In modern cities, there are almost no cockroaches. This joyful fact is explained by the presence of microwaves in the apartments and Wi-Fi, and by leaving the practice of gluing wallpaper on starch diluted in water, and ecology, and near the end of the world, and a thousand more reasons. However, there are annoying exceptions. And if in one not very beautiful moment an unexpected six-faced guest will be found on the kitchen table or in another place, you will have to get rid of him and his relatives in the shortest possible time. How to do this, we consider in this article.
What does a harmful insect look like?
According to the data of modern entomology, there are more than 4.5 thousand species of cockroaches. As an uninvited guest in your house, you will most likely find one of the following three varieties:
- red cockroach - reddish-brown color, slightly more than a centimeter long;
- black beetle - length up to three centimeters, color dark brown or black;
- american periplanet - length up to three centimeters, color brown, delivered with goods to Europe from Cuba.
Did you know? Some cockroaches are very cute, they are even kept as pets. For example, a banana cockroach of a gentle green color, feeds on nectar, can jump and fly, and Madagascar can reach a length of about 9 cm and hiss loudly if it senses danger.
Why and where does the apartment come from
If your house is warm, there is where to hide and what is, for cockroaches these are ideal conditions. And they can appear, it would seem, from nowhere. Although this is certainly not the case, they usually end up in an apartment as follows:
- From neighbors. They can simply expand the habitat area or flee en masse if they decide to poison them there.
- From ventilation, garbage disposal, from the attic, basement and other communications of an apartment building.
- With things brought in or products (for example, from not too worrying about the cleanliness of the store).
- From the parcels (and if they come from warm countries, they may contain other insects).
- You can bring them in bags or suitcases from a trip, vacation or business trip. (and it’s good if there are no bedbugs with them).
We also advise you to learn how to deal with bedbugs at home.
What are dangerous to humans?
At first glance it may seem that, apart from the feeling of disgust, the beetles in the house do not bring any other discomfort. However, proximity to cockroaches carries significant risks:
- These bugs carry many bacteria, parasite eggs and other unpleasant things, such as pathogens of various diseases.
- Cockroaches can bring diseases such as dysentery, salmonellosis, meningitis, gastroenteritis, infections of the urinary system, mycobacteriosis and much more into your home.
- Also, helminth eggs, namely pinworms, clawers, ascaris and their close relatives are moved along with them.
- Everything that insects have been in contact with, moving through basements, garbage lines, garbage tanks and sewage systems, gets onto your kitchen table, your food and, as a result, into your body.
- These insects compete with you for your food - they spoil the food, contaminating them and making them unfit for consumption.
- If there is a permanently living cockroach colony, the products of their vital activity make up a significant proportion of dust in the apartment and can cause residents of allergies in the form of dermatitis, asthma, or severe rhinitis.
- Black cockroaches themselves smell unpleasant.
Important! These bugs can cause very significant damage: there were cases when hungry insects gnawed the skin of sleeping people. Also, many doctors were faced with the need to remove a cockroach from a person’s ear, as the patient could not do it alone.
How and with what you can fight
There are a lot of types of means of struggle, they all have their pros and cons. When choosing, you should consider the features of your case (the number of insects, the presence of pets, the ability to leave the apartment for a long time, etc.)
Aerosols
The unequivocal advantage of these tools is accuracy (it can be sprayed onto selected surfaces and into hard-to-reach places) and efficiency (it is guaranteed to kill individuals affected by it). However, there are drawbacks: the effect does not last long, it does not kill well-hidden beetles, it is dangerous for children and pets.
It should be used in places of insect accumulation, at the same time remove households and pets from the premises, carefully close windows and doors. Use personal protective equipment (gloves and respirator). 
Main brands: "Dichlorvos", "Raptor", "Combat", "Baron", "Raid", "Clean House".
Liquid funds
Diluted in water and applied to all surfaces in the house, on which insects can crawl. They act for a long time (about a couple of months), they kill effectively.
There are two types: concentrate and capsules (Six months are valid, but they are more expensive). They are considered the most modern means of combating insects.
There are many brands: "Avalon", "Medilis", "Agran", "Delta Zone", "Dobrokhim", "Ksulat" and many others.
Gels
Sold in tubes and tubes, applied in places where there are insects, but which are difficult to access for children and animals. Due to the delayed effect, the gels kill not only the individuals directly in contact with them, but also those with whom the suicide bomber who had returned to the colony will have time to touch. Holds the gel for several months. 
Most Popular: "", "Global", "Absolute", "Brownie", "Dohloks", "Combat".
Velcro traps
Small boxes act according to the principle - to lure (with the help of the smell of a treat) and hold onto an adhesive surface. Compact, safe for people and pets. They are ineffective if you have already established a colony, as they do not kill the larvae and eggs. As filling should be discarded and changed to a new one. 
Stamps: "Barrier", "Taiga", "Argus", "Forssayt".
Did you know? Cockroaches can not breathe for about forty minutes, and also pretend to be dead. So the corpse of the enemy should be disposed of with all care, just throw it into the trash bin is not enough - flush down the toilet.
Crayons
Legendary chalk "Masha" (according to legend, consists of concentrated hatred) and its analogues. They should draw lines in places where cockroaches run. When crossing a line, an insect contacts with a lethal substance for it, puts it in a colony, infects others and dies itself.
The tool is very effective, but there are also drawbacks - toxicity (they should be drawn in places inaccessible for children and animals), the first effect appears after a few days, the tool disappears, so for about a month the lines should be updated every week. 
Folk remedies
Our ancestors fought cockroaches for a long time and sometimes successfully. Their experience can be useful to us, especially if you need to save money (modern disinsecticides are very expensive).
Ants are quite popular pests. Learn how to deal with them, with: ammonia, boric acid, the drug "Muravin", as well as read how to get rid of ants in the garden with the help of folk remedies.
Boric acid
Boric acid is a deadly poison for a cockroach. However, it is tasteless, and there will not be a pest voluntarily. From her make bait, mixing with food. The most popular recipe is balls of boiled yolk and boric acid (40 g of substance per one yolk).
Pyrethrum powder
100% natural powdered dry chamomile powder. Absolutely safe. You can scatter in the corners or make baits from it in the same way as boric acid.
Plants and substances with a pungent smell
Strong-smelling means will help you get rid of not only cockroaches, but also from family members and neighbors, but sometimes the result requires sacrifice.
The following substances are relevant:
- Ammonia - dilute in a bucket of water (enough spoons) and wash the floors. Cockroaches will not die, but the housing will be abandoned.
- Kerosene, turpentine or denatured alcohol - put a little on the baseboards and in the corners. Insects must go.
- Geranium in a pot. If there are already cockroaches, it will not help much, but as a prevention it is very good. It also blooms beautifully.
Read about the most sought-after species and varieties of room geraniums, how to care for geraniums: what to do if the leaves turn yellow, how to trim and pinch geranium for lush flowering, and how to propagate the royal geranium at home.
Professional pest control: the pros and cons
When there are too many cockroaches, and conventional means do not help, the call may be a call for specialists. Professional disinsection has both undeniable advantages and disadvantages.
pros:
- Guaranteed quality and results (by entering into an agreement, check the availability of a guarantee).
- No effort on your part.
- Safety (using strong, but reliable and non-toxic drugs for humans and animals).
disadvantages:
- The need to leave home for a definite period to everyone at the same time, taking pets with them (even those who live in an aquarium or a terrarium).
- The cost is not so high, but high.
- The need for wet cleaning and washing all the dishes after the procedure.
- All food at the time of disinfestation should be either taken with you or discarded if this has not been done.
How to prevent re-occurrence
As they say, it is easier to prevent than to fight. In order to prevent the appearance of uninvited guests, you should follow a few simple recommendations:
- Cover the ventilation openings with a fine mesh or grille. For fidelity - to process boric acid.
- Fully block access to food - everything must be tightly packed (for bulk cereals, cans or special containers suit sugar), no half-open bags and loose boxes! Food pots are a good option.
- Regular cleaning. Crumbs, grease stains, leftovers on the table are just a feast for the pests, so they should be removed as soon as possible, and not later on.
- Washing dishes - immediately after eating.
- Regular cleaning of the sinks.
Important! Cockroaches can not live long without water (although starving is not a problem for them). So it’s worth making sure that there is no place to get the water in your house: eliminate leaks in the water supply system, do not leave even small puddles on horizontal surfaces.
So, as they say: "my home is my fortress." So that the enemy will not pass, and if passed, it will be mercilessly destroyed. Fortunately, humankind has invented more than enough effective means for fighting insects. Good luck in battle!
