If you have water roaches in your home, you’re probably wondering how to get rid of them. Water roaches are often called palmetto bugs or American cockroaches, and they’re one of the largest cockroach species.
These pests can be hard to control because they’re good swimmers and can hold their breath for 40 minutes. Plus, they can squeeze through tiny cracks and crevices to enter your home.
Types of Water Roaches
There are two types of water roaches: the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) and the Florida woods cockroach (Eurycotis floridana).
The American cockroach is the most common type of water roach. These pests are reddish-brown with a yellow band on their back. They’re about 1.5 inches long and can fly. Florida woods cockroaches are dark brown or black and have no wings. They’re about 1.25 inches long.
Water Roach Infestations
Water roach infestations often happen when these pests come into your home through cracks and crevices in the foundation or around doors and windows.
Once they’re inside, they’ll hide in dark, damp places like basements, crawl spaces, kitchens, and bathrooms. If you have a water roach infestation, you may see these pests crawling on the floors or walls. You might also see their egg cases, which are dark brown and about 1/2 inch long.
How To Get Rid of Water Roaches? – (14 Simple Ways & Rules To Follow)
If you’re dealing with a water roach infestation, the following are a few things you can do to get rid of these pests:
Eliminate Their Food and Water Sources
Water roaches are attracted to damp and dark places, so they’re often found near water sources like sinks, toilets, and drains.
To get rid of water roaches, you need to eliminate their food and water sources. Start by fixing any leaks in your home and sealing any cracks or crevices where these pests could enter. You should also empty any standing water in pet bowls or plant pots.
Use Baits and Traps
There are a variety of baits and traps that you can use to get rid of water roaches. Cockroach gel bait is a popular option because it’s easy to use and effective.
You can also try roach motels, which are traps that lure cockroaches inside with food or water and then prevent them from escaping.
Cockroach traps are an effective way to get rid of these pests. You can also make your trap by placing a food item in a jar and covering it with plastic wrap.
Be sure to check your traps regularly and dispose of the roaches you catch!
Call a Professional
If you’re struggling to get rid of water roaches, you may need to hire a professional pest control company.
These experts will be able to identify the source of your problem and develop a customized treatment plan. This is often the best option for severe infestations.
Spray Them With Insecticide
There are various pest control products that you can use to repel or kill water roaches. Insecticidal sprays, baits, and traps are all effective against these pests. You can also try using natural repellents like essential oils.
If you see a water roach, you can also try spraying it with an insecticide. This isn’t always effective, but it may kill the cockroach on contact. Be sure to read the label of your insecticide carefully and follow the instructions to avoid harming yourself or your family.
Another method is to use Boric acid. Boric acid is a natural pest control product that can be used to kill water roaches. This substance is poisonous to cockroaches, so it’s important to use it carefully. Be sure to apply boric acid in areas where children and pets can’t reach it.
Other pesticides you can use to eliminate water bugs are:
- Diatomaceous earth
- Pyrethrin
- Neem oil
These natural products will kill water roaches on contact. Be sure to follow the instructions on the label to avoid harming yourself or your family.
Get Rid of Clutter
Water roaches often hide in cluttered areas, so getting rid of clutter can help discourage these pests. Remove any items that are lying around on the floor,
Whichever method you choose, it’s important to be patient and consistent. It may take some time to get rid of all the water roaches in your home. But with a little effort, you can eliminate these pests for good.
Apply Caulk or Sealant Around Cracks
To prevent water roaches from entering your home, you should seal cracks and gaps in your walls and floors. You can also use door sweeps to seal gaps under doors.
If you have cracks or gaps in your walls or floors, water roaches can easily enter your home. To prevent these pests from getting inside, you should apply caulk or sealant around cracks and openings. You can also use door sweeps to seal gaps under doors.
Keep Your Home Clean
One of the best ways to prevent water roaches is to keep your home clean. These pests are attracted to dirt and food, so they’re more likely to invade a messy home.
Vacuum regularly and wipe down surfaces to deter water roaches. You should also store food in airtight containers and keep your trash can sealed.
Keep Your Yard Clean
Vegetation can provide shelter for water roaches. It would help to trim any overgrown vegetation around your home to deter these pests. This will make it less inviting for water roaches to take up residence.
Still, Water roaches often live outdoors in gardens or yards. If these pests are a problem, you should keep your yard clean and free of debris. Remove any standing water, trim vegetation, and store garbage in sealed containers.
Again, cockroaches are attracted to food and dirt, so keeping your home clean is an important part of getting rid of these pests. Vacuum regularly and wipe down surfaces to remove crumbs and debris. You should also empty your trash can regularly and store food in airtight containers.
Keep Your Home Cool and Dry
Cockroaches are more active at higher temperatures, so keeping your home cool and dry can help deter these pests. Set your air conditioner to around 75°F and keep your home well-ventilated. You should also avoid using humidifiers.
Also, Water roaches are attracted to damp environments. To deter these pests, you should get rid of any standing water in your home. This includes water in pet bowls, plant pots, and clogged drains. You should also repair any leaks to keep your home dry.
Use a Dehumidifier
Water roaches are attracted to damp and humid environments, so using a dehumidifier can help deter these pests. Dehumidifiers work by reducing the moisture in the air, which makes your home less inviting to water roaches.
Use a Vacuum Cleaner
Vacuuming is a great way to get rid of water roaches. If you have a Roach problem, vacuum regularly and empty the bag after each use. This will help remove roaches and their eggs from your home.
Try Natural Repellents
Many natural repellents can help deter water roaches. Some of these include essential oils, cucumber peelings, and coffee grounds. You can also try setting up physical barriers like diatomaceous earth or bay leaves.
Use an Integrated Pest Management Approach
The best way to get rid of water roaches is to use the integrated pest management (IPM) approach.
IPM combines different pest control methods, such as sanitation, exclusion, and insecticide application. This approach is more effective than using a single method and can help you get rid of water roaches.
Roach Bombs
If you have a serious roach infestation, you may need to use roach bombs. Roach bombs are canisters of insecticide that you set off in your home.
The fumes from the bomb will kill roaches and their eggs. This is a great way to get rid of water roaches, but it should be used as a last resort.
Tips and Reminders For How To Get Rid of Water Roaches
(1) Keep your home clean by vacuuming regularly and wiping down surfaces to remove crumbs and debris. You should also store food in airtight containers and empty your trash can regularly.
(2) Seal cracks and gaps in your walls and floors with caulk or sealant to prevent water roaches from entering your home.
(3) Apply door sweeps to seal gaps under doors.
(4) Trim any overgrown vegetation around your home to make it less inviting for water roaches.
(5) If you have standing water in your home, get rid of it to deter water roaches. This includes water in pet bowls, plant pots, and clogged drains. You should also repair any leaks to keep your home dry.
(6) Use a dehumidifier to reduce the moisture in your home and make it less inviting for water roaches.
(7) Set your air conditioner to around 75 degrees Fahrenheit and keep your home well-ventilated.
(8) Try natural repellents like essential oils, cucumber peelings, and coffee grounds. You can also try setting up physical barriers like diatomaceous earth or bay leaves.
(9) Suppose you have a roach problem; vacuum regularly and empty the bag after use. This will help remove roaches and their eggs from your home.
Final Thoughts
Water roaches can be a nuisance, but there are many things you can do to get rid of these pests.
Vacuuming, using a dehumidifier, and keeping your home clean are great ways to deter water roaches. You can also try natural repellents or set up physical barriers to keep these pests out of your home. If you have a roach problem, vacuum regularly and empty the bag after each use. This will help remove roaches and their eggs from your home.
