Cockroaches (hotels, house, versus)

[ripath]

Anybody got any idea why I am suddenly getting cockroaches cruising around in my garage. Seems like I snuff one or two a day lately. By lately I mean the past two or three weeks.

And, how do I get rid of them? I have roach hotels in various places around the garage, but I still see them. If they are coming in from outside, what's a good spray that is non toxic to pets that works?

Thanks

[arbyunc]

I understand that most home cockroach infestations happen because they are seeking water, not food. When it's particularly dry outside, they will look for water in your home. So, if you have water sources in your garage that could be removed (like standing puddles or leaky pipe connections), you should address those.

The best solution I've found is borax, or one of the borax-based roach killer powders you can find at any home improvement or hardware store (these add a food attractant, so theoretically should work better than plain borax). There are several advantages to these products--they're effective, long-lasting, and they're not as toxic as pesticide-based products. Borax can be toxic to pets, but for one your pets shouldn't be "attracted" to it (i.e., they don't see it as something to eat), and you generally want to sprinkle it in cracks, crevices, and under/behind things where pets can't get to it anyway. As long as you don't put it directly in the pet food bowls, you shouldn't have a problem.

[melbern]

Borax does work, but also an exterminator can be good to nip it in the bud before they lay lots of little babies. Most exterminators will come out for a one shot treatment for about $60.

[arbyunc]

^ $60 for an exterminator, with his/her highly toxic chemicals, versus about $3 for a container of borax-based roach killer...the choice is yours.

[melbern]

Originally Posted by arbyunc

^ $60 for an exterminator, with his/her highly toxic chemicals, versus about $3 for a container of borax-based roach killer...the choice is yours.

no "smiley" for arrogant. pity that.

[arbyunc]

^ Melbern, not sure what you're getting at. Are you saying I'm arrogant because I want to save myself (and others) $57?

I did not intend to sound arrogant. I"m merely trying to provide information for people who may not know these things, but apparently I struck a raw nerve with you. Perhaps you're an exterminator? If so, understand that I have nothing against exterminators. But I do think highly toxic chemicals should be used with extreme caution, and only when absolutely necessary. IMO, roaches in a garage would not justify spending $60--not only because there's a much cheaper alternative, but also because it's an outside area so it's somewhat futile to attempt to keep roaches out. Not sure why you would "pity that".

[gman6974]

All you need is The Hot Shot Foggers. We had a bad roach infestation in our pack house. I used these and they worked great. All the roaches crawled out of the pack house and died an hour later. Haven't seen a roach since then.

[aloginnp]

What is something non-toxic I can use on myself? I was at someone's place and bugs got in my hair. I've read about that happening to someone else, too, however. I was wondering if there were any way of knowing they're completely gone, because they say for one there are usually one hundred more, meaning that they're babies hatch very quickly. I had cockroaches crawling out of my hair (big ones) when I would take a shower, since someone who helped me out at the hospital squished them without knowing it would make things worse. First, they just were in my hair. Then, they got into my head. That is why I had to have two MRI's done already to check and see if they're growing at all. Supposedly, with MRIs we'll be able to tell. I'm not so sure, though? I'm scared.

[arbyunc]

^ Say what???

[bugguy]

Propane

Originally Posted by aloginnp

What is something non-toxic I can use on myself? I was at someone's place and bugs got in my hair. I've read about that happening to someone else, too, however. I was wondering if there were any way of knowing they're completely gone, because they say for one there are usually one hundred more, meaning that they're babies hatch very quickly. I had cockroaches crawling out of my hair (big ones) when I would take a shower, since someone who helped me out at the hospital squished them without knowing it would make things worse. First, they just were in my hair. Then, they got into my head. That is why I had to have two MRI's done already to check and see if they're growing at all. Supposedly, with MRIs we'll be able to tell. I'm not so sure, though? I'm scared.