An oriental cockroach can do much damage to your home and your family.
They are easily spotted and need to be removed from your living and breathing spaces. You can naturally eliminate these cockroaches by performing routine pest control.
So, how do you get rid of oriental cockroaches naturally? Oriental cockroaches are one of the most common household pests in the US.
They spread disease and cause allergies. They also damage food.
Fortunately, Oriental cockroaches are relatively easy to get rid of. First, seal off any cracks or crevices in your home where they could be hiding.
Next, vacuum up any dirt in and around your house. Finally, spray the roaches with boric acid, a naturally occurring insecticide.
If you do this regularly, you should be able to get rid of your oriental cockroaches for good.
What Exactly Are Oriental Cockroaches?
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Oriental cockroaches may be found in Asia as well as Europe and the Middle East.
Its roots are African or Russian, and it prefers warm climates to cold ones.
They are carriers of illnesses, including salmonella and dysentery in humans.
The adults of this species are around 3/4 of an inch long and have a dark brown body with a yellowish-brown band running along the top of their abdomen.
Its wings are three-quarters the length of its body, and its thorax is darker than the rest of its body.
It ranges in hue from brown to black and has a wing span of up to 1 inch.
The female is around 32mm long, while the males are only about 25mm in length.
It lacks wings and instead has flaps on its front legs for flying, like dragonflies do.
How To Identify An Oriental Cockroach?
Oriental cockroaches are around 1.25 inches long and have flat bodies that taper at the ends.
They are easily identified because of their antennae, which are bent at an acute angle to their front ends.
They may be distinguished from German roaches by the presence of two pairs of wings on the females instead of one pair.
Although they are considered a huge species, they are actually nocturnal creatures that come out at night to feed on leftover food or even live animals like mice and rats.
Where Do Oriental Roaches Hide?
Oriental cockroaches are unable to fly, but they move fast and can climb walls, ceilings, and even pipes very easily.
If you see any giant roaches crawling on walls and ceilings, you can be sure that you have an infestation of oriental roaches.
They may be found under sinks, behind stoves and other appliances in the kitchen, under the refrigerator, in pantries and even bathrooms.
Do Oriental Cockroaches Bite?
Oriental cockroaches can bite, but not as much as the German or American variety.
Stings are normally harmless but can cause irritation to the skin such as redness and swelling.
Oriental cockroaches are filthy pests that love to feast on decaying food in your pantry and spread bacteria and viruses all over your kitchen.
If you have an infestation of these oriental cockroaches, don’t waste any time getting rid of them.
These bites cause a scarlet rash to form on the skin, which is painful and very itchy.
To avoid infection, disinfect and wash the bite area with soap and water as soon as possible.
If it gets bitten while you are sleeping, it may be easy to miss, so look for small blisters.
What Attracts Oriental Cockroaches?
Oriental cockroaches usually live outside, where they can eat dead plants and other organic matter. However, they can get into your home through cracks in the foundation or walls or through plumbing vents.
They enter your home via these drains and seek shelter under kitchen sinks, cabinets, and even refrigerators, where they can feast on food particles they find lying around.
They are more often found near moist areas such as dishwashers, bathrooms, and bathtubs.
It is the primary reason they are found in kitchens, as they are attracted to moist areas where they can feed comfortably.
Diseases Transmitted By Oriental Cockroaches
Oriental roaches can spread many illnesses and diseases that are spread through food when they contaminate it with their poop and saliva as they eat it.
Because they consume waste and spoiled food, they contaminate everything they come into contact with, including your countertops, utensils, and food prep surfaces.
These cockroaches emit an odorous liquid called roach juice, which may contain bacteria such as salmonella, which can cause food poisoning and other illnesses in humans if ingested.
If there are a lot of bugs, the smell may spread through the whole house and be very unpleasant.
How to Get Rid Of Oriental Cockroaches Naturally
Soapy Water
A soapy solution may be used to effectively kill all stages of the Oriental cockroach.
You should only use two tablespoons of dishwashing liquid per one gallon of water and mix the solution well to create a strong soapy solution.
Stir the mixture until all the ingredients are dissolved and pour it into a spray bottle to use on your infested areas.
If you come upon a cockroach, spray it directly on the head to kill it instantly.
It works if you have just one roach, but you may need to repeat the process a number of times if you have a large infestation on your hands.
Sugar and Baking Soda
Baking soda combined with sugar can be used to attract and kill Oriental cockroaches naturally in the home.
It is a natural combination that successfully kills roaches by causing dehydration as it reacts with their bodies, which are highly acidic in nature.
To make it, combine equal parts sugar with baking soda and sprinkle the mixture in areas where you suspect these roaches are hiding.
The trap should then be placed in an area where they frequent to bait them and kill them when they come to feed on the mixture.
Bleach
Bleach is a universal disinfectant that can kill all the stages of the oriental cockroach at all stages of its life.
It is known as a roach killer, but it should be used carefully because if it is used wrong, it can harm the environment and expose people to dangerous chemicals.
Bleach is toxic to both people and the environment when misused, so you should only use it as a last resort when other pest control methods have failed or you have a severe infestation in your home.
You should also be mindful that roaches can reproduce quickly, so you may need to continue the treatment for some time to eliminate all the cockroaches in the house.
Vinegar
Although vinegar will not kill oriental cockroaches directly, it can kill the eggs and nymphs by drowning them or causing them to dehydrate to death if the adult roaches do not remove them from the vinegar mixture.
Because of its powerful odor, the roaches will not be able to detect its presence in their hiding places, and it will effectively eliminate all stages of these pests in the infested area.
To clean and sanitize your kitchen and bathroom surfaces, mix one part of white vinegar with four parts of water and use a clean cloth to wipe down the surfaces thoroughly.
Vinegar is a chemical that may cause damage to some materials, so you should test it first on a hidden area of the surface to make sure it does not react with the material before using it on the surfaces.
You may heat the vinegar to 130 degrees Fahrenheit before you apply it to increase its effectiveness in killing the eggs and nymphs of oriental cockroaches that may be hiding under the kitchen or bathroom sinks.
Also Read: How Long Can Cockroaches Live Without Food?
Conclusion
In conclusion, ridding your home of oriental cockroaches isn’t difficult.
In fact, it can be quite inexpensive and simple if you follow the tips in this article. First, make sure to vacuum and mop frequently.
Second, do a thorough check of the places where Oriental cockroaches hide, such as your walls and cabinets. Third, be mindful of where you put food away, as oriental cockroaches are attracted to the odor of food.
Finally, seal any cracks or gaps in your home’s foundation with caulk or spray foam. If you follow these steps, you should be able to rid your home of oriental cockroaches in no time.
