Do we have a Cockroach problem?
My husband and I are currently living in a trailer built in the 1970s. While it looks updated and well-maintained from the inside, we are finding that it has its share of issues. We don’t expect it to be perfect, it is temporary, but we have a new problem arising. My husband and I have found roaches a couple of times in the past week. We first put down some sticky traps after finding very tiny roach-looking bugs a couple times, but we have not caught anything on the traps. We have only found about 3 roaches, but I know they are nocturnal. Should we be worried at this point? I’m just concerned we won’t be able to get rid of them because of all the cracks and crevices in our old home.
I just keep thinking it will continue to become a problem because our home is not well sealed. If we do kill now… how do we keep them from coming back? Also, are the poisons okay to use with cats in the house… as long as they aren’t where they can get to them?
April 21st, 2011 at 6:33 am
they’re probably all over, inbetween walls and whatnot
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April 21st, 2011 at 7:33 am
If you found one, you have one hundred you didn’t find.
Yes, you have a problem. You need to treat the entire house at one time. Treating just part of the house will result in them moving from one room to the next until it is safe to return.
Spray now, include under the drawers, sinks, under side of the counters, all crevices and cracks, inside the kitchen range, under the refrig, under the furniture, and any place a roach can hide.
Work Boric Acid ( a powder you can get at the drug store) into all crevices, and around the edges of the room. The work the acid into the carpet with a broom.
In two weeks, spray again to get the ones that hatched after you sprayed. Don’t wait until 3 weeks because they start laying eggs at 3 weeks old.
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April 21st, 2011 at 8:34 am
If you’re only seeing that few then I wouldn’t think it’s infested but it could get that way quickly. It also depends on who lives around you–if you live in a park with other trailers close to you you will continually have a problem if there are ppl around you who have them. Sticky traps aren’t what you need. The best thing I have ever used is the gel poision–can’t recall which brand it is but it’s in a tube kinda like caulk that you put in the corners of your cabinets and along crevices in your kitchen and bathrooms. I would get a couple tubes of that and put it everywhere but just make sure you don’t put it where dishes or food in your cabinets will touch it. Then you can also use a spray but personally I would try the gel first. If you still see them a couple weeks later then I would go behind and spray other areas where you didn’t put the gel.
There’s also boric acid which you can sprinkle around but I’ve heard mixed reviews on how well it works. But you could try sprinkling that or spraying poison around the outside of the place–around windows and doors. I just like to use spray poison as a last resort on the inside. I wouldn’t freak out at this point but I would def do something proactive to stop them if you can before it gets bad.
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April 21st, 2011 at 9:34 am
you didn’t mention whether you are seeing the large outdoor roach (almost 2 inches) or the smaller German roach (adults are around 5/8 of an inch long). If your meaning the German, a good aid is to place out the roach bait that comes in a large syringe…Combat brand is a good one. Place it in cracks and corners around where you are seeing the roaches and it will clear up even a minor infestation quickly.
me-exterminator
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