Our basement has a small kitchen (the water has been cut off because its only used for when guests visit), a 3/4 bath, 1 bedroom, the storage area with the water heater and such, and the rest is just a big room.
Where is is more likely we find roaches? (we get small ones, up to 1 inch, but TONS of them in the summer)
2007-04-02 10:03:05 · 7 answers · asked by qtpie16707 3 in Home & Garden ➔ Other - Home & Garden
You have an infestation. You need to call a professional. You will never be able to eradicate them on your own.
2007-04-02 10:10:21 · answer #1 · answered by markisboss 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's good that you've shut the water off because roaches only need one thing to live -- water. Depriving them of moisture alone won't kill them, however.
Whatever control methods you use, it's important to come at the roaches with different kinds of attacks. Set out glue traps in areas where you've seen them congregate. This will also help you determine the extent of the infestation.
Use a powder or gel that uses an Insect Growth Regulator. This will kill the roaches by trapping them in their younger stages of life forever and will prevent them from growing into adulthood (when they can reproduce).
To kill them at any life stage, seal off the room and use cans of fogger. Just read the instructions on how to use those. Place them at regular intervals throughout the infested area, keeping in mind that they might try to escape into other non-fumigated areas of the house.
There is usually a "nesting" area (or two or three, depending on the infestation). This will be a tight, dark, moist, warm area like behind a refrigerator or water heater. Check behind, under, on top of and underneath everything. There is literally nowhere roaches won't go.
For areas where you see roaches crawling, use diatomaceous earth or a similar substance that erodes the roach exoskeleton. This will poke tiny holes in them and they will die of thirst.
When you find this area, surround it with glue traps and use a fogger or a spray designed specifically for roaches. Roaches may be immune to one or two of the above methods, but very few of them will survive every one of them in turn.
If all these methods fail to reduce the roaches to a manageable level, it's time to call a professional. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't rid your house of roaches by yourself if you know what you're doing, though.
To prevent reinfestation, keep all areas dry and free of anything a roach would eat.
2007-04-02 18:13:38 · answer #2 · answered by Jeff 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Those things are TOUGH to get rid of, because they can (& DO) hide anywhere. Here's a novel, practical & SAFE solution to your problem; go to your local pet store, & buy a dozen or so of those little lizards that kids keep as pets in aquariums. Release them in your basement & see if they don't clear out your roach problem. As long as there's enough for them to eat, they should stay put, & they're a heck of alot safer & more effective than putting roach poison all over the place! Good luck!
2007-04-02 17:20:53 · answer #3 · answered by Joseph, II 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Are you sure it is roaches? Water Bugs look like roaches and love to hang out in the basement.
Set off a couple of bug bombs, this should help.
2007-04-02 17:07:01 · answer #4 · answered by knowitall 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
anywhere that has any kind of moisture -- I would guess around the waterheater in under the bathroom sink. You could have some coming up the drains as well.
2007-04-02 17:09:08 · answer #5 · answered by paloma 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Boric acid, it is very effective when used properly for killing cockroaches and most other insects. You can also get a house lizard, they are natural enemies and will eat them.
2007-04-03 11:06:17 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check under your arms and between your toes...
2007-04-02 17:08:19 · answer #7 · answered by Kiowa1 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋