Cockroach gels: principle of action and method of application

Cockroaches are disgusting and unwanted neighbors that people try to get rid of as soon as possible.

A wide variety of means are used to control insects. Gels are rightfully considered one of the most effective and safe forms of insecticidal preparations for humans.

2 Operating principle

3 Advantages and disadvantages of gels

4 Best gels for cockroaches

5 How to properly poison cockroaches with gel?

6 Why might the gel not be effective?

7 Safety precautions during operation

8 In combination with what do gels give the maximum effect?

9 Conclusion

What is cockroach gel?

Cockroach gels are chemical products with a jelly-like or paste-like consistency. The active ingredient is one or more insecticides. For convenient application and treatment of hard-to-reach areas, the drug is packaged in tubes or syringes with an elongated spout.

Features of the composition of gels against cockroaches

The anti-cockroach gel contains several components:

insecticide (contact, intestinal or contact-intestinal);
fat base (slows down the drying of the drug, maintaining its consistency for several months);
attractants (substances that attract pests with an appetizing smell).

Gel

The effect of the gel against cockroaches depends on the type of toxic substance. The pest dies either by coming into contact with the drug (contact insecticide) or by eating it (intestinal).

Active ingredients

Most often, the composition of the gel against cockroaches includes the following insecticides:

chlorpyrifos;
fipronil;
diazinon;
hydramethylnon;
deltamethrin;
diphlobenzuron;
cypermethrin.

Some manufacturers produce drugs that contain 2 or even 3 active substances. Thanks to the combination of toxic ingredients, such products are more effective, but also more toxic.

What sets gel insecticides apart from other forms?

Among the huge range of cockroach repellents, gel in a syringe or tube is the most popular. This is because this form has a number of advantages:

unlike sprays, the gel is practically odorless, lasts a long time, and immediately after treatment there is no need for household members to leave the room;
Unlike powder, the gel is more convenient to apply, it does not disturb household members, and does not spread throughout all rooms on the soles of slippers or the paws of a pet;
Unlike concentrates, the use of the gel does not require preliminary preparation, dosage calculation, or solution preparation.

The gel is safer than other products, since it does not evaporate, and the bitter taste reduces the likelihood that a child or pet will try to eat a drop that appears on the floor.

Syringe or tube?

There are two types of gel packaging - in a tube or syringe. Which option is more convenient, each user decides for himself. Using a syringe to treat a room against cockroaches is very simple, and most tubes are equipped with a special nozzle, which also makes it easier to apply the drug.

Cockroach repellent in a syringe is more economical, since it can be used to the last drop.

Composition and principle of action of gels

The remedy for cockroaches in the form of a gel is made in convenient packaging, in the form of a syringe or tube. Easy to use in the apartment, applied to hard-to-reach places. The drug does not release toxic or poisonous components for people, it lures individuals with its aroma, they come running and eat the drug. The gel is effective because beetles prefer food of similar consistency.

Contains:

Lures. An essential component of the drug. It attracts arthropods with its components, they eat it with pleasure. Then they are spread among relatives, and mass death begins due to contamination with poisons.
Fat component. Retains the consistency of the product after application for a long time. Using fat, the drug is applied precisely to problem areas. Do not forget that the component is sensitive to sunlight, so it is necessary to store the product in a dark place.
Poison. The content of the toxic substance is small, equal to 2%. Moreover, the stronger the poison, the less it contains. An effective gel against cockroaches contains 2 insecticides. If there are animals in the house, you should choose drugs that contain bitterness; it will protect the body from poisoning when trying to taste it.

How does cockroach gel work? When poison enters the body of an individual, it begins to block nerve impulses. They stop sending signals to the brain, the insect stops moving, all systems are paralyzed, and death occurs.

During use, the gel does not kill beetles instantly; after eating the drug, they manage to reach the cluster and infect other individuals. The population is destroyed.

Operating principle

How the anti-cockroach gel works depends on the active substance it contains. But the general principle is the same - the aroma attracts insects that crawl, get dirty in the gel or eat it. The drug can also enter the body of a cockroach when it cleans itself and ingests the gel remaining on its legs. The infected pest returns to the nest and infects its relatives, and later dies under the influence of the insecticide.

Corpses

But even a dead cockroach can be a threat to the colony. The fact is that sometimes insects eat dead fellow tribesmen, which means the insecticide penetrates into their body. So gradually the gel destroys all individuals.

Advantages and disadvantages of gels

Insecticidal gels have many advantages, including:

ease of use (the product is easy to apply without requiring prior preparation);
long period of action (depending on the brand, the drug can be active for up to six months);
efficiency (thanks to the cascade effect, the gel destroys the entire colony over time);
safety for people and pets (gels do not evaporate, do not smell, have low toxicity);
economical (since the product is applied in small drops, one package is enough for 2-3 rooms, depending on the degree of infection);
availability (can be purchased at any hardware store);
reasonable price (a high-quality, effective product can be purchased for a very modest amount).

The disadvantages of gels include the fact that they act gradually - you should not expect the entire colony to die out in a couple of days. The gels have no effect on the eggs, but due to the long-term effect of the drug, the larvae will die soon after hatching.

Flaws

There are few cons.

The compounds do not act instantly . But this is not so important. The extinction of the population will be gradual, but all individuals will be eliminated. Repeated disinfestation is not required.
The larvae are not destroyed during processing , but small insects are eliminated immediately after their birth.

Important! Store the tube or syringe of gel at normal room temperature in a dark place away from animals and children.

The best gels for cockroaches

A number of drugs can be included in the rating of the best cockroach gels according to users. These include:

Great Warrior is a cockroach gel based on chlorpyrifos and diazinon, the maximum effect is achieved 2-3 weeks after treatment, the residual effect is up to 3 months (Great Warrior cockroach gel is one of the most popular among buyers;
“Exil” (formerly “Global”) is one of the most effective gels against cockroaches based on chlorpyrifos, cocoa butter acts as bait, the product is effective against extensive infestation and is not addictive;
Proshka brownie is an effective and one of the most inexpensive gels, the active substance is fipronil, the validity period is about 2 months (the disadvantages include the rather rapid adaptation of cockroaches to the components of the product);
Anti-cockroach – gel based on fipronil remains effective for up to 2 months;
Tarakanoff - cockroach gel with the active substance fipronil, gets rid of cockroaches and ants;
Dohlox. Instant poison - a fipronil-based product, thanks to its improved formula, is considered one of the safest for people and effective against insects;
Cleanbate is a modern product based on hydromethylnon, belongs to toxicity class 4, is effective from the second day to 2 months.

Cleanbait

Also popular are such gels as: Taiga, Arsenal, Lethal force, Combat, Raptor.

Review of the most effective means

On store shelves you can find gel preparations from a variety of manufacturers. Let's look at each of them in more detail.

Gel "Brownie"

Domovoy gel against cockroaches contains chlorpyrifos. This is a contact-intestinal insecticide that causes paralysis of insects when it comes into contact with them or enters them through the food tract. The preparation also contains a gel-forming base, preservative additives and bait.

In appearance, the gel is a colorless viscous mass, practically odorless. The drug is produced in tubes with a 30 ml dispenser. This syringe is enough to treat about 50 m2 of area. The cost of one package does not exceed 40 rubles. Despite its more than affordable price, Domovoy gets rid of cockroaches quite effectively. It begins to show its effect already in the first day after application. After a week, you can notice a significant reduction in the population, and after a month you can forget about cockroaches. The drug has a residual effect for 2 months. After this period, the treatment is repeated as necessary.

Gel "Absolute"

Absolute gel against cockroaches also contains chlorpyrifos as a poisonous substance, but is more powerfully packaged in 125 ml tubes. This amount is enough for 150 m2 of surface area to be treated. The color of the drug can range from colorless to light brown. The consistency is viscous, capable of maintaining its structure for quite a long time. The cost of one package ranges from 80 to 130 rubles, depending on the region.

Apply the preparation with a 2 cm dotted line, alternating it with sections of the untreated surface of the same length. Cockroaches die 1-3 days after eating the bait; the gel retains its residual effect for at least 2 months.

According to the degree of danger, Absolut-gel belongs to the 4th class of toxic substances. It is allowed to be used in children's and medical institutions. However, as with all toxic substances, care should be taken when handling it to ensure that it is not accidentally ingested by children or pets. To do this, the drug is applied to surfaces in hard-to-reach places, crevices, cracks and under baseboards. You can also squeeze the gel onto pieces of paper and spread them around the room overnight.

Gel “Clean House”

Gel Clean House from cockroaches and ants can be purchased for 40 rubles. It is sold in a 35 ml tube. This amount is quite enough to treat an apartment with an area of 40 m2. If the room is heavily infested, the consumption of the product is doubled.

The effect of using the drug becomes noticeable 2-3 days after application. At this time, you can see the corpses of dead insects and cockroaches, stunned by poison, crawling out of their shelters. An important point is that it is necessary to block arthropods’ access to water in order for the drug to be as effective as possible. Repeated treatment may be required if a large colony of insects is destroyed. It is carried out no earlier than 3-4 weeks after the first.

A clean house is the remedy for cockroaches that has the largest number of conflicting reviews on the Internet. It helps some, others write about its uselessness. However, if you look at its composition, you can see that the active ingredient is the same chlorpyrifos. And this is a fairly powerful insecticide that has proven itself over many years. The gel is produced in an easy-to-use syringe with a dispenser-spout. It is convenient to apply and easy to use.

Review of the “Clean Home” gel:

How to poison cockroaches with gel?

Each insecticidal gel is supplied with instructions for use. But in general, regardless of the brand and the insecticide included in the composition, the treatment of the room is the same:

wet cleaning is carried out beforehand;
the gel is applied in small drops to all surfaces where cockroaches may be found (plinths, back walls of furniture, space under cabinets, plumbing fixtures, technical risers, pipes, etc.), the distance between drops is 4 - 8 cm;
To make subsequent cleaning easier, you can apply the gel to paper or cardboard strips and place them in areas where pests may be found.

When using the gel, it is advisable to block cockroaches’ access to water - wipe sinks and tables dry, plug drains, and repair leaking taps. If re-treatment is required, a new gel with different active ingredients should be used.

Rules for treating premises with cockroach repellent in a syringe

The gel in the syringe must be used correctly to achieve good results:

Clean the room, remove all crumbs and food debris;
Close the windows, make sure that there is no access of air masses into the room;
Make sure that there is no access to water, as well as open sources, since moisture is the main factor that creates comfortable conditions for pests.
The drug must first be applied to hard-to-reach places, in crevices, joints of surfaces, closed surfaces of furniture;
Treat all areas in the kitchen, paying special attention to areas under the sink, in the trash can area, on table legs, and ventilation ducts.
Insect attacks should also be carried out in the bathroom, around the toilet, pipes, and in places where moisture accumulates.

The glue is applied pointwise, the distance between the drops is 2–3 cm. The distance can be reduced if there are a small number of individuals in the room. In areas of large accumulation, application should be in the form of thin strips.

Why might the gel not be effective?

Even the best gel for killing cockroaches may be ineffective if you do not take into account several important points:

expiration date (an expired drug may not have any effect on insects);
low concentration of insecticides (may be insufficient, especially if we are talking about a large colony);
resistance (perhaps the drug contains an insecticide to which cockroaches have already adapted);
improper use (in the hope of getting a stronger effect, some ignore the instructions for use of the drug);
expecting results too quickly (depending on the chosen product, the effect may appear within a few hours after treatment, but it will take more than one week to remove the entire colony).

Even if the gel acts quickly and intensively, it will not be possible to get rid of cockroaches if the factors that provoke their appearance are not eliminated, for example, free access to food and water, leaking taps, dirty dishes accumulating in the sink, an overflowing trash can.

General characteristics of gels

One option is to use special gels, which, along with aerosol, are one of the most effective options, as confirmed by most professional exterminators.

There is a wide range of different brands on the market, but they all have the following similar features:

The drug has a liquid form with a rather viscous structure , which allows it not to spread or dry out over a long period of time.
The composition may include various components , the main ones being flavoring agents, a smell that only cockroaches can detect, and insecticides that have a detrimental effect on insects.
The tube containing the drug has the shape and design of a syringe, but there is no needle in it.
The packages are equipped with dispensers that allow you to control the consumption of the gel and apply it in even layers.

Safety precautions when working

The gel is considered the safest form for humans among all insecticides. However, despite this, we should not forget that it contains toxic substances, which means that the drug must be used taking precautions.

Gel application

These include the following:

You need to wear gloves when applying the gel;
during processing, care must be taken to ensure that the substance does not get on the skin of the hands or mucous membranes;
If the product does end up on the skin or mucous membranes, you should immediately rinse it thoroughly with cool water;
if the gel accidentally gets into the oral cavity or is swallowed, you should immediately rinse your mouth with clean water and take activated charcoal or another absorbent;
After cleaning the area, you should throw away the gloves and used packaging and wash your hands.

Insecticidal gels should be stored out of the reach of children and pets.

In combination with what do gels give the maximum effect?

An integrated approach is very important in the fight against cockroaches. These insects are very tenacious and quickly adapt to poisons, therefore, for reliability and to obtain maximum results, it is recommended to combine the use of gels with other means.

A combination of gel and spray or powder gives a good effect, the main thing is that the preparations include different insecticides. Then the pests will be subject to a combined effect, which will accelerate their death. Another effective option is to combine gel and cockroach traps. But you should not use insecticidal gel and repellents at the same time, this will reduce the effect.