Traps for cockroaches: method of application and principle of operation

Traps based on sticky and sticky elements

These include all products for cockroaches, to the surface of which the insects stick with their paws, and, immobilized, die after some time if they are not removed by the owner of the premises. Typically, such traps are made of cardboard or other simple material, with holes cut on the sides. In the center at the bottom there is a bait surrounded by an adhesive substance. It does not dry out for a long time, which allows you to detain dozens of hungry individuals.

An unsuspecting insect goes to this peculiar house, seduced by the smell of a delicacy, where it sticks to the bottom. As the trap fills, it is thrown away along with the caught pests.

The main advantage of this design is that it is safe for living creatures living in an apartment or house (people, birds, fish, animals), the glue is non-toxic and does not contain harmful insecticides.

As a rule, glue traps are placed in places where cockroaches gather: near the sink, cat bowl, near supply cabinets, refrigerators, ventilation grilles. The products are not uncommon; you can find them both in the household goods department of the supermarket and in a specialty store. It is recommended to install such traps in rooms where there are often people who cannot leave due to various circumstances. They are also convenient for use in homes where there are children and animals (they will not be poisoned by toxic fumes). The disadvantage of glue traps is that they will have to be set for a long time, since they do not have any effect on already laid cockroach eggs, so you will have to wait for the offspring to appear.

Review
“The neighbors poisoned cockroaches, and they, saving their lives, made our apartment their permanent refuge. Sometimes there was uncollected garbage in the house, food in the cat’s bowl. At first we thought of trying the simplest method - poisoning with gels and aerosols, but later we abandoned this idea, since we have a child and animals. In the end, we settled on purchasing glue trap houses for cockroaches. Of course, it was not possible to completely exterminate the population, but the number of individuals decreased noticeably. We think that we will thoroughly begin to eradicate parasites with toxic substances in the summer, when we send our daughter to her grandmother and take the cat to the dacha.”
Violetta, Astrakhan

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.

Electrical traps

Such traps are more like unusual boxes or chests with a complex device inside. They contain bait, which attracts insects with its smell. When a cockroach enters the box, an electric discharge is sent, destroying the hungry creature. The set with the device usually includes a special brush designed for sweeping away the remains of longhorned beetles.

Like glue traps, electric traps are environmentally friendly and do not contain insecticides or chemicals. In addition, they will serve their customers for many years.

But there are also some nuances to using such devices. Since they are electrically discharged and connected to the mains, traps should not be placed near water or on wet surfaces (for example, near a sink). You also need to be prepared for the fact that prices for such modern products may seem inflated.

Review
“Once cockroaches appeared in my apartment, no matter what I did to poison them! We used crayons, glue traps, sprays, and gels. At first the effect seemed to be noticeable, but after that the pests became more and more numerous. I decided to spend money on an electric trap and was right. Immediately after the cockroach is inside, it is killed by an electric shock. The good news is that you no longer need to poison your household with all sorts of chemicals. Now I notice that there are practically no insects at home. The result is obvious: if previously they scattered in different directions when the light was turned on, now you rarely see 1-2 individuals.”
Yuliy Sergeevna, Saratov

Electrical devices – durable and practical

These are reusable devices that operate on mains power. They are an aesthetically designed house with bait inside, the smell of which attracts cockroaches. Does not contain insecticides, so the trap is safe.

The device works on an interesting principle. The current kills cockroaches and disinfects dead insects. Under the influence of electricity, pheromones are released from the corpses, which attract other cockroaches - a chain reaction begins.

Consumers confirm the reliable operation of electric traps. People are happy with the instant death of cockroaches and the fact that the device is used for a long time. The device destroys colonies of cockroaches; no additional insecticides are required. The main thing is to buy the original and not a fake, then you won’t have to use additional chemicals.

The device operates under voltage and poses some danger to humans. When installing and operating, adhere to the following rules:

used in dry indoor areas;
placed on a non-flammable surface;
periodically check the insulation;
Before touching, the device is turned off.

Electric traps are not cheap, but they work for many years. The kit includes a brush for cleaning the device from corpses. The bait is periodically renewed, the regularity is determined by the number of insects.

Ultrasound devices

Such products cannot be fully called a trap, since their main function is not to catch an insect, but to scare it away, preventing it from entering a certain area. The device emits ultrasonic waves, making the space uncomfortable for mustachioed individuals, as a result of which they tend to leave it.

Sometimes, rather erroneously, ultrasonic models are called “electronic cockroach traps.” Some of them are capable of producing special light and sound signals that irritate the nervous system of insects.

When using such devices, you need to take into account that it is not recommended to leave them in places with high humidity, directly near aquariums, bedding, where animals are often found. It is believed that ultrasound has a negative effect not only on insects, but also on domestic four-legged inhabitants.

Reviews
“After listening to our problem, the store salesperson offered to purchase an ultrasonic repeller. We decided to buy 2 jokes at once. We have been using the devices for two months now, and during this time we have no longer observed crawling creatures.”
Lydia, Nizhny Novgorod

Review
“In the store we took a closer look at a rather unusual device for cockroaches - an ultrasonic repeller. The effect was completely opposite! The insects did not avoid the trap at all, but, on the contrary, calmly moved right next to it. We have seen in practice that such devices are just a successful marketing ploy and do not get rid of cockroaches at all.”
Sergey Evgenievich, Ekaterinburg

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.

Traps with insecticides

Round, square or irregularly shaped boxes are filled with bait with a pleasant smell for cockroaches, which attracts them to climb inside.

Each such box has several holes designed for the unhindered movement of insects (they can easily get into and out of the trap). One infected individual that has been in a block with an insecticide carries a toxic substance on its paws, and the same substance is also found in the excrement of a cockroach. As a result, the insect is capable of causing the death of its other relatives who happen to be nearby.

Typically, insecticidal traps are made with Velcro (an adhesive layer) on the back side, so they can be easily secured in any position in the right place. This is especially convenient if there are curious children and animals in the house who try to grab onto unfamiliar things. Some manufacturers offer such traps with a decorative design, which makes them completely invisible in the interior.

The devices are not afraid of moisture, so they are approved for use near water sources (near sinks, drains, in bathrooms).

Prevention of cockroaches

Cockroaches will not stay with you if the house is in perfect order and there is no water or food for them. Therefore, if you accidentally get cockroaches, whether they stay or not depends directly on you. Cockroaches do not grow in apartments where:

there are no crumbs and moisture on the table in the kitchen;
you can’t get into the bread bin, but the cereals are in sealed containers;
no water drips from the tap;
there are no cracks in the floor or walls;
a fine-mesh mesh is installed on the ventilation chambers;

They will not live in the absence of moisture and food.

Conclusions from Tikhon: Using traps against cockroaches is quite effective. Both homemade and industrial ones work. It is good and effective to use gel, spray, dust in combination with other drugs. Team up with your neighbors in the fight against cockroaches, because you don’t know who they will come from next time.

If you have experience using traps, please share it in the comments below. Perhaps your experience will help someone make the right decision. Happiness to you and your home.

What poisonous traps can you find in the store?

They are usually sold in the most ordinary supermarkets, and the names of their brands always remain well-known due to active advertising. The maximum duration of the effect from such traps is 1-2 weeks.

Traps for cockroaches Raptor

The bait is made on the basis of a fairly powerful insecticide - chlorpyrofos. It paralyzes the nervous system of cockroaches, leading to death. It is not necessary for the insect to eat the bait; contact with one part of the body is enough for the individual to begin infecting other relatives with poison. The package contains 6 traps. Cost – from 150 rubles.

Traps Combat Superbyte

They are recognized as quite effective because they contain an insecticide recently developed by specialists in the chemical industry - hydramethylnon. The manufacturer of the traps assures that a few pieces are enough for a colony of cockroaches to be completely exterminated. Sold in packs of 4 pieces. Cost – from 180 rubles

Traps Raid

The traps are peculiar disks, inside of which there is a strong pyrethroid insecticide - lambda cyhalothrin. It acts primarily on the gastrointestinal tract of the insect. Allows you to poison not only one individual, but several at once, if an infected cockroach brings particles of the substance to the habitat of its relatives.

The package consists of 4-12 pieces. With a minimum number of traps (4 pieces), the price is about 180 rubles.

Review
“About 3-4 months ago I picked up a package of Raid traps from the store. I watched for a long time, but never noticed a single insect near them. But then my family and I started a general cleaning of the kitchen, decided to lift all the cabinets and move the refrigerator. We were surprised at how many carcasses of dead cockroaches there were; the entire floor was covered! There really is an effect: one insect infects the rest. But the traps have been in place for several months now, but we haven’t been able to completely get rid of the cockroaches, although there are significantly fewer of them.”
Maxim, Kazan

Traps Taiga

The manufacturer promises 100% results through the use of a proven insecticide formula (specially developed by the company). However, do not forget that some insects can acquire resistance to the components of the drug.

The price of a pack of 6 pieces starts from 35 rubles.

Brownie and Dohlox traps

The active ingredient in these traps is fipronil, which is recognized as the safest for humans. Some cockroaches have already developed resistance to this chemical, so it will be useless against them. If you decide to buy just such traps, it is recommended to use gels and houses from other manufacturers in addition to them.

In a box, the buyer is offered 6 pieces, the price starts from 110 rubles.

Review
“When I noticed cockroaches in the house, I hurriedly ran to the store to buy poison. I bought the first thing that came to hand, namely the gel. It had to be applied along the baseboards and along the perimeter, in the habitats of the individuals. I followed the manufacturer's recommendations and did everything as written in the instructions. The gel has a pleasant smell, which has become attractive not only to cockroaches, but also to my cats. The furry pets almost got poisoned! After that, I started using traps: I glued them everywhere the cats couldn’t get into. There is an effect, but not as stable and fast as from the gel, but it is safer for animals.”
Antonina, Perm

Traps Clean House

Made from chlorpyrifos. For it to work, the bait must be absorbed by a cockroach or contact with it by the integument of the body. Gradually, insects get used to this substance and have to choose another, although there is still some effect during the first time of use.

Supplied in packs of 6 pieces, price – from 50 rubles.

Prevention of re-infection

Even the entry of 2-3 small cockroaches into a house after a short time can cause the population to multiply many times over. Therefore, knowing the peculiarities of their life activity and possible routes of infection, you need to take care of prevention.

READ ALSO: Where do cockroaches come from in an apartment and how to get rid of the ubiquitous insects yourself

Recommendations:

Block the paths for insects to enter the room: place small grilles on the ventilation openings, eliminate cracks in the walls, near windows.
Do not leave food in the public domain. Store them in tightly closed containers or in the refrigerator.
Remove crumbs from the table and floor.
Do not store dishes in the sink, but wash them immediately.
Cover the trash can tightly with a lid.
Avoid open sources of moisture. Eliminate leaks in pipes, wipe the sink and bathtub after use from water and food debris.
Have cockroach repellent on hand.
Do wet cleaning more often to wash away small crumbs from the floor.

From the following video you can learn how to make a trap for cockroaches with your own hands from available materials:

Homemade devices

An alternative to store-bought devices can be homemade products of this type. They are good because they allow you to save money from the family budget and are less toxic. You can make the following devices yourself:

Adhesive. They are made on the same principle as sticky traps for cockroaches from the store. To do this, you can take a ready-made box or cut it out of cardboard. The bottom of the device is covered with double-sided tape or smeared with glue, which takes a long time to dry. Bait should be placed in the center of the trap, and the device should be changed as it becomes full of pests. It is permissible to use sticky tape with bait instead of a closed box against cockroaches, but this device is not recommended for use in areas where there are small children or pets.
From cans. For such a device you will need a liter jar. It is advisable to cover the outside with paper to make the path easier for cockroaches. Beer is poured into the bottom of the container or another bait is placed. The inner edges of the jar are lubricated with vegetable oil or Vaseline. When the container is filled with insects, they should be poured with boiling water and thrown into the sewer.
From plastic bottles. To make them, you need to cut off the top part of the bottle, turn it over and insert it into the bottom cut, into the bottom of which beer is poured. The pests climb the walls, fall inside the bottle, and cannot get back out.

This is interesting: how to catch a cockroach.

In addition to beer, you can use leftover food, pieces of sugar, or a mixture of boric acid and boiled egg yolk as bait in home traps.

Among the variety of cockroach traps, everyone can choose exactly the type that is right for them. The main thing is not to wait for the number of pests to increase, but to begin fighting them immediately after the first individuals are detected.

Repellent

Unlike the above devices that kill cockroaches, repellent devices create unbearable conditions for the pests and they go away on their own. The operation of these electronic devices is based on the following technologies:

High-frequency electromagnetic radiation and its weak impulses are painful for cockroaches.
An ultrasonic wave that vibrates the chitinous covering of insects and causes severe discomfort.
A light emitter, it turns on for a moment and causes pests to rush around and hide from the beam of light.

To increase efficiency, 2-3 technologies are used simultaneously in repellent devices. Unfortunately, these devices can negatively affect pets, especially small ones, as well as people with weak nervous systems.