Making a homemade cockroach trap is within everyone’s reach. All it takes is a little willpower and a basic knowledge of the bug to make formidable traps that will get rid of it.
Here are some homemade cockroach traps that you can make at home with the help of some materials that are easily found at home or in the supermarket.
So you will not have to complain about the infestation of these pests.
I. How to make homemade cockroach traps
When you have just noticed the presence of cockroaches in your house, it may mean that it is recent. You can get rid of them easily by capturing them with physical traps.
1. Homemade Trap box
The sticky box consists of making a cardboard box that you spread with glue. Put some food in the bottom of the box as bait.
Place it in the kitchen or any other dark, quiet place where cockroach colonies are easily found.
Leave it overnight, as this is when they become active. These insects will come, be attracted by the food, and will not be able to leave the trap.
To get rid of cockroaches you can put the box in the freezer for a few hours. As tough as they are, cockroaches do not survive at a temperature of -4 degrees.
You can also burn them or drown them. But be careful, cockroaches like high temperatures and can survive in water for 45 minutes.
The most reliable way to eliminate them is to freeze them. But you can put them in a hermetically sealed bag and throw them in the outside garbage can.
2) Cockroach trap glue
This is a similar method to the previous one as the roaches will get stuck. Get a tape in a department store or buy it in a store that specialized in insect control.
You can place this tape on the places where the cockroaches have been. If you’ve identified the areas where they usually go, place your tape across and they’ll be trapped and won’t be able to go any further.
You can also place your tape in closets where you’ve already noticed and seen their damage, or in other places that you think are infested.
With the homemade roach trap set up, place a bait in the center of the tape to entice the roaches.
This should be a strong-smelling food (onion, fruit, banana peel…).
Once your trap is finalized, let it sit for at least one night, then harvest. And finally, get rid of it (freezing).
You can also make your own adhesive trap using duct tape. Avoid scotch tape rolls, which are not sticky enough.
The cockroach may pass through your trap with a slight struggle.
3. Slippery jar Trap
Another effective trap is the sliding jar. Unlike the previous method where you can step on it, or stick your fingers in it yourself, this one is safer for children and animals, but also easier to move.
Take a glass jar and cover the outside with a cloth or rough tape, so that the roaches can climb easily.
Then coat the inside of the jar, from the top to at least 10 cm, with petroleum jelly or whatever very slippery material you have on hand, to be renewed every day.
Finally, place a sweet or simply very fragrant bait at the bottom of the jar (bread + beer).
Your trap is ready to close on these pests. When they smell the food at the bottom of the jar, they will rush in, fall in, and won’t be able to get out again.
4. Cockroach trap DIY bottle
In the same spirit as the jar, the bottle will trap the roaches. Use a bottle of red wine with some liquor left in it, or any other bottle with the most lethal bait possible, such as white vinegar.
Coat the inside of the neck with Vaseline or cooking oil to make the surface slippery. Use a small brush with a handle to spread the oil farther from the neck, so the insects have no way to get out.
Place the bottle in areas where you have problems with roaches. For a better trap, put some red wine on the neck of the bottle, the roaches will come and slide on the oil and fall to the bottom.
Leave for several days to catch many and repeat the operation as many times as necessary.
To get rid of the cockroaches that survive the bait poison, or to kill them if the bait was not lethal, you can pour boiling water into the bottle or throw it directly into a well-sealed plastic bag, although it is not a good idea to dispose of the bottles in this way.
5. Soapy water Trap
You can also trap invading roaches with soapy water. Fill a shallow dish with soapy water and bait them with a banana or other bait that is handy.
You can place your pets’ bowls in large basins containing soapy water.
Once attracted, they will fall into the water and drown. Soapy water clogs the pores of the cockroaches and causes them to die.
All you have to do is get rid of the corpses.
6. homemade cockroach trap using a soda can?
Making a homemade cockroach trap out of a soda can is a simple and effective way to catch these little pests. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide to creating one:
Materials:
- Empty soda can
- Dishwasher soap
- Water
- scissors
- Bait (e.g. sugar, breadcrumbs, or fruit peels)
- Optional: tape or rubber bands
Instructions:
- Rinse the soda can thoroughly to remove any remaining liquid and sticky residue. This will prevent cockroaches from being attracted to the soda rather than the bait you will be using.
- Using scissors, carefully cut off the top of the soda can, leaving about a third of the can intact.
- Create a ramp by cutting a strip of material from the removed top or use a separate piece of cardboard or plastic.
- The ramp should be wide enough to span the width of the soda can opening.
- Mix a small amount of dish soap with water. Pour the mixture into the bottom of the soda can. The soap will reduce the surface tension of the water, which will make it harder for cockroaches to escape once they have fallen into it.
- Place your chosen bait (sugar, breadcrumbs, or fruit peels) inside the soda can. You can also smear bait on the ramp to entice cockroaches to climb.
- Position the ramp so that it extends from the floor or counter to the opening of the soda can. You may need to use tape or rubber bands to secure the ramp in place.
- Place the trap in an area where you have noticed cockroach activity, preferably along walls or in corners. Monitor the trap daily to check for captured cockroaches.
- When the trap has caught cockroaches, carefully dispose of them and the soapy water.
- You can reuse the soda can by cleaning it and filling it with fresh soapy water and bait.
7. Homemade cockroach trap with baking soda?
Here is a step-by-step guide to setting up a simple homemade roach trap with baking soda:
Mix equal parts baking soda and powdered sugar in a small container. Quantities depend on the size of the containers and the number of traps you want to set.
Wearing disposable gloves, place a small amount of the mixture into each shallow container. You do not need to fill the containers completely; just enough to cover the bottom should be sufficient.
Place the traps in areas where you have noticed roach activity, such as near their hiding places, along walls, in corners, or under appliances. Make sure the traps are easily accessible to the roaches.
Monitor the traps regularly and replenish the baking soda and sugar mixture as needed. You may need to replace the mixture more frequently if you have a large infestation or if the mixture becomes wet or contaminated.
Dead roaches should be disposed of as soon as possible, taking care to clean the area around the trap to prevent the spread of bacteria.
8. Insecticide
You can also use an insecticide to make a trap. Place pieces of food in strategic places.
After a while, spray the area that will be full of cockroaches. Even though these insects will run away right away, they will already be poisoned and will go and contaminate their colonies, which will kill them slowly and surely.
II. Can I use homemade cockroach traps outdoors?
Yes, you can use homemade cockroach traps outdoors. However, you must consider the risks of inclement weather and other outside factors.
Here are some tips for using homemade cockroach traps outdoors:
- Weather Protection: Choose a weatherproof container for your trap or place it in a sheltered location, such as under a porch or awning, to protect it from rain, direct sunlight, and wind.
- Bait protection: If you use bait in your trap, consider covering it with netting or a lid with small holes to prevent other animals, such as birds or rodents, from gaining access to the trap.
- Location of traps: Place traps near areas where you have observed cockroach activity or suspect they may be nesting. These areas can include garbage cans, compost piles, or the perimeter of your home. Make sure the traps are easily accessible to cockroaches and are not blocked by plants, debris, or other objects.
- Stability: Make sure the trap is stable and won’t be easily knocked over by the wind, animals, or other disturbances. If necessary, use rocks, bricks, or other weights to help hold the trap in place.
- Monitoring and Maintenance: Check traps regularly for captured cockroaches and replace bait or other components as needed. Clean the area around the trap to remove dead cockroaches and prevent the spread of bacteria.
III. Can I use homemade cockroach traps in my car?
Yes, you can use homemade cockroach traps in a car. Broadly, the same advice as given above can be followed, plus the specific conditions and limitations of an automotive environment must be taken into account to ensure their effectiveness, such as space and movement.
IV. Are homemade cockroach traps safe for pets and children?
Homemade cockroach traps are generally a safe solution for pets and children provided certain precautions are taken into account.
The design of the trap and the materials used are important for safety.
Above all, it is important to use non-toxic materials and substances for your traps. Instead of opting for chemical insecticides or borax, consider safer alternatives such as soapy water, diatomaceous earth, or a mixture of baking soda and sugar.
And when using bait, make sure it is not easily accessible to children or pets by placing it in a container with small entry holes that only cockroaches can access.
The design of the trap should also be safe, avoiding sharp edges or small moving parts that could pose a choking hazard to children.
For example, if you’re using a jar or siphon, make sure the edges are smooth and the container is tightly closed.
Proper placement of traps is also essential. They should be in places where children and pets cannot easily reach them.
And If possible, use barriers like baby gates or pet fences to keep children and pets away from traps.
Finally, regular monitoring of traps is important to maintain their safety. And Get rid of captured cockroaches promptly and clean the area around the trap to prevent the spread of bacteria.
Conclusion
Make several traps and place them in various problem areas of the house to catch as many roaches as possible.
Try several types of traps and see which ones work best in your home and use those instead.
Be patient, and don’t decide right away that a trap is ineffective when in fact it’s in the wrong place or doesn’t have the right bait.
Look at the foods that cockroaches usually pilfer in your kitchen and use them to trap them.
Remember that beer is a very good bait because it gives off an odor similar to pheromones produced by females.
Useful Links:
Cockroaches Show Individuality in Learning and Memory During Classical and Operant Conditioning
Cockroaches: The insect we’re programmed to fear
Rapid cross-resistance bringing cockroaches closer to invincibility