Cockroaches are tireless travelers, conquering more and more new spaces.
To protect apartments and houses from pest invasion, in addition to traditional insecticides, there are various devices on the market to destroy or repel them. Among them are electrical traps.
What types of electric traps for cockroaches are there?
Electric cockroach traps are produced in the form of metal boxes. You need to put bait inside the device and change it periodically. The smell of the bait will constantly attract insects into the trap, where a high voltage electrical discharge will destroy them.
Over time, cockroach remains will accumulate in the trap, so the device must be cleaned periodically. For this purpose, a special brush is usually included.
Electric trap
Advantages of electrical traps:
- no insecticides;
- durability;
- variety of models;
- Availability – devices can be purchased online at any specialty store.
Similar devices have disadvantages:
- they must not be placed in damp places;
- The devices are powered by electricity, so you need to take care of the safety of children and place them only where children cannot reach them.
- high price.
Ultrasonic
A type of electrotraps are ultrasonic traps for cockroaches. They consist of:
- a generator that creates high-frequency pulses;
- dynamics.
The elements are placed in a box with a plug for plugging into an electrical outlet. Ultrasonic traps, unlike electric ones, do not catch pests, but repel them. The devices emit electromagnetic waves of a certain frequency, causing discomfort in parasites. This forces the insects to leave the room, but they do not die. No additional processing is needed.
On a note! Ultrasonic devices of different powers are produced. Depending on this indicator, there are models with different radius of influence.
However, it should be noted that even in the scientific community there is no consensus on the effectiveness of this device, since it is believed that cockroaches, like people, do not perceive the ultrasonic spectrum, which means expelling them with ultrasound is a very controversial method.
Electromagnetic
The operating principle of devices of this type is based on the use of low-frequency electromagnetic waves. They are reproduced continuously, penetrating through the walls into all rooms of the apartment. The wave propagation area is up to 100 m2. To prevent insects from getting used to the effects of the devices, the electromagnetic coil generates oscillations according to a specific algorithm.
Ultrasonic trap
Which one to buy: cost and benefits
Having figured out how a cockroach trap works, you need to choose the optimal device that is suitable specifically for your home. Hardware stores offer products from the brands “Clean House”, “Komus”, “Taiga” and many other manufacturers. In order not to get confused in the wide range, refer to the reviews of people who have encountered the problem of household pests. The table contains the most popular traps of different categories (prices are indicated as of January 2022).
Table - Popular insect traps
| Trap type | Manufacturer | Peculiarities | Price, rubles |
| Adhesive | "Foresight" | — Suitable for indoors and outdoor spaces; - non-toxic adhesive base; — an attractant tablet is included; - does not harm the environment | 50 |
| "Argus" | — Non-toxic and durable adhesive base; - a color scheme that does not attract attention; - attractant granules in the middle of the adhesive base | 70 | |
| "Blockbuster" | — The properties of the adhesive layer last up to 3 months; - non-toxic composition; - robust design | 35 | |
| Insecticidal | "Taiga" | — The package contains 6 black plastic discs; — remains active for 2-6 months; - you need at least 3 traps per 10 square meters. m.; — inside — insecticidal gel based on fipronil | 80 |
| "Clean house" | — The adhesive layer does not leave marks on the surface; — remains active for up to 2 months; - has no smell; - insects die after 3 days; — the package contains 6 black plastic containers; — insecticide — chlorpyrifos (0.5%) | 80 | |
| "Raptor" | — Reliable adhesive sticker; — the package contains 6 black plastic containers; - you need 2-3 traps per 10 square meters. m.; — remains active for up to 6 months; — inside there is a gel based on lambda-cyhalothrin (0.1%) | 200 | |
| "Combat" | — The package contains 6 plastic containers of round or square shape; — color — black or imitation parquet; - a powerful attractant that attracts insects; — activity lasts up to 3 months | 300 | |
| "Brownie" | — The package contains 6 black plastic containers; - inside - low-toxic insecticidal gel based on fipronil 90 "Tarakanoff" - The package contains 3 black plastic containers; — inside — insecticidal gel based on fipronil (0.05%) | 85 | |
| "Raid" | — The package contains 4 black translucent containers with insecticidal gel based on abamectin (0.05%); — activity lasts up to 3 months; — before disposal, the trap must be wrapped in paper; — included — propagation regulator based on contact insecticide hydroprene (95%) | 200 | |
| Electric | "Cockroaches" | — Brown container made of non-flammable plastic; — controlled area — up to 50 sq. m.; — the set includes 8 bait tablets; — voltage is supplied at intervals of 4-5 minutes; — the kit includes a brush for cleaning the container; - mains power via adapter | 1000 |
| "Ecosniper" | — Black container made of non-flammable plastic; — voltage is supplied at intervals of 15 seconds; — human food can be used as bait; — mains power via adapter or 4 batteries | 3800 |
If you have leftover Ataka, Dohlox or any other poison gel at home, you can make an insecticidal trap yourself. Squeeze a little paste into plastic bottle caps and place them in hidden places.
The pros and cons of using electronic insect repellents
Any product designed to kill pests has both pros and cons. The advantages of electronic devices include the following characteristics:
- Simplicity and ease of use.
- No unpleasant odors or chemical components.
- Large range of action.
- Quiet and safe.
- Low energy use.
- Long working life.
- Expels not only cockroaches, but also ants, fleas, mosquitoes, beetles, spiders and even rodents.
- Can be used in combination with other devices and pest control products.
The disadvantages of electronic devices include their high cost.
Sticky house traps
These cockroach traps operate using glue applied to a cardboard blank. Upon purchase, the sticky layer is covered with a protective film. The product is a cardboard box in the shape of a house with bait for cockroaches placed inside. Cockroach stickies are not dangerous to children or pets and can be used in any home.
Cockroach sticky tape should be placed in their favorite habitats: next to the trash can, under the bathtub or sink. Attracted by the pleasant smell of the bait, the pest runs into the house and sticks to the Velcro. Houses for cockroaches can catch several dozen individuals. Over time, the glue becomes less sticky and the roach trap is discarded and replaced with a new one.
Important!
This type of pest capture is not very effective, since it does not have a detrimental effect on the eggs laid earlier by insects, which makes the reproduction process continuous.
Sticky house traps
Review We were tormented by cockroaches in the apartment. Since there is a small child and a cat in the house, the use of effective chemicals and toxic agents was excluded. We settled on an inexpensive and safe Velcro-based trap. The number of insects has become smaller over time, but it is impossible to completely exterminate them using this method. Yes, and cockroaches can easily come from neighbors.
Marina, Kazan
Glue trap for cockroaches Forsyth
Velcro house Forssayt from a Russian manufacturer. The kit includes a cardboard house with an adhesive layer and a bait tablet. The stickiness of the substance lasts up to three months of use. Also suitable for catching ants. A glue trap for cockroaches costs 50 rubles.
Popular brands
Most consumers, when choosing a device for exterminating cockroaches, prefer models from popular companies. Of course, you will have to overpay a little, but the product works more reliably, since large companies, caring about their image, produce products of much higher quality.
Among the most popular brands:
- Pest Reject. Ultrasonic repellers of this brand are produced in the USA. The devices cover an area of about 200 m2. Their design is standard. The repeller can be combined with other products or used as an independent unit.
- Typhoon LS 500. A domestically produced ultrasonic repeller has an effect on pests over an area of about 80 m2. This is enough for a standard residential apartment. For larger apartments, you will need 2 or more devices, depending on the size of the home.
- WK-600 from Weitech. The high cost is dictated by the power of the device - it is intended for large industrial premises.
- Ecosniper. The magnetic resonance device, released in Hong Kong, is inferior in efficiency to ultrasonic devices. Able to expel cockroaches only from small spaces.
Ecosniper
- Tornado. Under this name, the domestic company produces a whole series of devices. For example, one of the models of the Tornado OT 02 series, in order to increase the impact effect, is equipped with a special function and emits light waves. When choosing any Tornado model, you need to remember an important detail - you need to install the device strictly at the right angle. If this is not done, the effect will be significantly reduced.
- Hail. An effective and reliable device, developed by domestic manufacturers, easy to operate. Covers an area of approximately 550 m2. Can be powered by batteries or rechargeable batteries.
- GRR09 is a product of the American company RIDDEX. Affects insects over an area of about 40 m2. Thanks to the presence of three operating modes, you can choose the treatment option that will be effective in a particular case.
Benefits of cockroach traps
The use of traps is sometimes simply irreplaceable; their excellent effectiveness has been proven. They are safe for pets and children as long as they do not put them in their mouth or play with them. The choice of traps is huge, and their cost is relatively low, and they are sold everywhere.
Traps called Combat and Raptor are very popular in stores. If you really want to, you can build a simple trap for cockroaches that have settled in the house yourself. This is not particularly difficult and below we will tell you how to build it.
How to choose the necessary anti-cockroach device?
When choosing a device for exterminating parasites, you need to pay attention to the following:
- Device power. It should be sufficient to cover the area of the entire apartment or house.
- Duration of action. How long the device will work depends on the power source. For use at home, it is best to purchase models that operate on mains power, but for dachas, country houses, and for overnight stays in nature, battery-powered or rechargeable devices are also suitable.
Ultrasonic exposure
Ultrasonic effects on cockroaches
It has long been proven that ultrasound can cause unpleasant sensations to many living beings, including hated arthropods. Ultrasonic repellers are more suitable for preventing pests or for combining the product with other more effective means.
Specifications:
| Type | cockroach trap |
| Destruction method | electrical discharges |
| Peak Voltage | 1200-1500 V |
| Bait used | any food products |
| Power consumption | 0.1 W |
| Nutrition | 220 V network |
| Housing material | plastic |
| Device Dimensions | 170x90x60 mm |
| Device weight | 220 g |
How does it work?
The trap attracts insects from all corners of the room using edible bait. On both sides of its body there are holes convenient for cockroaches, through which they can easily penetrate into the device. In search of food, insects move inside the trap and touch electrodes placed every 4 mm. To the electrodes at intervals of 15 seconds. high voltage is applied for 3 seconds, which instantly kills the cockroaches.
To use the trap, you need to open a special tray on the lid of the product and place food fragments into it (even bread crumbs will do). After this, close the device, place it in a place where cockroaches are most active, and turn it on. The first “harvest” of destroyed insects can be collected the very next day. All maintenance necessary for the device consists of timely cleaning of the contact area and replacing the bait.
DIY traps
Due to the high cost of factory-made devices for catching cockroaches, such as, for example, a raptor trap, it is quite possible to try to get rid of uninvited guests by using homemade products. The devices do not have a high level of efficiency; therefore, it is recommended to make a cockroach trap with your own hands in several copies.
The principle of operation of homemade products is almost always identical: they use some kind of container in which there is an adhesive substance that helps catch the insect. You can use various materials at hand, for example, cans, cardboard boxes, tape, and many others. Below are some of the most popular DIY tips.
Using tape
Using ordinary tape and cardboard, it is quite possible to make fairly effective traps for cockroaches.
To obtain a homemade device, you should take a small cardboard box equipped with low walls. Place several cardboard strips inside, which must be wrapped in advance with wide strips of double-sided tape. Single-sided use is not recommended; its adhesive properties are relatively low.
To attract cockroaches, you need to place in the center of the prepared trap some delicacy that the parasites will like, for example, some sausage or sweets. To obtain an additional effect, it is quite possible to strengthen the effect of such a trap. Instead of regular food products, you should use poisonous yolk bait or tablets, which are often used in toxic devices.
If a large colony of parasites, numbering a considerable number of individuals, has settled on the premises, several of these boxes should be used. To obtain the expected results, it is recommended to place the devices where the Prussians most often live, for example, under the sink, in cabinets, and also under them.
Jar traps
Very interesting and, most importantly, effective homemade traps for cockroaches can be made with your own hands from a bottle with a wide neck or a jar. Such a unique house will allow you to catch a considerable number of parasites. However, you need to know that to destroy a large number of Prussians, it is advisable to use three or more homemade devices.
To get an effective homemade device, you will need:
- First you need to prepare the jar. To ensure that the container does not have any foreign odor, it is necessary to thoroughly wash and dry it. Do not use cleaning agents when washing.
- Next, the outside of the jar should be lightly greased with glue, and then wrapped in pre-crumpled paper. This measure is necessary to ensure that cockroaches can easily enter the trap.
- The walls of the container should be lightly greased or oiled, otherwise it is likely that the parasites will be able to get back out.
- As for the bait that will attract the Prussians, you can put a small amount of any food with a strong odor at the bottom of the jar. To enhance the effect, you can pour some beer into the container. This will not only help catch the cockroaches, but also completely eliminate the possibility that they will be able to get out.
Especially when killing parasites, it is recommended to use jars with a volume of half a liter.
What bait to use
To destroy parasites, you can use baits made with your own hands.
For example, the following recipe has excellent effectiveness: mix a small amount of boric acid powder thoroughly, after adding a little milk, with crushed chicken egg yolk. After cooking, use the resulting mass to roll into small balls.
The bait prepared in this way should be placed in secluded places, for example, under the sink, behind kitchen furniture. By eating the bait, insects also transfer the toxic substance to the nest, thereby ensuring the death of their relatives. If necessary, you should regularly replenish the supply of poisonous baits, which will completely destroy the colony of parasites.
Causes of insects
Most often, cockroaches live in apartments where the owners do not maintain cleanliness and order in the house. However, it is not uncommon for them to appear in areas where the premises are regularly cleaned. This is explained by the fact that such dwellings somehow attract baleen parasites. There is another explanation: they are fleeing from neighbors who are actively fighting them.
A necessary condition for the existence of cockroaches is accessible water and food. They occupy the apartment in the following cases:
- The kitchen taps are leaking, water remains in the sink, and there is condensation on the pipes.
- The owners rarely take out the trash, there are crumbs on the tables or floor, and there are unwashed dishes.
- The house has a garbage disposal, but there is no general insect control.
- If cockroaches are poisoned in other apartments, they will try to move to the neighbors. They no longer care whether it is clean or dirty.
