Get Rid of Pests Using the Best Cockroach Traps

Cockroach infestation is one of the struggles you have to deal with to avoid further spreading. There are various cockroach traps like gel baits, tablets, wet traps, electric traps, or dry traps to get rid of these insects for good. Since there are several options available on the market today, you can easily get confused about what to buy. That’s why we have created this guide that will help you make an informed purchasing decision.

What are Cockroach Traps?

Cockroach traps are products that are used to exterminate pests in your home. They come in sticky glue boards, tablets, and electric designs that are used to capture cockroaches and other household pests. These traps do not kill insects instantly, so expect them to contain hundreds or even thousands of dead bugs, depending on how large the infestation is.

How Can You Use Cockroach Traps?

To use a roach trap, cut out excess plastic around the edges and expose the adhesive side. Peeling off the paper backing exposes the adhesive, and when a cockroach crawls across the surface, it will get trapped. For best results, use them in corners and along edges where roaches like to hide. If you use the tablets or electric ones, place them where the pests will be trapped easily.

What Are the Different Types of Cockroach Traps?

Wet Trap

A wet roach trap is made up of an aluminum pan with bait on the top. The top has an opening while the bottom stays covered, trapping cockroaches in the liquid soap mixture. This makes it ideal for places like kitchens or bathrooms where there is a constant flow of water.

Dry Trap

Roaches get attracted to this glue board trap by smelling the food scent. It is made of an adhesive surface that lies flat on the floor with a small feeder/bait station around it Thus, cockroaches will easily find their way to the traps. This kind of trap is suitable for open areas like pantries or rooms with shelves.

Gel Bait

Gel bait is one of the most effective cockroach killing products available today, especially for small nymphs that cannot yet travel long distances to find food sources and large ones that have become resistant to sprays. They ingest the gel in while eating and then return to their nests, where they infect the rest of the colony through contact with feces and corpses. It's best used in conjunction with a wet roach trap placed flat along walls since adult roaches will stay hidden from sight once they come into contact with this product. After they ingest the gel, they will get stuck in the wet trap.

Tablets

The tablets come in powdered forms and kill immediately but will only work where the pests dwell. You can use them as they are or mix them into sweet sugary foods like peanut butter (ensure that you do not leave it where children or pets can easily access it). When the pests eat the powder and then return to their habitats, they infect the whole colony. Additionally, these tablets kill cockroach nymphs within two weeks, which helps you control the infestation.

What Are the Factors to Consider Before Buying A Cockroach Trap?

Species

German cockroaches are one of the most common species in homes. They enter through open doors and windows, especially in warm weather when you leave your doors open for a long time. This makes it challenging to trap them since they can travel long distances searching for food or water. The most effective method to eliminate them is using the dry trap that is placed in entryways like doors.

American cockroaches are the largest species in the United States and are commonly found in water-damaged areas where they can find food. Their size makes them difficult to kill with insecticides. However, they are easy to trap because they're not good at hiding like smaller counterparts. Since they avoid light, traps used near entry points or baking/cooking areas will be most effective.

Brown-banded cockroaches are smaller than other species. They travel long distances to feed or reproduce and infest areas close to food sources since their primary need is water. To get rid of them, you will need to use wet traps.

Oriental cockroaches are one of the oldest types. Although they're not as common as other species, they're adept at hiding and traveling long distances looking for food. They infest areas close to food sources like rotting wood and bark and carry diseases such as E Coli since they live near sewage systems. You can use gel bait traps to get rid of them.

Effectiveness

Effectiveness depends on the amount of infestation in your home and the type of species. Dry traps for smaller species will catch fewer cockroaches because they are hard to spot but wet traps will be effective. However, larger ones can easily be trapped using gel baits.

Besides, all of these traps might lose their effectiveness over time due to roaches becoming resistant to the poisons. This happens when they eat the product but survive, leading them to developmental resistance. Therefore, you should keep changing the products frequently and avoid using a particular one for a long time.

Purpose

Ensure you choose the appropriate product for the type and locations of infestation. Traps specific for German, American, oriental, and brown-banded roaches can be installed in areas where these species lurk, whether indoors or outdoors.

If you are using it for outdoor areas, place it somewhere visible where the bugs will see it and return for more after eating the poison. If you install it in a hidden area, then other animals like ants and rodents may end up eating it.

Ease of Use and Cleaning

Insecticide and glue traps come with instructions showing how to use them and how often you should replace them. You'll have to follow the instructions when setting up the traps and cleaning them after trapping the cockroaches. Typically, dry traps will need to be replaced once filled with dead roaches, while gel bait traps should be thrown in the trash after use.

Cockroach Trap FAQ

Q: Why do you need cockroach traps?

A: Cockroach traps are an easy-to-use option for killing the pests directly, unlike other methods that require additional efforts like chemical sprays that can spread into your food items if left uncapped. If you have pets at home who accidentally consume these traps like the tablets, this is not a safe option.

Q: Where should you place the cockroach traps?

A: You should place the traps in areas where the bugs dwell or pass when searching for food and water. In other instances, you should place them near the edges or crevices where small cockroaches like to hide. If you are using one with bait, ensure you place it in a visible area.

Q: How long does it take for a cockroach trap to work?

A: Some cockroach traps like tablets kill the insects instantly while others take more time. When the cockroaches ingest the products in the bait station, it stays in their bodies for up to 24 hours. After going back to their habitats, they infect the rest of the colony.