With rising heat, a familiar and unwelcome houseguest appears: cockroaches. These insects, members of the order Blattodea, become active as temperatures climb and rainfall drops, multiplying quickly in warm, damp corners. They thrive on food scraps and garbage, turning homes into convenient feeding grounds during summer nights.
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Scientific name Blattodea is built from the Latin term Blatta, which derives from Greek roots meaning “cockroach” and “looks like.” More than 3,500 species exist in the cockroach family, yet in the Spanish-speaking regions, five types are most common: the German cockroach (Blattella germanica), the Oriental cockroach (Blatta orientalis), the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana), Supella longipalpa, and Periplaneta australasiae. In southern Spain, especially in Alicante, the German cockroach (Blattella germanica) and the Oriental cockroach are often observed, with the American species sometimes fluttering through if the conditions are right. They congregate in kitchens, bathrooms, and other humid zones, especially on lower floors where access is easier.
Keeping these pests out can be tricky, but practical steps at home can reduce the risk of intrusion. Simple, humane prevention methods and safe, low-chemical traps can help keep roaches at bay.
To address the unsettling look of cockroaches and their eggs, a common home solution involves a simple baking soda mixture. The baking soda can act as a potent irritant to cockroaches, helping to disrupt their defenses and reduce populations when used correctly. A bait that attracts cockroaches, usually paired with a non-toxic attractant, can improve effectiveness by drawing them into treated areas. It is important to place traps and baits where cockroaches are most active, such as under appliances, inside cabinets, and along door frames where moisture gathers.
Another practical approach uses an attractive lure to draw insects away from living spaces. A sugary bait, when used alongside baking soda, can attract roaches and deliver a lethal result in a short time. This method should be applied in hidden, dry crevices rather than in open, high-traffic areas to maximize efficacy.
For those seeking natural remedies, it should be noted that cleanliness remains a core defense. Eliminating standing water, sealing gaps, and ensuring proper food storage dramatically reduces roach attractants. Small cracks and crevices in walls, floors, and cupboards provide easy access routes; sealing them with caulk or sealant creates barriers that pests find difficult to bypass.
Sweet scents can lure roaches as well, so minimising exposed sugar and starches is wise. Keeping pet food sealed and off the floor, promptly cleaning spills, and wiping surfaces after meals all contribute to a less inviting environment for these critters.
Types of wasps that kill cockroaches
There are natural predators in ecosystems that help regulate roach populations. Some wasps specialize in hunting cockroaches, delivering a biological check that complements home prevention methods. While not a substitute for tidy homes, these natural dynamics can assist in reducing roach numbers when observed in outdoor areas away from living spaces.
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prepare this trap for kill cockroaches It is very simple with baking soda and sugar. By mixing the baking soda and sugar in equal proportions in a bowl, you should ensure that the effect occurs immediately and apply the mixture to the parts of the house where you detect the presence of cockroaches. For example, hot and humid places such as appliance motors, breadbaskets (which they love too), cupboards or kitchen door frames.