6 Foods That Attract Cockroaches With in Seconds
Cockroaches are the most unwanted visitors in any house. These pests can enter the kitchen, bathroom, and almost any place where they find food or water. Apart from the fact that cockroaches are unpleasant to look at, they also can create an infestation in no time if they find favorable conditions to grow.
Among the major attracting things of cockroaches, there is one major point, and that is the love of certain foods for them.
In the following post, we will unwrap for you what foods bring roaches and which tips and tricks you have to get rid of those unwanted inhabitants of your house.
Understanding Cockroaches’ Eating Habit
Cockroaches are not discriminate eating insects; indeed, they happen to be opportunistic eaters with the ability to engulf quite almost anything from food to non-food items. Some foods or items are particularly attractive due to their strong smell, taste, or composition.
The cockroaches will raid your kitchen cabinets, then into the trash cans or leftover food crumbs lying across the house. Their feeding habits are attributed to their resilience in a position to survive on almost anything, even paper and cardboard.
There is a crucial need to maintain a clean home by eliminating as much clutter from your house as possible and ensuring there is no left food for them to dine on and hiding spots.
6 Most Common Foods That Cockroaches Love to Eat
1. Sugary Foods and Drinks
Roaches have a predilection for everything which is sweet in taste. They adore sugary edible items like candies, biscuits, soft drinks, and syrups. Their keen sense of smell will respond to the presence of sugar molecules that can provoke an instinctual response within cockroaches, leading them out from hiding places.
It indicates that even a spilled soda on the floor can attract cockroaches. So, make sure to wipe up anything sugary at once, and do not leave foods with sugar open.
2. Greasy and Oily Foods
Other enticing food items include grease or oil-based foods such as fried chicken, pizza, or bacon. The roaches adore grease patches remaining in the frying pan, or the grease splatters at the back of a soiled oven. Grease and oils often remain unnoticed under the crevices and slots in the kitchen, often building up under kitchen appliances or in other not-so-visible recesses, which should be cleaned regularly.
3. Starches and Carbohydrates
Bread, rice, pasta, and cereals are good sources of nutrition for cockroaches. Cockroaches adore starchy foods because they can digest them easily. These items should be placed in airtight lids or cockroach-proof containers to prevent roaches from gaining access to them.
The leftover crumbs from starchy foods such as crackers or chips also attract roaches. So, sweeping and vacuuming regularly is crucial.
4. Meats and Proteins
Leftover meat scraps, open packages of lunch meat, or even pet food can attract roaches. Meat is a high-protein food source that cockroaches love. Avoid leaving pet food out overnight, and always cover meats in containers. Also, pet feeding bowls should be cleaned regularly so that the lingering food residue does not attract cockroaches.
5. Rotting Fruits and Vegetables
Overripe fruits and decaying vegetables have an extremely pungent odor that can draw out cockroaches very easily if they are seeking food. These things can be big attractions, especially if they are in trash or garbage bags. Ensure that rotten produce is removed right away, and don’t let it sit too long in the kitchen or the trash.
Seal garbage bags properly by tying them shut so that cockroaches won’t eat whatever fruits or vegetables you have thrown in the trash.
6. Paper and Cardboard
You may not believe it, but paper, cardboard, and the binding of books can all be chewed through and digested by cockroaches. They are particularly attracted to the starches found in the glue and paper.
This is one reason why old piles of newspapers or stored cardboard boxes are such a favorite nesting place for cockroaches. Keeping items off of the floor and eliminating clutter removes attractive nesting sites.
Things That Cockroaches Hate to Eat at All
Though cockroaches seem to eat everything they see, there are also a few toxic foods and conditions that repel cockroaches. For example, they hate eating food with a bitter taste or have a strong tolerance to some natural compounds. Many common non-food items with their natural oils and fragrances can be used, such as bay leaves, cucumber slices, or catnip. They also tend to reduce feeding where expert equipment or pest control treatments can be seen.
Things You Can Do To Avoid Cockroaches
Keep Your Home Clean
Cockroaches like dirty spaces. Make sure you clean out all the crumbs and grease in the kitchen and clean all surfaces. Dirty dishes in the sink or food on countertops may attract them easily. Keep your kitchen clean so that you avoid infestation. Secondly, minimize the cluttered items you have in your house since it helps you remove their hiding places.
Store Food Properly
Store food in cockroach-proof containers like glass jars with an airtight lid. That way, roaches can’t reach food sources. Ensure that open bags of chips, cereal, and other foods are sealed in tight containers. Airtight lids on storing pantry foods can preserve freshness and keep these pests from getting inside.
Fix Leaking Pipes and Seal Cracks
Leaking pipes and damp areas create ideal cockroach habitats. Seal all cracks, crevices, and potential entry points to deny them access. Look for gaps around windows, doors, and plumbing lines. By fixing leaks and sealing entry points, you can dramatically reduce the chances of infestation by cockroaches.
Dispose of Trash Regularly
Cockroaches can feed easily on the garbage. Use a trash can with a tight lid. The trash should be emptied regularly. Do not store rubbish in paper bags. Tightly sealed bags are advisable. Trash should be emptied daily if there is leftover food or products that may eventually decay.
Declutter and Eliminate Hiding Spots
A perfect cockroach shelter can be cardboard piles, used newspapers, and other worthless items. Rearrange everything so there are fewer sites for roaches to conceal themselves in. Use pest-proof containers to store the items, and do not pile cardboard on the ground. Decluttering also contributes to the early detection of signs of infestation.
Call a Pest Control Service
If you notice signs of cockroach infestation, it is recommended that you call a pest control service. Experts can use specialist equipment to treat your home and eliminate these pests effectively. Early intervention can prevent infestations from getting worse and give you peace of mind.
Conclusion
Dealing with cockroaches can become pretty bothersome, but when you know what causes the infestation and maintain all the right preventive precautions, things can become easy. The most important rule to remember is that the cockroach is an opportunist feeder that will find ways to eat almost any possible food source. Having your home clean, storing proper amounts of food, sealing potential entry points, helps eliminate a cockroach problem before it starts. Maintain awareness and be proactive towards avoiding the pest.
FAQs
Q1: How can I tell if I have a cockroach infestation?
If you notice dead cockroaches, droppings, or a strong smell in certain areas of your home, you might have an infestation. Roaches often come out at night, so seeing them during the day is another clear sign.
Q2: Do cockroaches eat non-food items?
Yes, cockroaches can chew through non-food items like paper, cardboard, and even glue. This is because these materials often contain starch or other edible compounds that appeal to them.
Get Instant Solutions for Roach Infestation!
At Safepestsol, we offer solutions that work wonders. Our expert team of pest control knows all the methods to eliminate roach infestation effectively. So, Contact us right away and book our services.