In summer, with the high temperatures, pests multiply. In fact, the high temperatures this winter and the earlier arrival of heat have already brought forward the pest control measures by two months (they began in April instead of in June as usual), anticipating an early appearance of the insects characteristic of summer.
One of the most worrying insects, especially in cities, are the cockroachesmore common every day. The most common is the American cockroachwhich is large and brown, but there are also the oriental ones, which are black, and the German ones, smaller and more common in places such as kitchens.
To be able fight cockroaches at home It is essential to know how to recognize their eggs and the laying sites, since this is precisely the site that we must attack first.
How to recognize cockroach eggs
The cockroach eggs They can be very difficult to find and identify because they are usually in hidden places, but there are several clues that can be useful to detect their presence.
The first is to know what cockroach eggs look like: you will identify them because they are within some small brown cylindrical shells that protect them, called oothecae. They measure between 7 and 9 millimeters and each one contains between 14 and 16 eggs that hatch about 50 or 55 days after laying, although both the number of eggs and the size or color vary somewhat depending on the type of cockroach. In fact, the oothecae of German cockroaches usually contain more than 30 eggs.
Where to look for cockroach eggs
Finding the eggs, as you can imagine, can be quite a challenge. But if you have seen any cockroaches at home, you should look for them, because they will surely have laid eggs and it will soon become a problem (if it isn’t already).
The first thing to keep in mind is that Cockroaches lay their eggs in warm, humid places.such as under the sink, behind electrical outlets, in water pipes or in kitchen or bathroom drawers. They are often small, dark, protected places, such as cracks or crevices in the wall.
Secondly, you can Pay attention to whether there are cockroach droppingstiny black granites that are an unequivocal sign of its presence. These excrements are usually near where cockroaches lay their eggss, so if you see them you should thoroughly inspect the area for the small brown capsules we mentioned before.
On the other hand, you should know that cockroach eggs can emit a unpleasant musty smellso pay attention to bad smells.
What to do if you find cockroach eggs
If you find cockroach eggs, you should remove them as soon as possible. The first thing is clean and disinfect the area and also the humidity and food remains that may be in the environment.
In addition, there are natural remedies that, beyond avoiding the undesirable chemical substances present in commercial insecticides, can be of great help:
- diatomaceous eartha natural powder that comes from seaweed fossils, dehydrates the eggs and eliminates them. You just have to sprinkle a little on the area where you located the eggs.
- catnip which our cats like so much contains a natural chemical substance that is toxic to cockroaches. Try sprinkling it around where the eggs are or make an infusion with catnip and water and spray it over the area.
- Baking soda It is also toxic to cockroaches. Mix it in equal parts with sugar and sprinkle it near the eggs to attract them.
- boric acid Mixed with sugar it also attracts cockroaches and becomes a deadly poison for them. Sprinkle it in the areas where they pass and when they clean themselves they will ingest it.
- bay leaves They are a natural repellent for cockroaches and you can place them in the areas where the eggs were to scare them away.