The best traps for cockroaches: from the store and homemade

Olga Polyakova 12/25/2021

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Remedies for Cockroaches

These small insects lived on Earth long before us. With the advent of man, or rather, his dwellings, cockroaches became bored with wild life, and they decided to move into our homes without asking our permission.

Here they received protection from bad weather, cold, but, most importantly, a huge amount of food. A cockroach needs only 20 mg of any organic matter per day to avoid starvation. And a person who throws away up to a kilogram of food waste during the same time was simply an inexhaustible source of food for the cockroach. And everything would be fine if not for one “but”: wherever cockroaches appear, terrible unsanitary conditions begin in the form of dirt, smell and accumulations of their excrement.

Throughout history, man has struggled with cockroaches, and the small pests have won. But, with the development of chemistry, serious damage was inflicted on the unexpected guests for the first time in thousands of years. The best cockroach repellents that currently exist will be reviewed here, as well as recommendations for their use.

Update - 2022.06.04We have updated our rating

How effective are cockroach traps?

The effectiveness of cockroach traps is determined depending on the degree of infestation of the room. If you just noticed the first signs or a few individuals, traps do an excellent job of their purpose. In more advanced cases, purchased or homemade devices should only be used in conjunction with chemical or professional disinfestation. Pros of using cockroach traps:

• you won’t spend much, as they are inexpensive, and some of them can be made yourself from scrap materials;
• you will not worry about harm to households and pets, since it is practically absent;
• you do not need to clean the apartment, as, for example, after professional disinfestation.

Cold

Cockroaches belong to cold-blooded insects; they lack the ability to independently heat their own body. This means that the Prussians are completely dependent on the temperature around them.

A drop in air temperature to +5 C˚ causes insects to hibernate, and a temperature of -5 C˚ and below leads to their death.

Considering cockroaches’ intolerance to low temperatures, people have been resorting to freezing their homes for a long time.

But not everyone has the opportunity to use this method. It is unlikely that anyone today would dare to leave the windows and doors open in the apartment for several days in severe frost.

And people living in the private sector cannot always risk using a similar method of exterminating cockroaches.

Types of traps

The range of cockroach control products includes a wide variety of traps. They can be disposable or reusable, differing in fishing methods and final results.

Adhesive

The appearance of the trap resembles a cardboard house with holes in the walls. The simplest and most inexpensive option. Inside, all walls are treated with an adhesive substance. The cockroach climbs into the box to eat the bait and remains inside, glued to the surface. As the box fills, they need to be replaced. A characteristic advantage of using glue traps is the absence of any harm to households or pets. However, there will not be a 100% elimination of cockroaches, since not all individuals will climb into the trap.

Ultrasonic

It is more of a repeller than a trap. The principle of operation is to influence the insect’s nervous system with various sound and light effects. Cockroaches do not tolerate such exposure and eventually leave your apartment. Initially, it may seem that there are more pests. However, this means that the device affects the Prussians, they are uncomfortable and they get out of their nests. Within about 3 days, cockroaches completely leave the environment unfavorable for their life. The device is harmless to adults and children and does not affect pets.

Electrical

A trap powered by an electrical network has proven itself to be quite good. Inside a small metal box with holes are open contacts with an electrical charge. When an insect climbs inside to feast on the fragrant bait, it receives a deadly electric shock. As the box is filled, it is cleaned with a special brush and installed for further catching of pests.

Disadvantages of using electrical traps:

• high price compared to other cockroach traps;
• must be placed only in dry places;
• requires connection to an electrical network;
• any manipulations with the device can only be done with dry hands or wearing rubber gloves;
• Do not install near flammable materials.

Nevertheless, despite all the shortcomings, the trap copes well with the task. Every morning you will find a new batch of dead cockroaches in it.

Electrostatic

Electrostatic traps are not yet sold in Russia. The invention is currently undergoing thorough research.

Taking advantage of the nature of static electricity, they are created using electrostatic wax particles. The principle of their operation is based on the difference in charges between the insect’s body and the charged wax. You need to pour the powder into a special device and put the bait there. A cockroach in contact with charged wax will be unable to move for about 2 days. If all research is successful, the trap will be very popular, as it will not have a negative impact on humans.

Poisonous (with insecticides)

Some of the most popular cockroach traps on the market. Outwardly they look like a small plastic box with holes. Inside the device there is bait with poison. The cockroach crawls through the holes and succumbs to the poison. Then it carries the poison on its legs and body to the nest, where it infects other individuals. The insecticide has a contact-paralytic effect on Prussians. Some models are equipped with Velcro, with which they can be attached not only horizontally, but also vertically. A distinctive feature is that a person must interact with the trap taking precautions, and also prevent access to it by children and pets.

Factor four: lack of water and food

In the absence of moisture, cockroaches begin to feel thirsty, which then leads to their death. Moreover, a lack of water is much more critical than a lack of food. They can go without food for a long time. Therefore, when choosing places for their existence, cockroaches first of all pay attention to accessibility to water. They can find water anywhere: leaking pipelines, the presence of condensation, a damp bath without ventilation, the presence of fruits and vegetables that the owners often leave on the dining table, etc. Cockroaches pay attention to all this.

When starting the fight against cockroaches, it is first necessary to provide them with unacceptable living conditions: cut off access to water and food. To do this, you need:

1. Wipe all surfaces where even drops of water remain.
2. Repair all faucets from which water drips, and also ensure that condensation does not accumulate due to the good functioning of the ventilation system.
3. Water the plants only in the morning so that the moisture is quickly absorbed into the soil.
4. After eating, you should not leave leftover food on the table.
5. At night, all food should be hidden in places where cockroaches cannot reach.
6. The trash can should be kept closed and emptied of debris promptly.

How to get rid of cockroaches at home FOREVER

Manufacturers

Take the purchase of a device for catching cockroaches seriously. Don't grab the first model you see. It’s better to study all manufacturers in advance. Analyze reviews on the Internet and recommendations from friends, and give preference to the most popular and effective product. The most popular traps today are presented below.

Forsyth

Forsyth adhesive traps are distinguished by the resistance of the sticky layer to water. They are not dangerous to humans, but do a good job of catching cockroaches. By purchasing one package, you get 5 glue traps that you need to assemble yourself. Additionally, the kit includes 5 bait tablets.

How to collect:

1. Fold the cardboard house along specially marked lines.
2. Remove the protective paper from the adhesive backing.
3. Place a bait tablet in the center of the sticky cardboard.
4. Close the lock and place the trap in insect habitats.

Advantages:

• affordable price (around 150 rubles);
• many cockroaches fit in one box, so if the infestation is light, you won’t have to change the trap often;
• the tablet attracts insects with its aroma for at least 7 weeks;
• the sticky substance in the house remains sticky for about 45 days;
• the product is completely harmless to humans or pets;
• The device can be disposed of in the usual way;
• performance does not deteriorate when the cardboard base gets wet.

However, like all glue traps, Forsythe is not capable of removing the population completely, since not all individuals will come into contact with the glue base.

Raptor

A well-known company that produces a variety of household pest control products. Raptor traps based on an insecticide, a synthetic substance with a contact-intestinal effect, have proven themselves well. Just a little poison is enough for the poisoned parasite to infect other individuals with the substance carried on its legs into the nest. To lure the cockroach, the manufacturer added aromatic preservatives of apricot or vanilla to the composition.

The device looks like a small plastic box with holes, inside of which insecticide is poured. The back wall is equipped with Velcro for attaching to the wall. The standard packaging includes 6 traps. Recently, the updated “Double Strength” trap has been available in the Raptor range of products, which differs from the previous one in that it contains 2 insecticides - fipronil and emmamectin benzonate.

Advantages:

• low price (about 200 rubles);
• destruction rather than repelling pests;
• the poison does not act immediately, but after some time, which allows it to infect other individuals that are not in contact with the trap;
• leaves no marks or stains;
• duration of action – 6 months;
• easy to use, small in size;
• available at any supermarket or hardware store.

Flaws:

• can only be installed in places inaccessible to children and pets;
• pest control must be accompanied by a thorough cleaning of the premises and blocking any possible access of the cockroach to water;
• 1 trap is designed for a maximum of 5 square meters. m., so 1 package is only enough for 25–30 sq. m.;
• copes only with a small population; with a high level of infection it should be used in combination with other means.

Place Raptor traps in suspected insect habitats.

Combat

Similar to the previous one, “Combat” is a contact trap that has an epidemiological effect on cockroaches. Inside there is a bait and an insecticide - hydramethylnon - a new generation poison that does not kill the individual immediately, but after some time, during which time its relatives can also become infected. Externally, like the Raptor, it looks like a plastic box with holes. The assortment includes both classic boxes and boxes that match the color of the laminate. The package costs 300 rubles and contains 4 traps. Basically, everyone who tried Kombat is satisfied with the result.

Argus

The Argus glue trap differs from its analogues in that it does not require the installation of bait. The aromatic additives are already included in the sticky layer. The insect senses the simulated smell of the treat, climbs inside and sticks to the wall. One set, costing approximately 200 rubles, includes 5 cardboard houses. Install them in pest habitats and remove them when they are full.

destructive force

A trap of contact-intestinal action, which is based on a strong poison - clopyrifos. First, the poison affects the insect’s nervous system, and then other organs, as a result of which the cockroach dies from suffocation within 24 hours. During this time, he is able to infect other individuals by bringing the insecticide into the nest. In appearance, the device does not differ from competitors' analogues. The cost of the “Deadly Force” trap is on average 250–300 rubles.

Taiga

The brand specializes in the production of gels and glue traps for cockroaches. Glue traps can be purchased at any hardware store for about 50 rubles. a piece. After opening the package, you simply need to construct a house from folded cardboard and install it in the intended habitat of the insects. There is no need to add more bait; it is already present in the center of the adhesive layer. The manufacturer indicates that the substances included in the composition are harmless to humans and pets, but you should still not come into contact with the device.

Clean house

The trap works based on the fact that the pest crawls into a special plastic box, smelling the bait, where it comes under the influence of the poison - chlorpyrifos. Then it infects other relatives in the nests. One package includes 6 traps that can operate for at least 2 months. The cost of a “Clean House” varies between 150 rubles.

Reid

The popular manufacturer of home pest control products "Raid" took care of creating a special device for catching cockroaches. A distinctive feature is that there are two different destruction devices in one package. The standard Raid Max kit includes 6 simple enteric contact traps. Additionally, each kit contains a special reproduction regulator, which sterilizes cockroaches that have not eaten the bait.

How to use:

1. Place traps around the apartment at a rate of at least 5 traps per 10 square meters. m.
2. Activate the breeding regulator and install it near the expected habitats of cockroaches.
3. Replace the governor disc every 90 days.

Having studied the instructions on the packaging you can find out that:

• One set is definitely not enough for the whole apartment;
• the effect of the regulator occurs 2 weeks after installation;
• It is prohibited to install the regulator near food and kitchen utensils.

"Raid Max" has an average rating among consumers, since the best option is to use it in combination with other means, and also because the result does not come immediately. On average, buying one package will cost you about 300 rubles.

Dohlox

Dohlox traps are based on fipronil, an intestinal substance. In terms of functionality and performance, it is no different from similar devices. There is an opinion that cockroaches have already developed immunity to the drug, which is why Dohlox has an average rating according to reviews on the Internet. You can buy a package with a set of 6 traps for about 120 rubles.

Boric acid

Another remedy that mustachioed invaders fear is ordinary boric acid. Penetrating into the body of an insect, it disrupts the functioning of its nervous system, causes paralysis and the parasite inevitably dies.

You can force a cockroach to eat poison by making a bait by mixing boric acid with flour and egg yolk.

You need to mix all the ingredients, form small balls from the resulting mixture and place them in all rooms of the home. Attention should be paid to those surfaces where you see the largest concentration of insects.

The use of boric acid to kill cockroaches has both advantages and some disadvantages.

Among the positive aspects are:

• absolute safety for the life and health of humans, as well as their pets;
• no unpleasant odor;
• the death of parasites, and not just their escape.

The disadvantages of using boric acid include:

1. this method cannot be called the fastest, because every insect must come into contact with a poisonous agent;
2. If a poisoned Prussian can get to the water and drink it, then he is not in danger of death. Therefore, when using boric acid, it is necessary to prevent cockroaches from accessing water sources.

How to make a cockroach trap with your own hands

Homemade devices are almost as good as purchased ones. They are not difficult to make, and you can use available materials as materials. Please note that any trap must be installed in the evening, since cockroaches are predominantly nocturnal.

From a plastic bottle

A plastic bottle trap can be made in just a few minutes. Cut the bottle so that the part with the neck is 2 times smaller than the base. Pour water into the bottom and place bait. Turn the top part over and insert it into the bottom, after lubricating the walls with a fat-containing substance. It is worth considering that the capacity of the plastic container is quite small and the narrow neck does not allow the aroma of the delicacy to pass through well.

From a pencil box

A pencil box makes a good trap because of its flat shape and hole on the outside. The device is practically no different in appearance and functionality from purchased glue houses.

Cover the inside of the box with double-sided tape or fixing glue, and then place the bait in the center. Cockroaches will crawl in for a treat, but will not be able to crawl back out.

Adhesive

You can build a trap similar to the previous one from a piece of cardboard. Simply cover the surface with double-sided tape and place the bait in the center. In the morning you will find the first victims.

From cans

The width of the neck of the jar will allow you to lubricate not only the neck, but also the inner walls. This gives even greater confidence that the pest will not be able to crawl back.

To make it you will need:

• jar or other container;
• fat-containing substance;
• fabric or paper;
• aromatic bait product.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. Place a strong-smelling bait product at the bottom of the jar.
2. Lubricate the neck and walls inside generously with sunflower oil or Vaseline.
3. Wrap the container with a rag or paper to reduce the insect's sliding on a smooth surface.
4. Place a ready-made trap in an area where cockroaches are likely to gather (under the sink, behind the refrigerator, or near the trash can).

It is not necessary to wrap the container with a rag or paper. Just make a kind of path from the floor to the neck out of a piece of cardboard.

Be careful, in the morning many living individuals may accumulate in the jar.

Which bait to choose

If a cockroach smells the aroma of decaying food, as well as sweets or fermenting alcoholic drinks, it will definitely crawl towards the alluring smell. This property is used precisely to lure the pest into a trap. For baits they usually use:

• sugar;
• honey;
• sweet fruits;
• egg yolk;
• beer;
• wine;
• kefir.

You can experiment with the described baits and choose the best one in your opinion.

Homemade boric acid trap

Unlike previous products intended only for catching cockroaches, a trap with boric acid has a destructive effect. It is not harmful to humans, but is lethal to insects. The essence of the bait is based on the Prussian eating poison mixed with a fragrant product.

The most famous boric acid bait is balls with boiled yolk. To make it you will need:

• boric acid (liquid or powder);
• egg.

Mix the yolk with 30 g of boric acid powder and roll into small balls. Place baits in suspected pest habitats, excluding areas where children or pets can reach. Instead of yolk, you can use other foods that cockroaches love, such as sugar and vanilla or potatoes. Also, such bait can be placed in a glue trap, and they will complement each other’s effectiveness.

Conclusion

All the phobias of cockroaches that we discussed above are nonsense compared to the lack of water and food. They can adapt to any living conditions and to different smells, but without food and water they will never be able to survive.

If these picky insects can eat anything as food, then the presence of water is an indispensable condition for their existence.

Dehydration leads to the inevitable death of the Prussians, and this will only take one week. Therefore, the best option would be to limit the access of insects to all sources of water in the home and to always have plumbing equipment in working order.

Places to install cockroach traps

The cockroach's body is small in size and covered with a smooth chitinous shell, so the insect is able to get into a variety of hard-to-reach places and crevices. They usually hide under baseboards, behind kitchen appliances and furniture, and near trash cans. To catch a Prussian in a trap, it is enough to place them in places where they will crawl out of their nests to eat or drink. Avoid installing devices within the reach of children and pets.

Fear of rats

Cockroaches have an extremely negative attitude towards the presence of rats nearby; they cannot even tolerate the smell of these rodents.

The Prussians do not like such competition, since they may not have enough food. They will be forced to leave the apartment and search for another place suitable for their residence.

Of course, wild rats released into an apartment is not the best solution. Buy a decorative rat from a pet store and release it into the kitchen area for a couple or three days. The result will certainly please you!

Prevention of cockroaches

To prevent the appearance of cockroaches in the apartment, it is enough to keep all rooms clean and follow simple recommendations:

1. Always store all food in the refrigerator, containers or plastic bags.
2. Do not allow dirty dishes to remain in the sink overnight, or crumbs and cups of unfinished drinks to remain on the tables.
3. Wipe bathroom fixtures, sinks and dishes dry.
4. Throw out trash promptly.
5. Repair your water supply system promptly if leaks occur.
6. If possible, ensure that there are no gaps in the walls and floors.

Of course, perfect cleanliness does not guarantee that cockroaches will not appear, because they can come to you from neighbors or from the basement. However, maintaining cleanliness significantly reduces the risk that pests will linger for a long time.

The effectiveness of cockroach traps depends on the degree of infestation of the premises and the timeliness of their use. If there are few cockroaches, purchased or homemade traps will do an excellent job of exterminating the population and will not require any special material or physical costs.

Ammonia

Cockroaches have an extremely negative attitude towards the smell of ammonia in the apartment. Ammonia is nothing more than an ammonia solution, which can be easily purchased at any pharmacy.

To repel insects, one teaspoon of ammonia solution is added to a bucket of water intended for wet cleaning of the room. This is an effective measure, but it is better to resort to it only as a backup option.

Not every housewife can withstand the pungent smell of ammonia, but she will have to treat the entire apartment with the solution, and after cleaning is complete, the smell lingers for a long time.

Therefore, a respirator should be used during cleaning and windows should be kept open. This type of treatment should be done weekly.

Description of the insect

Biologists noted that today there are about 3,500 species , many of them live in people's homes and are capable of carrying about 40 types of infectious bacteria that cause serious diseases. It is very easy to recognize a cockroach by its appearance. It is an oval and flat body that allows these creatures to sneak into narrow crevices. Their legs are quite powerful, which is why they run faster than bedbugs.

Professional services

Disinfection professionals use specialized products and equipment. Today, insecticides are actively used in the form of strong gels, suspensions, such as Sinuzan, Tetrix and other aggressive substances, which are filled into special equipment - a gun or a cold/hot fog generator. It is a cloud of fog with microscopic drops down to microns that can fill for a long time all the corners, crevices, cracks where insects could hide from the poison and drive them away forever. The price of the service for processing, for example, a 1-room apartment is from 1000 rubles or more.

You can view all offers from pest control companies, find out the composition of services, ratings, and compare costs on our website.

Composition of gels

Cockroach pastes contain several substances:

1. Insecticidal substance. The best brands contain the following insecticides:

• Fipronil;
• Diphlobenzuron;
• Hydramethylnon;
• Chlorpyrifos;
• Diazinon;
• Deltamethrin;
• Cypermethrin.

Some brands contain 2-3 chemicals, which immediately increases the effectiveness of the drug. But do not forget that two- or three-component gels are characterized by a greater degree of toxicity.

2. Fat base - prevents the product from drying out quickly, keeps the gel in working condition for several months, and allows you to accurately dose portions.

3. Attractants – attract insects with an appetizing aroma. These substances are distributed throughout the colony and lead to its death within 7 days.

The effect of the gel depends on the type of insecticide. If it is intestinal (penetrates the gastrointestinal tract), the death of cockroaches will occur after eating the product. If it is contact, it is enough for the product to reach the parasite.

Syringe or tube: which is better?

Most gel tubes are equipped with a special narrow nozzle, which makes their use convenient. But you can squeeze out every last drop of the product from the syringe, which means its consumption is more economical.

There are a huge number of good gels against cockroaches and ants, and it is difficult to recommend anything specific. It all depends on your budget, personal preferences and the size of the area where pest control is needed. Buy only high-quality drugs from well-known brands and follow safety precautions when working with them.