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Lar

In article ,
says...

I live in an area where cockroaches are a way of life. I put out

fresh roach traps 3 times a year. Yesterday I saw a live cockroach in

the attic, yet there is no food there. I know if you see one there are

many more which gives me the creeps. Also there are roaches on the

deck. Last week I sprayed around the foundation perimeter--mainly to

keep out spiders and ladybugs that invade every fall. I know the

sonic devices are a hoax. Can anyone tell me the best way to minimize

having cockroaches? I keep a very clean house. I have a container of

the fine boric acid (blue) powder--what's the best way to apply it?

What is the best brand of roach traps? I have no children/pets. TIA

Assuming you mean the large outdoor roaches that many people call water
bugs, palmetto bugs, tree roaches, etc. The roach traps usually are not
effective for them, the ones you have, dip in warm water to moisten the
bait and see if that makes them more attractant. If you go the boric
acid route, it should be a LIGHT dusting, much like the dust that
accumulates after a few weeks in a window sill if no dusting is done. If
you put it out heavy the roaches will only avoid the areas treated
making you feel it has worked...out of sight/out of mind. Boric Acid
powder will be the most toxic insecticide you will use for roaches so
making sure it is not where a kid can get a pinch then put it in their
mouths or nosey pets get into it. These are outdoor roaches coming in so
using the dust is an after the fact way of attacking the problem. Do not
use the dust outside around the foundation, it will create a long term
vegetation dead zone. The outdoor roaches have a starchy diet such as
decaying leaf matter, rotting wood, etc. the deck is a good place to
start, organic matter builds up over time, probably stays moist and
roaches are attracted to the area. The perimeter spraying can be
effective, though what you probably are using is short lived.
Concentrate around the foundation, window sills, door jams. If you have
an old rotting wood pile or a large tree with a hollow spot within
thirty feet of the home, those areas need to be addressed too. If you
can find any of the granulated cricket baits, placing it around the area
10 days after your foundation treatment can also be an aid. You may have
luck also with the interior type home sprays... the bifenthrin products
you can find are more diluted than what a pro would use, but many pros
do use bifenthrin as their inside insecticide. Concentrate where
plumbing goes into the wall, kick boards in kitchen and bathroom, maybe
out of the way corners...but not totally along the baseboards of the
house.
--
Lar

to email...get rid of the BUGS