There are many modern drugs on the market for products that allow you to quickly and effectively get rid of cockroaches. After all, these insects, even unpleasant in appearance, cannot be called welcome neighbors, not to mention the fact that they leave traces of vital activity on food products and things and carry dangerous infections. Therefore, owners of apartments and private houses are puzzled by choosing a good drug. Among the popular chemicals against cockroaches, one can safely name fipronil, or rather, products in which it is a key component.
Properties of fipronil
A chemical substance with this name can only be purchased in the form of preparations, since it is not sold in its natural form. This broad-spectrum insecticide belongs to the phenylpyrazoles family.
Fipronil is a strong poison for cockroaches, which has a slow effect on their body and is used as an additive in bait. It was developed by the French concern Rhone-Poulenc between 1985 and 1987. In 1993, the product was patented in the United States. Since 1987, fipronil has been widely used against more than 250 insects in many countries around the world.
Cockroaches don’t even have to take fipronil internally - it begins its destructive effects after a while, even if the parasite simply runs its whiskers across the gel. The principle of action of the substance is a toxic effect on the cells of the central nervous system of insects, resulting in blocking of GABA-related glutamate and chloride channels.
Infected individuals return to the nest and transfer part of the poison to their fellows. As written in the instructions, the inevitable death of parasites occurs within 24 to 72 hours. Since dead cockroaches are eaten by still living ones, further transfer of poison from individual to individual continues. The lasting effect after using fipronil-based products lasts for another 1 month.
As the manufacturer notes in the instructions, if the drug comes into contact with human skin, slight irritation may occur. If accidentally swallowed, seek immediate medical attention as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, abdominal pain, weakness and even convulsions are common symptoms. Since these types of drugs are very toxic, they should not be used in areas where there are children and pregnant women.
Fipronil - hazard class for humans
It is difficult to imagine modern household chemicals without pesticides, or more precisely, insecticides , that is, products designed to kill insects.
The most common products in central Russia are anti-fly and mosquito repellents.
However, unlike these “seasonal” drugs, some residents also encounter much more unpleasant and annoying insects.
First of all, we are talking about cockroaches, which have enormous fertility and resistance to certain poisons, making them very difficult to destroy in residential areas.
There are not many effective and effective remedies for cockroaches, and one of them is fipronil. Fipronil (phenylprazole), a white powder with an unpleasant odor, is one of the most effective pesticides for a wide range of applications.
According to experts, this drug, included in baits against cockroaches, acts quickly and effectively. In particular, the first insects begin to die within 10-12 hours after its use.
The duration of action of one “dressing” is not too long (up to two to three weeks), but if you use it again within a month, you can completely get rid of annoying “household” insects (of course, provided that they do not constantly crawl into the house from neighbors or from other places outside the apartment).
In addition to household issues, fipronil was also actively used in agriculture - for the treatment of crops and trees.
Fipronil is especially successful in killing locusts , since even a small dose of the drug remaining after spraying on the grass and leaves can reliably destroy the pest.
Also, one of the ways to use the drug is to kill ticks and fleas in pets by treating their fur with it.
However, many residents, both apartments and farms, are interested in the potential danger of fipronil for people and pets. In this regard, first of all, it is necessary to explain what pesticides are and how they work.
Substances such as fipronil are a substance that, in a living body, blocks the transmission of nerve signals and disrupts the functioning of the nervous system. Due to this, small pests (ants, bedbugs, fleas, cockroaches), poisoned by the drug, quickly die.
However, by their nature, almost all living beings are the same, so this drug has a negative effect not only on insects, but also on larger organisms.
First of all, the use of fipronil is dangerous for honey bees, because these insects actively move from one flowering plant to another, after which they carry pollen and nectar into their “home”. If nectar and pollen are poisoned by fipronil, not only the bee that collected it will die, but also its “neighbors” in the hive.
In addition, this drug can cause certain harm to the health of both pets and humans. When using such a drug at home, you need to understand that its smell can attract not only insects, but also, for example, a cat or dog, which can eat the scattered bait and get poisoned.
Due to the fact that the body of a dog or cat is much larger than small insects, the lethal dosage of the drug is much higher (thousands of times). At the same time, the possibility of severe poisoning is also possible.
For this reason, in apartments where there are pets, any pesticides and insecticides should be used very carefully , ideally only during the period when the animal is not in the house. The same applies to small children, who are very inquisitive and can pick up even completely inedible objects from the floor and taste them.
Therefore, it is necessary to place the cockroach poison in such a way as to completely exclude the possibility of a small child coming into contact with it.
As for adults, contact of the drug with the skin can cause irritation, redness and itching, which, however, goes away quite quickly.
But if accidentally ingested, the drug can cause nausea, vomiting, headaches, weakness and fever. Most often, such symptoms pass quickly and do not require treatment, but in some cases, upon contact with fipronil, an allergic reaction (individual intolerance) may occur.
In this regard, when treating premises, crops or pet fur with fipronil, safety precautions must be observed. It is advisable to use special gloves and a respirator, and avoid contact of the drug with clothing, utensils, and food.
When using a drug to kill parasites on pets, you need to wash it off very quickly, not allowing the animal to lick the remaining drug from the fur. In addition, it is advisable not to use fipronil in apartments, houses or courtyards where pregnant women or small children are located.
The effectiveness of the product - benefits and harms
If we take into account the cascade effect, the mortality rate of cockroaches and other insects can be up to 95% in the first 3 days. The product has pronounced toxic properties because its smell and taste are not unpleasant for pests. Therefore, they gladly swallow the poison.
Cockroach corpses and feces remain filled with a sufficient amount of toxic substance to destroy healthy parasites. The benefits of this component of drugs are also great in other areas - it is used as the main component of anti-flea products for pets and to control pests that cause damage to the agricultural sector.
The harm of the product lies in its high degree of toxicity to fish and invertebrate creatures living in the water. Its ability to combine with sediment and low solubility in water can reduce the danger. This is relevant for owners of aquarium fish who plan to use drugs in the form of a spray.
The described component is also destructive for bees. If you have parrots or other birds in your apartment or house, remember that if they swallow drugs containing this component, there may be undesirable consequences for their health. It is recommended to limit the movement of birds around the premises for at least a month, which must pass from the moment of treatment.
Cockroach Executioner
The drug is manufactured in Germany. Both at home and in our country, it is the most common means for combating various household pests. “Executioner” is highly effective, economically used, low-toxic, and has no pungent odor. But along with the growth of its popularity, the number of counterfeits of the drug began to increase. Therefore, today it is possible to buy the original product only in Germany, or through certified online stores.
Important! The main active component in “Executioner” can be not only fipronil, but also fenthion. Both of these substances are equally effective at killing insects.
The product is sold as a concentrate. To prepare an insecticidal solution, you need to mix the substance with water. If there are a lot of cockroaches in the house, then spraying alone will not be enough; to achieve the best results, you must also use the drug in the form of bait.
Fipronil-based products
In a number of countries around the world, fipronil is included in various drugs and is sold under different brand names. For example, in China and the USA, the production of “Regent”, which contains this substance, has been established.
The product is effective against butterflies, grasshoppers, locusts, and beetles. In the United States, products under the trade names “Goliath” and “Nexa” are used against cockroaches and ants. The drug “Adonis” helps residents of Kazakhstan and the island of Madagascar fight locusts. The termite population in Australia and Africa can be reduced by using the preparations Taurus, Termidor, and Ultrathor.”
In the UK, the above ingredient is a general purpose insecticide. In order to rid their pets of ticks and fleas, Americans and Europeans can use Frontline TopSpot, Fiproguard, Flevox and PetArmor. In New Zealand, a component of the products helps destroy poisonous wasps.
In our country, it is a key component of such drugs as “Regent-25”, “Frontline”, “Eslanadez-gel”, “Anti-cockroach-gel”, “Brownie Proshka”, “Maxforce Gold”, “Executioner”, which allow you to fight against cockroaches in the home.
Regent
For example, Regent is effective against many insect pests, in addition to cockroaches. It is available in powder form; before use, the drug should be diluted in water. To get rid of household pests, a simple irrigation of the room will be enough. If used for horticultural crops, spraying should be used.
Since the effect of baiting after irrigation does not occur immediately, since the drug gradually weakens the strength of the chitinous cover of the body of pests, baits created with this powder have gained popularity. If swallowed by a cockroach, they will quickly cause its death.
Executioner
“Executioner” was produced in Germany and is successfully used in our country. It is offered by the manufacturer in the convenient form of a concentrated emulsion, which must be diluted with water shortly before use. Spraying will not get rid of parasites as quickly as you would like, so decide how to feed the product to uninvited guests.
Brownie Proshka
“Brownie Proshka” is a product intended for household and medical disinfestation, which works well against cockroaches and ants. The gel is applied with a dispenser syringe to the places where insect movement is most often observed. It guarantees excellent results and has an affordable price for everyone.
Whichever of the drugs based on the component described in the article you use, remember the need to observe the rules of sanitation and hygiene in your own home.
Instructions for use
Fipronil is included in a variety of drugs, each of which has its own purpose, so there are no universal instructions for it - in each specific case you must follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer. The only condition common to all drugs is compliance with standard safety measures:
- While working with the substance, drinking, smoking and eating are prohibited. The face should be protected with a special mask, hands with gloves, and body with tight-fitting clothing to prevent the drug from coming into contact with exposed skin. Take precautions when treating with Fipronil to avoid poisoning
- The dishes that were used to prepare the working solution should not subsequently be mixed with kitchen utensils.
- Fipronil should not be used near ponds or aquariums. During treatment, there should be no small children or pregnant women nearby. If the drug is used as part of a food bait, the latter is positioned so that the child cannot reach it.
- At the slightest symptoms of poisoning (dizziness, nausea, vomiting, general weakness, etc.), you should immediately consult a doctor.
Anti-flea products with Fipronil are contraindicated for puppies and kittens under two months of age, as well as adult animals with weakened immune systems.
The substance has the first and third classes of danger for pollinating insects (depending on the purpose of the drug, which includes Fipronil). Hazard classes for humans - second and third.
Review of gels against cockroaches
A cockroach can be killed with a slipper and cold. In the first case, you won’t have enough shoes, and central heating won’t allow you to install an icebox in your apartment. Once upon a time in Rus', in severe frosts, they stopped heating the stove, let the hut cool down, and went to stay with their neighbors for a day or two. This is how we got rid of cockroaches. And they can withstand heat up to 55 degrees and don’t blow too much, so in the summer there was always freedom for them.
But we also have to somehow get rid of this six-legged evil spirit scurrying around the kitchen. We have to fight them with other methods - chemistry. We present to you the best cockroach repellents that the chemical industry can offer us.
Gektor
A special product from the Gektor brand line, designed to kill cockroaches. The formula is specially developed for food production that strictly monitors compliance with all safety standards. Recently, it has become possible to purchase it in a regular store for use in a residential apartment.
The product does not work instantly. This is due to the fact that it takes time for most cockroaches to come into contact with the product. Usually this should take 7 days.
It is important to note that the product is odorless, and for use there is no need to dilute any solutions, since the product is already ready for use.
Price – 550 rubles per bottle.
Gektor (Hector) cockroach powder
Globol
The German manufacturer claims that one drop of this gel can poison five hundred cockroaches. The active ingredient is chlorpyrifos, which acts on the nervous system of insects, and they are no longer able to bother anyone. The gel is absolutely harmless to mammals, which makes pet owners very happy.
This gel is long lasting. The cockroach does not die immediately, but spreads the “infection”, infecting other individuals. The peak of the epidemic occurs within 24 hours, but the entire family will finally die in a week or two.
It is recommended to apply the product to paper strips and place them in suspicious places. After two weeks, you can repeat the treatment to consolidate the result (do not forget about the offspring).
Price – 280 rubles.
Globol for cockroaches
"Regent"
The French manufacturer threw all his strength into the fight against the Colorado potato beetle, but quite by accident discovered that the product he created was very effective for fighting cockroaches.
The active ingredient is fipronil. By the way, the cockroach doesn’t even need to try the “treat”; it can be absorbed into its body even through the surface of its shell.
What do we have to do? The substance is dissolved in water according to the instructions. The stronger the concentration, the greater the lethal effect. And then you pour the liquid into a bottle and spray it on the hot spots. It is advisable to wear a gas mask and a protective rubber suit, but if you don’t have one, you can get by with ordinary rubber gloves, goggles and a mask (even a scuba diver’s mask will do).
It is better to remove children and pets from the premises in advance; you should not leave other family members. After an hour and a half or two, the apartment needs to be thoroughly ventilated and accessible areas washed.
Price – 3,150 rubles per hundred gram jar.
Cockroach Regent
This drug acts not only on cockroaches, but also on other “domestic” insects. The active ingredient is chlorpyrifos, which is very harmful to six-legged apartment dwellers. Luckily, it is safe for both four-legged and two-legged animals.
The product must be mixed with water in a ratio of one to ten and sprayed around the apartment. After the water dries, microcapsules in a polymer shell containing poison will remain on the surfaces.
The drug is effective for six months, which is very profitable and economical - no re-treatment is required.
Price – 980 rubles per 100 ml bottle.
Get away from cockroaches
"Dohlox"
An excellent product with a “speaking” name! Available in the form of a gel placed in a syringe. It is enough to squeeze out the gel balls in the hot spots, and the problem can be solved if your cockroaches have not yet developed immunity to this poison. By the way, it is very poisonous for six-legged animals, but it is not particularly toxic for people and pets, but you should not take risks and apply the gel to accessible surfaces.
This is a real multiple launch rocket system that kills insects on the spot. The active ingredient is fenipronil, which also kills fleas and ticks (actively used in veterinary medicine).
Suitable for disinfecting even heavily infested premises in the presence of other food sources for cockroaches, for example, a kitchen, dining room, and other catering establishments. The gel contains a tasty-smelling bait that cockroaches cannot refuse and rush headlong towards the treat.
Price – 300 rubles per 100 ml bottle. This amount replaces five 20 ml syringes.
Dohloks from cockroaches
Combat
The aerosol is simply lethal - insects have absolutely no chance of survival. A very convenient nozzle makes it possible to spray the drug even in hard-to-reach places.
Unfortunately, the product is very toxic and has an unpleasant odor. It is recommended to spray it while wearing a mask and be sure to leave the room for several hours, then ventilate and wash all surfaces.
It is the brainchild of Henkel, which also produces other forms of insecticides - traps and gels. Plastic traps with poison inside are very popular among the population. The cockroach eats the poison and then infects hundreds of other individuals, including its own offspring.
The quality is quite consistent with the price. The price for an aerosol is 300 rubles, for a package of six traps – 450 rubles.
Combat from cockroaches
"Mashenka"
It’s not for nothing that all terrible disasters are called by women’s names. This chalk is known not only to several generations of our citizens, but also to all cockroaches who once lived before learning about this product.
The main active ingredient is chlorpyrifos, which blocks the vital organs of your six-legged pets. Since the product is poisonous, it is not recommended to handle it with hands without gloves or other protective covering.
To achieve maximum gain in the fight against “enemies”, draw continuous lines in places where the enemy appears, for example, along baseboards, around the stove, sink, bathtub, around ventilation grilles and other suspicious openings. Don't forget to add some "art" to the inside of drawers and kitchen cabinets. It is recommended to avoid open surfaces, as the product is toxic and you yourself may be harmed by your own “ammunition”.
“Mashenka” is not very aggressive; she fizzles out in just a week. Therefore, it should be used more for prevention and finishing off the enemy than for serious combat operations.
Price – 70 rubles.
Mashenka from cockroaches
Dichlorvos
Quite an old but true weapon for fighting insects. Not only cockroaches, but also flies, fleas, ants and other living creatures cannot resist the killing power of a proven product.
And if earlier the drug was very toxic to the main inhabitants of the home, had a pungent odor, and required the removal of all inhabitants from the room, now it has been modified and practically does not cause unpleasant sensations. But it’s better to go for a walk in the fresh air than to watch TV when grandma decided to poison the cockroaches.
By the way, consumers are complaining that the new version with a “negligible” scent is much worse at controlling cockroaches.
The price for an aerosol can is 85 rubles.
Dichlorvos for cockroaches
Boric acid
It is very effective and, most importantly, absolutely safe for humans. It can be scattered in places where there are large concentrations of cockroaches, either in pure form or mixed with various food additives. It is especially recommended to mix boric acid with boiled egg yolk, make small balls and scatter “mines” on enemy paths.
If you have no desire to prepare ammunition yourself, then the chemical industry will come to the rescue, producing ready-made boron balls made from boric acid and a tasty food additive with Dohlox poison. This remedy is called “Get lost!”
The balls should be placed around the room and wait for the result of the sabotage. Try to avoid dusty places, and also make sure that children and pets do not find the poison. After laying the “min”, do not forget to wash your hands with soap.
We suggest you familiarize yourself with: An old lice remedy
For 8 balls you need to pay 80 rubles, while the pure substance costs 150 rubles per 1 kg.
Boric acid
"Raptor"
Very often, an insecticide such as Raptor is recommended to kill cockroaches. It comes in a wide range - spray, traps, gel. According to user reviews, it helps even when all other means fail.
One tube of gel is enough to get rid of harmful insects not only in your apartment, but also in your neighbor’s.
The gel is white in color and has a pleasant vanilla scent, but after application it is not noticeable in the room. Apply in balls or stripes at a distance of 2-4 centimeters from each other. Cockroaches find a treat, eat it and infect the entire family.
In order not to scrub off the dried gel during cleaning, it is recommended to apply it to sheets of paper and simply throw it away after a couple of weeks. This will keep your floors and other surfaces clean and the cockroaches dead.
Price – 155 rubles.
Raptor for cockroaches
"Clean house"
Available in the form of strips for rooms where the cockroach family has not yet had time to gain a foothold and multiply, as well as in the form of an aerosol or powder for a radical solution to the problem.
The powder has an acute poisonous effect and poisons not only cockroaches, but also flies, fleas, and bedbugs. Very toxic, but also effective. If no other remedy helps, then this remedy will be a lifesaver. True, it is better to leave your home during disinfection so as not to get poisoned along with the cockroaches.
For one square meter of room you need only 5 grams of powder. Residual effect – up to one month.
The price for a hundred-gram package is 15 rubles. It is very cheap and effective, but involves the inconvenience of disinfection due to toxicity.
This remedy is simply irreplaceable for living creatures that are accustomed to being poisoned (no matter how funny it may sound). This is how a cockroach with a hungry face appears, greedily devouring chemical poison without much harm to health. And then they brought something new for dessert (maybe I’ll get poisoned after all).
Side effects
When used correctly, as reviews indicate, there are no side effects. Individual allergic reactions may occur, as is the case with the product offered in pipettes. The actions should be the same. Wash the wool with soapy water and observe the reaction.
It happens that the owner overdoes it and sprays too much spray. An overdose is possible if you do not strictly follow the instructions. The symptoms are:
- vomit;
- increased salivation;
- muscle twitching.
The spray is relatively safe, but its use is not allowed if the kitten has not reached two months, on animals whose skin is damaged, if the pet is weakened. For pregnant and lactating women, it is better to choose another remedy if necessary.
The best gels for cockroaches
The most popular and effective cockroach gels that are commercially available are:
- Globol or Global, produced in Germany, is a product in a plastic tube with a sharp tip that highly effectively destroys cockroaches with the help of chlorpyrifos, has an effect for 12 months, during which the protection of an apartment or other premises from the arrival of pests is guaranteed. The packaging is designed for 80 sq. m. The substance is brown, tastes bitter, has a slight smell of chocolate, because contains cocoa butter. Price – 150-200 rubles.
- Raptor is a gel against cockroaches, available in a tube of 75 or 125 ml, has a duration of action of up to 8 months, the active poison is chlorpyrifos, an apricot-vanilla smell is added to attract cockroaches, it is easily removed from furniture without a trace. Its effectiveness is higher due to the use of poison, which is carried on the insect's legs to the colony, which causes the death of more parasites. The contents of the tube are enough for 2 rooms.
- Absolute gel against cockroaches - packaged in the form of a 125 ml syringe with a tip to facilitate application in hard-to-reach places, price about 130 rubles, the effect of the toxic substance begins on the 2nd day after application, the destruction of pests is guaranteed within 2 weeks.
- Brownie is a gel in a small 20-30 ml syringe that helps destroy cockroaches and house ants, the active ingredient is fipronil. Contains tasty bait, added bitter ingredients to help avoid accidental consumption by children or animals. Valid for 2 months. The contents of one syringe are designed to treat 50 square meters. m, price within 30-40 rubles.
- Dohlox is a gel against cockroaches with the insecticide fipronil, which affects the nervous system of insects, causing their paralysis. It is a fairly safe product, which allows its use in children's institutions, clinics, schools, etc. The disadvantage is that parasites quickly become accustomed to this insecticide.
- Combat Supergel is a popular remedy for killing cockroaches; it contains the insecticide hydramethylnon, which is non-addictive and non-pest-inducing. Oil with the smell of goose liver, brown color, was added as bait.
- Legion is a gel that contains 2 toxic components: deltamethrin and diphlobenzuron, the first with enteric contact action. The death of the insect occurs within 2 days after infection, another is a modern drug that inhibits the reproduction of cockroaches and the molting of insects, which helps reduce their numbers. This product is low toxic to animals.
- Fas or Kapkan are cockroach gels containing 2 poisons of different effects: diazonin and cypermethrin, one of which has a nerve-paralyzing effect, killing both adult insects and their larvae. A 75 ml tube can be used in a room up to 90 square meters. m, the price is low - about 30-40 rubles, the residual impact time is guaranteed 2 months.
- Taiga gel against cockroaches is a highly effective product that guarantees the destruction of pests in 3-5 days.
- Clean Home is a universal remedy for cockroaches and ants, available in syringes of 20 and 35 ml, designed for up to 50 square meters. m of cultivated area. The death of the first victims occurs on the 2-3rd day, the rest die within 2 weeks. The product has additives for a bitter taste to protect children and pets, and is inexpensive.
- Lethal force, Great Warrior - gels based on clopyrifos.
Chemicals, although they are effective, sometimes “kill” all living things. By poisoning cockroaches with some kind of chemical, you can easily poison yourself, your pets, and the plants on your window.
Cockroaches did not appear yesterday or a hundred years ago; they still remember dinosaurs and saw the birth of man on Earth. And it is customary to get rid of inconvenient witnesses. Maybe that’s why people treat these completely harmless insects with such hostility? Be that as it may, the fight against cockroaches in homes has lasted for centuries. Since cockroaches are alive to this day, the ancestors were not very successful in their endeavors, but they left some recipes.
Folk remedies for cockroaches in the apartment are still very popular and in great demand. And most importantly, they are absolutely safe for health.
For example, you can quickly make a trap for cockroaches. Take an ordinary liter jar and place a piece of toasted bread with honey on its bottom. Grease the walls of the container with vegetable oil. Insects, attracted by the pleasant smell of food, climb into the jar, but cannot crawl back out - it’s slippery.
Cockroaches are very sensitive to odors and many strong-smelling plants are unpleasant to them - mint, lemon balm, geranium, eucalyptus. You can buy essential oils at the pharmacy and sprinkle them on “hot spots” - the edge of a trash can, baseboards, ventilation grilles, shelves and cabinets, pipes under the sink, etc.
More “advanced” ancestors did not disdain available chemistry, because they realized that a cockroach could not be limed so easily. They used ammonia, kerosene, turpentine, and denatured alcohol. We washed floors, furniture, and thresholds with these liquids.
If you live in your own house, then you can still get rid of cockroaches in this way, but in an apartment building it is almost impossible until all the neighbors stand up to fight for their bright future. But, as practice shows, among the neighbors there will definitely be a lover of domestic animals who would rather contribute to their reproduction than their destruction.
