Roaches are one of the commonest pests in our homes. Getting rid of roaches can be a difficult task especially if the infestation is large. Think of German cockroaches! They are the worst species of roaches which means as you soon as you notice them, find a quick solution to get rid of them.
What does a German cockroach look like? How do you identify a German cockroach? How do you get rid of German cockroaches fast, overnight and naturally? In this post, we will discuss in details how German roaches look like, pictures, how to get rid of them naturally with home remedies.
How to Get Rid of German Cockroach -Video
How to Identify German Roaches – What Does a German Cockroach Look Like?
A grown German cockroach is light brown to an almost black body in terms of color. In terms of length, an adult German cockroach is around 0.43 to 0.63 inches long. The back has two parallel stripes. The stripes can be seen clearly in younger German cockroaches.
The female German cockroach tends to be a bit darker than the male.
German Cockroaches Pictures
To fully understand how German cockroaches look like and how you can easily identify them, look at the pictures below.
How Do German Cockroaches Enter in Your House?
German Cockroaches are very resourceful insects and tend to enter your home through a number of ways, including:
- Crawling inside through small holes and cracks
- Openings around the doors and windows
- Moving from one apartment to anther though leaky water pipes and holes in shared walls
- Hitching a ride on backpack, suitcases etc.
Do German Cockroaches Fly?
Just like many other species of roaches, German cockroach has a pair of wings but it can hardly fly. But keep in mind that these pests have the ability to glide if they feel disturbed.
Do German Cockroaches Bite?
Rarely do German cockroach bite humans. This can only happen if their population grows too big such that the food source is not enough and might be forced although rarely to bite humans.
A cockroach can eat dead skin of humans, eyelashes, fingernails, hair etc. German roaches if they bite, it can only happen when you are asleep. Sometimes the bites that happen on fingernails happen as a result of food residues on your hands, near the mouth or face.
Are German Cockroaches Dangerous?
German roaches are not dangerous. They cannot bite you to death. But roaches are carriers to diseases causing pathogens such as bacteria, viruses and fungi.
German roaches tend to live in filthy areas and can easily carry bacteria to your homes contaminating surfaces and poorly kept food which if you ingest, you may end up suffering from food poisoning, diarrhea, fever etc.
How to Locate German Cockroach Nests
Unlike other types of insects such as ants, German roaches don’t build typical nests where they live in together in groups. Instead, these types of roaches tend to live in dark places usually not so far away from food supply.
You will find a German cockroach in dark rooms and can be under the refrigerator, stove, in wall cracks and crevices among other related places.
How to Get Rid Of German Cockroaches Fast
What is the fastest way to get rid of German cockroach? Before getting rid of roaches, there steps and instructions to follow;
Clean your house
It is important to clean you house first before you apply any kind of chemicals. Remove food crumbs, store your food properly, wipe dry all the surfaces and regularly take out the trash.
Fix leaks and seal all the cracks
Fix all the leaky water pipes to get rid of moisture that would attract the roaches. After that, find all the cracks and crevices that the roaches use to gain entry and seal them immediately.
Apply Insecticides
The fastest way to get rid of German roaches is by applying insecticides, use of baits, aerosols, dust and insect growth regulator. This will help to get eliminate the infestation fast.
Cockroach Baits:
A bait has an attractant that lures the roaches to eat but also has poison in it. Once the German cockroach eat it, they will begin to die almost immediately. Place the baits in places like cabinets, under sinks and around appliances- Buy on Amazon
Insecticide Dust
Dust are good especially in hard to reach places like inside cracks, crevices-Buy on Amazon
Insect Growth Regulator
Insect growth regulators are important to disrupt the lifecycle of insects. Place them in places where you suspect the roaches are hiding like kitchen drawers and cabinets –Buy on Amazon
Insecticide Sprays
Insecticide sprays is one of the fastest way to get rid of German roaches. Spray over the baseboards and other surfaces where the roaches are likely to crawl over-Buy on Amazon
Does Home Defense Kill German Cockroaches?
Ortho Home Defense is a liquid insecticide that can kill German roaches and other common household bugs. It is easy to use and apply to kill roaches especially in crevices, cracks and other hard-to-reach places –Buy on Amazon
Does Raid Kill German Cockroaches?
You can either decide to use Raid in the form of a gel or a spray. This insect killer also works perfectly against German roaches. It is also effective to use in hard-to-reach places. For spray, it has a residual effect of up to 4 weeks-Buy on Amazon
How to Get Rid Of Roaches Overnight
To get rid of German roaches overnight you can apply diatomaceous earth powder. But you have to make sure that the area I s clean and dry. Sprinkle gently the powder over the infested area and leave it overnight. Make sure that there are no food droplets.
a) Diatomaceous Earth Powder:
How to Kill German Cockroaches Naturally – Home Remedies
If you opt to get rid of German cockroaches naturally, here are some natural home remedies for you:
b) Baking Soda
To get rid of roaches with baking soda, mix equal parts of sugar and baking soda. The sugar will lure the roaches to eat the mixture while the baking soda will kill them. Place the mixture in disposable container close to where the roaches are hiding. Make sure the roaches cannot access water.
c) Peppermint Oil
Use peppermint oil to kill the German roaches at home. Mix salt water and peppermint oil and spray the mixture in infested areas. Repeat the procedure several times in a week until all the roaches are gone.
d) Neem Oil
You can also effectively get rid of German roaches at home with neem oil. Mix water with neem oil and put the mixture in a spray bottle. Apply the mixture in the infested areas.
e) Bay Leaves
To keep the German roaches away from your home, you can use bay leaves. Crush a few bay leaves and place them where you spot these roaches. Alternatively, you can boil the leaves and make a spray. Apply the spray where the roaches are hiding and any other infested area.
f) Boric Acid
Apply Boric acid on infested are to get rid of the German cockroaches at home. Make sure to apply the boric acid on dry surfaces. You can also put the powder in the infested areas such as cabinets, drawers and under appliances.
g) Bleach
Bleach is also good when it comes to getting rid of roaches at home. Use diluted bleach spray and apply directly on the roaches. You can also use bleach to clean surfaces.
How Long Does It Take To Get Rid Of German Roaches?
The period it takes to get rid of German roaches largely depends on the severity of the infestation and the control methods used. If the infestation is mild, it will take a few days with the right method to get rid of the roaches.
A larger infestation would take time but it begins as soon as you apply the best insect killer methods. Dealing with a heavy infestation may take about two weeks or up to eight. But if you are to locate the roaches’ nest and combine both insecticides and natural methods, it could take less. Natural repellents will help to keep and deter other new German roaches from coming into your home.
You also have to observe cleanliness to stop population growth of these insects.
