution of 60 grams of 10% Karbofos powder and 10 liters of water.
The processing process consists of 2 stages:
- First, the solution is sprayed onto the strawberry bushes. For 10 square meters of planting - 1 liter.
- Afterwards, the ridge is covered with a thick film for 6 hours or overnight.
For trees and shrubs
The product for trees and shrubs has a similar concentration:
- young trees and bushes - 60 grams of powder per 8 liters of water;
- mature trees - 60 grams per 10 liters of water.
Small plantings required 1-2 liters of water, and older fruit-bearing ones needed up to 10 liters. When carrying out processing, it is important to choose the right period. It is necessary that at least 30 days pass from the moment of spraying to the day the fruit appears.
For cabbage
To treat cabbage leaves at the beginning of growth, use Karbofos powder. 60 grams of the product are diluted in 10 liters of water and the emerging shoots are treated. Each bush requires 50 ml of diluted liquid.
Dangerous neighborhood
It is known that when living in a person’s apartment or house, cockroaches feed on food and waste (even excrement of people and pets) . Therefore, it is scary to imagine what kind of infection these insects can bring on their paws, crawling from dirty waste to food. Cockroaches are mechanical carriers of:
- pathogens: acute intestinal infections,
- plague,
- leprosy,
The presence of cockroaches in an apartment can cause other problems:
- Thus, the secretion secreted by insects can cause irritation of human skin, including the formation of blisters and abscesses.
- Dry larval skins and “corpses” create a favorable environment for the life of house dust mites, which, in turn, can cause allergies, including asthmatic manifestations.
The main method for exterminating domestic cockroaches is the chemical method. When choosing a product to purchase, we are accustomed to being guided by advertising or advice from experienced people. A reasonable approach involves a detailed study of the composition. You don't have to be a chemist to understand the properties of insecticides. The proposed table will help you get to the bottom of it and choose the best “poison” option for cockroaches.
Insecticides that may be included in preparations for cockroaches - table
| Active ingredient | Characteristic | Action | Note |
| Organophosphorus compounds (OP) disrupt the functioning of the insect's nervous system and cause serious damage to muscle tissue, resulting in insect death. | |||
| Diazinon | Colorless liquid with a slight odor | Contact, intestinal | Advantages:
Flaws:
|
| Sulfidos (bytex, fenthion, lebaicide) | Colorless liquid with a slight odor | Contact | |
| Dimethyldichlorovinyl phosphate (DDVP), dichlorvos | Colorless or yellow liquid with an aromatic odor | Contact, intestinal, fumigation | |
| Chlorpyrifos | White crystalline substance | Contact | |
| Karbofos (malathion) | Light brown liquid with an unpleasant odor | Contact, intestinal, fumigation | |
| Methylacetophos | Colorless liquid with odor | Contact | |
| Pyrethrins and pyrethroids have a strong effect on the nervous system of insects and provide a rapid paralyzing “knockdown” effect. | |||
| Pyrethrum | Green powder | Contact |
|
| Neopinamine (allethrin, tetramethrin) | White crystalline substance, insoluble in water | Fumigation | |
| Permethrin (Ambouche, Vismethrin) | Viscous brown liquid, odorless | Contact, fumigation | |
| Sumicidin (fenvalerate) | Wettable powder, dust, granules | Intestinal, contact | |
| Cyhalothrin | Colorless, odorless, crystalline substance | Intestinal, contact | |
| Organochlorine compounds (OCCs) affect the nervous system of cockroaches and cause irreversible paralysis. | |||
| Hexachlorane (HCCH, hexachlorocyclohexane) | Used in the form of dusts, emulsions, suspensions, pencils, aerosols | Intestinal, fumigation |
|
| Carbamates—affect the nervous, endocrine, and hematopoietic systems of insects. | |||
| Propoksur (baigon) | Insoluble in water, soluble in organic solvents | most effective when ingested | relatively rapid decomposition in the external environment. |
| Other chemical groups | |||
| Boric acid (Borax, Koba, BAF) | white crystalline powder, easily soluble in water | Intestinal and mixed contact-intestinal. |
|
| Sulfonamides (sulforamide), aminohydrazones (hydramethylnon) | Gel-like baits have been developed on their basis. | Intestinal | The drugs have a delayed insecticidal effect |
| Phenylpyrazoles (fipronil) | is included in gel baits and container baits | Contact, intestinal | Paralyzes the central nervous system of insects |
| Neonicotinoids (imidacloprid, acetomiprid, nitenpyram) | Crystalline substances of white, yellowish or cream color, soluble in water | Contact, intestinal | In small doses they have a stimulating effect, in large doses they cause paralysis of the nervous system |
Risk factors and precautions
Karbofos is a toxic substance that can be dangerous to animals and people. To avoid poisoning with karbofos, when working with it, be sure to:
- Use skin and respiratory protection. Avoid contact of the product with mucous membranes.
- Carry out treatment in rooms without animals, birds, or other people.
- Before using the product, remove all food products from the premises.
- After treatment, the surfaces are wiped with soapy water.
Safety for children and animals
The product is toxic to animals and children. If the pure substance comes into contact with the skin or diluted internally, it causes poisoning. In severe cases, death is possible. The drug should be stored in places inaccessible to children and animals.
How to properly poison cockroaches with Karbofos: instructions
You should handle this product with care, since its safety is not absolute:
- When processing the room, you need to use protective equipment (gloves, respirator, closed clothing, shoes).
- It is necessary to wear as thick clothing as possible to reduce the likelihood of chemical penetration through it and which you will not mind throwing away.
- To protect your eyes, use glasses to avoid an allergic reaction.
It is best to apply the insecticide with a spray bottle, which will allow you to treat secluded places.
Advantages and disadvantages
the drug kills pests the first time, subject to careful processing;
acts for several hours after spraying;
versatility - suitable for gardens, gardens and indoors;
does not retain in plant tissues and soil;
the drug in powder form has a low cost.
the possibility of poisoning domestic animals and people;
repeated treatments become ineffective and cause resistance to organophosphorus compounds;
not compatible with other pesticides, fertilizers.
Compound
The active component of Karbofos against cockroaches is the insecto-acaricidal substance malathion. Belongs to the third class of danger. If used incorrectly, it can cause intoxication of varying degrees of intensity, poisoning, and skin irritation. Deadly for bees, amphibians and fish.
Work should be carried out wearing rubber gloves, a respirator, and a suit. There should be no other people or animals in the room. When the first signs of poisoning appear - weakness, nausea, dizziness, stop pest control, provide access to fresh air, rinse your mouth with soda solution, drink sorbent.
Price, where to buy
The cost of Karbofos depends on the form of release of the drug and its concentration:
- 60 grams of powder will cost about 50 rubles.
- Emulsion 50% volume 5 liters - 3000 rubles.
The drug is sold in garden and garden stores, in departments for getting rid of insects. The product can also be ordered online.
Karbofos is a universal insecticide for eliminating flying and crawling insects in the garden and at home. Proper treatment will eliminate pests the first time and prevent their reappearance.
Let's sum it up
The undoubted advantage is efficiency and high results regardless of the degree of contamination of the room. If we talk about reviews from those who have already used karbofos, they also note high efficiency. But among the disadvantages, apartment owners note a very unpleasant smell, which requires more than one ventilation to get rid of it.
Regarding toxicity, compliance with safety measures and the use of protective equipment completely protects a person from negative influences. Of course, after treatment, thorough wet cleaning is required. Don’t forget about specialized services that will always help you cope with a difficult situation.
