Cockroach traps - a safe means of getting rid of insects

Cockroach traps appeared on sale relatively recently, a little over 10 years ago and immediately occupied a worthy niche among insect repellents due to their efficiency and safety. Depending on the type, they can be glue, electric, ultrasonic, but the principle of their action is approximately the same everywhere.

The principle of operation of insect traps

All cockroach traps work on the principle of bait. The insect gets inside the device, attracted by the smell of food and dies, not finding a way out or killed by any means. Then the dead insect is removed from the container, and the trap is prepared for new work.

There are disposable devices that are destroyed at the end of their validity period. In these traps, an adhesive surface is used in which insects bind. They have a reasonable price and a relatively short period of use. Their attractiveness is low cost, however, they are bulky, unaesthetic and ineffective with a large infection of the apartment.
Reusable devices are expensive and will require additional maintenance. The insect in them, as a rule, is immediately killed with the help of poison or an electric discharge. The corpses, as you fill the receiving container, you have to manually remove it, but this inconvenience more than pays for the long term of use of the device.

Traps that use insecticides in their work are slightly different from the above devices. Having tasted the poisonous bait, the cockroaches freely run outside and die after some time. The advantage of this method is that it is not necessary to remove dead insects, as well as their wider impact on the colony, since the poisoned cockroach will treat its fellow tribesmen with a poisonous "hotel".

Devices based on ultrasound cannot be called traps in the usual sense of the word, since they work on a completely different principle, not luring, but frightening off cockroaches. However, in everyday life it is customary to call them that, so we will also consider this type of device.

Interesting fact! Cockroaches are one of the most curious insects. If you throw a small object on the floor and lie low, you can see how a barbel running by will immediately turn off its path and will certainly examine it. It is this feature of insects that contributes to their incredible adaptability.

Types of traps and methods of their application

Currently, the following types of traps for insects:

• glue
• electric
• insecticidal
• ultrasound.

All of them have different service life and cost. They also differ in their internal structure.

Glue traps

Such devices are one of the most affordable. They are usually made of thick paper and cardboard and look like a house with holes on the sides. Inside, the glue trap for cockroaches contains a sticker with a sticky substance, on the surface of which insects that have decided to feast on bait are mating.

Such a device is sold in an unassembled form and in order for it to start working, it is necessary to fold the cardboard along the intended lines. At the bottom of such a house is a sticky sticker with which to remove the protective paper. As a rule, a bait tablet is also sold in the kit. It is placed in the middle of the adhesive surface.

Traps prepared for work are placed in places that insects visit most often:

• near the stove;
• next to the bin;
• under the kitchen sink;
• close to the dining table;
• on shelves of kitchen cabinets.

Over time, the effectiveness of such traps decreases, since the adhesive surface is filled with insects. The higher the contamination of the room, the faster the expiration of the traps, so they are checked and destroyed from time to time.

Glue-based cockroach traps:

• Forssight
• Argus
• Taiga
• Block
  
• Green leaf

Electrical traps

Reusable electric cockroach trap. The cost of such a device significantly exceeds glue houses. Depending on the manufacturer, it may have a metal or plastic case with a conductive bottom. Such a device works from the network and requires the following security measures:

1. Install them only in dry, protected from moisture and atmospheric precipitation rooms.
2. The surface on which such devices are located must be made of non-combustible materials.
3. The operation of the device must be checked periodically to avoid damage caused by the violation of the integrity of the insulating layer of the housing and wire.
4. Only touch the device with dry hands.
5. When working with the device, disconnect it from the mains.

The principle of operation of the device is similar to all traps. The insect gets inside through special holes attracted by the smell of the bait, and then is destroyed by an electric discharge. In the kit, as a rule, there is a special brush with which the corpses of insects are swept out from the inside of the trap. The bait as it is eaten by cockroaches needs to be updated, however, this will have to be done no more than 1-2 times a month, depending on the infection of the apartment with insects.

Insecticidal traps

Traps that have poisonous substances as bait are most often found in hardware stores. Although their price slightly exceeds glue houses, this is one of the most popular means of getting rid of cockroaches.

Advantages of insecticidal traps:

• Ease of use;
• security;
• long-term effect.

They are convenient to use and do not require any additional maintenance. It is enough to remove the protective film from the adhesive sticker and attach the box in an attractive place for cockroaches. After that, you can forget about it, since neither updating the bait, nor removing dead insects from it will be required. Cockroaches eat up the poisonous “goodie” and go away to die in another place, often they become their own nest, where fellow tribesmen eat its poisoned corpse. Thus, the insecticide spreads far beyond the trap. The only drawback of such a device is its relatively short duration, since after the bait ends, it cannot be renewed.

Such traps for cockroaches are made of plastic material and look like a round or square hollow box with holes on the sides and a strip of double-sided tape at the bottom. Using such a tape, they can be attached to vertical surfaces. In the very center of the container is a poisoned bait, securely fixed in a special recess.

The following insecticidal traps have proven themselves well:

• Raid.
• Raptor
• Kombat
• Dohlox
• Brownie.

Ultrasonic traps

The ultrasonic cockroach trap works on the principle of repelling insects by electromagnetic radiation.It has been proven that many insects feel uncomfortable when exposed to ultrasonic waves and tend to leave a place dangerous from their point of view as soon as possible.

Such a device looks like a small oblong or rounded box with holes for the exit of radiation. It can be placed horizontally, or can be hung on the wall. It works on AC power and, like all electrical appliances, requires constant supervision of its work.

The effectiveness and safety of such a device is somewhat questionable. After all, ultrasound, as you know, also affects people, and insects that have left a “dysfunctional” apartment to their neighbors will return as soon as the machine stops working. Nevertheless, such devices exist on the market for more than one year, which means that in some cases they can give results. Read the article on cockroach repellers on our website and decide for yourself whether such an attention device is worth it or not.

Glue for insects

Glue from cockroaches is often found on sale. It acts on the principle of a sticky trap, only applied not to the inner surface of glue houses, but to pieces of paper or cardboard, which are then laid out on the path of movement of insects. Such a product is sold in tubes of 100 and 200 ml and has a relatively low cost.

If we compare the house traps and glue, then the first option is preferable, since in this case there is no chance of “sticking” to the owner himself, and the floor on which viscous substance can get is difficult to wash. In a house where pets and small children live, this method of fishing is not at all acceptable.

Another disadvantage is the inability to use on vertical surfaces, because, despite its viscosity, the adhesive is still a fluid and, under the influence of gravity, will flow down over time, adorning the walls and surfaces of cabinets with ugly drips.

Advice! In order for the cockroach traps to operate with maximum efficiency, you need to more often free them from dead insects. The smell of decaying corpses and the disastrous signals emitted by dying cockroaches will scare off their fellow tribesmen.

How to make a trap yourself?

Knowing the principle of action of traps for insects, you can make them yourself. This will significantly save the family budget. The do-it-yourself trap for cockroaches can be made of a wide variety of materials, from paper to a glass jar. The main thing is to observe the basic rule of all traps - to release it from dead insects in time and from time to time to lay a bait, instead of eaten. Consider various options for homemade devices.

Glass jar trap

To make such a trap, the following items will be required:

• glass jar, 0.5 liter;
• paper tape;
• petroleum jelly;
• bait.

First, we wrap the can on the outside with tape, trying to ensure that it wraps around its surface as tightly as possible. This is done so that cockroaches can freely climb to her neck along the walls. Next, the vessel is lubricated on the inside with petroleum jelly or any other fat, and a bait of a piece of fresh bread moistened with beer is put on the bottom. Such a trap is put up at night closer to the cockroach nest, and in the morning they harvest. Over the night, several dozen insects can fall, which will significantly reduce their population.

Pencil Box Trap

Double-sided tape is glued to the bottom of a pencil box or any other small container. You can replace it with non-drying fixing glue, or specially buy glue from cockroaches. The bait is put in a box, and the whole device is laid out on the kitchen floor in the evening. As a rule, cockroaches will not fail to look into it, as they are naturally curious and explore everything new. In order for the cockroaches to get inside, do not forget to slightly open the box by 1-2 cm.

The following products can be used for bait:

• bread;
• pieces of sausage;
• a slice of meat;
• cheese;
• fried potatoes;
• hard-boiled chicken egg yolk.

It is not necessary to adhere to this recommendation for choosing a bait, any residues from a family meal can be used as it, the main thing is that they have a pronounced smell and look appetizing from the point of view of insects.

Another way to make cockroach traps can be seen in this video: