Cockroaches are incredibly difficult to kill, that is a fact. But one question we get asked a lot is ‘Can you kill a cockroach by stepping on it?’ The answer is, yes, you can, but there are a lot of complications regarding this pest control method.
You can kill a cockroach by stepping on it, but it is difficult…
Cockroaches are difficult to kill because they have habits that make them inaccessible. They also have physical traits that make them withstand strong force.
- Cockroaches don’t want anything to do with you. Some people are just very anxious about cockroaches. They think these insects will suddenly crawl into their mouths while they sleep or something. Though there are rare cases of this happening, it’s not very likely. You don’t like cockroaches, but cockroaches don’t like you either. They like to stay away from you as much as you like to stay away from them. This can make them inaccessible and therefore difficult to spot and kill.
- Cockroaches have physical traits that make them formidable. Cockroaches are inherently difficult to kill because of certain physical characteristics. They have strong exoskeletons that can help them withstand significant force. Sure, you can kill a cockroach by stepping on it. But you have to make sure that you are using enough force to actually break through their exoskeletons and squash the pests. If you don’t squash them completely, they can also survive. They are strong enough to survive significant injuries. They can just play dead until you leave them alone.
- Successfully killing a cockroach with blunt force is often a case of trial and error. If you have tried hitting a cockroach before, you know how difficult it is to see if it is actually dead or not. It probably isn’t, unless you can see its blood and guts outside of its body. The best way to kill a cockroach is to make sure that you have completely squashed it. And many times, this requires trial and error for you to know how much force you will exert to break through their strong exoskeleton.
Dead cockroaches are both good and bad
Dead cockroaches are good if you have an active infestation. But they can be bad if you don’t have an active infestation.
- Dead cockroaches are good because they reduce infestations. Of course, dead cockroaches are good news, especially if you know you have an active cockroach infestation at home. You can kill a cockroach by stepping on it, but there are also other ways that are more sophisticated. You can use commercial products like insecticides. But you can also try home remedies like baking soda, boric acid, or diatomaceous earth.
- Random dead cockroaches are bad because they can be a sign of an infestation. However, if you have not actively tried to kill cockroaches but you see random dead cockroaches at home, you should be concerned. Seeing random dead cockroaches is a sign of an active infestation. Cockroaches don’t just enter your property and die. They are probably already there, and they happen to die because of various reasons, such as your random use of insecticides.
- Dead cockroaches can sometimes attract other cockroaches. Cockroaches release different kinds of pheromones. When they are safe, they release pheromones that indicate that the area is good for nesting. This may attract other cockroaches into the area. And when they die, they release pheromones as well, indicating that the area is dangerous. This will make other cockroaches avoid the area. But there are some instances where dead cockroaches can actually attract other cockroaches, like when cockroaches in the area are starving. Cockroaches are cannibals and will eat their dead mates when they are desperate enough.
Get rid of cockroach attractors…
The best way to avoid cockroaches is to get rid of the things that attract them.
- Make food and water inaccessible. Easy access to food and water is a surefire way to attract different kinds of pests, not just cockroaches. They are basic needs for everybody. If they can find these needs, then, of course, they can settle on your property where these needs are easily reached. Store your food in cabinets, containers, and refrigerators. Don’t forget pet food as well. They can also attract pests. Water is also a lot more common on your property than you think, especially if you have plumbing problems like leaks.
- Clean your home. Cockroaches are not picky eaters. Things you don’t necessarily think of as food can be food to them. For example, do you know that cockroaches can eat any organic material, including hair? This is why your bathroom is a perfect spot for cockroaches. It has debris like hair and soap residue. It is also most of the time moist, providing water to these pests. Even clean homes can have cockroaches because of food and water accessibility. If you don’t even clean your home, you are not really giving yourself any chances.
- Cover all potential passageways. Even though cockroaches have strong exoskeletons, they are very flexible. They can squeeze through cracks and crevices as small as 4 mm. This means that even the smallest gaps all over your home can serve as passageways for them. Put weatherstrips on the gaps between your doors and windows. Seal all cracks, crevices, and holes in your walls. Cover your drains as well because cockroaches tend to come up the drain.
Kill a cockroach by stepping on it
Get rid of cockroaches the moment you see them. These pests carry disease-causing bacteria, such as salmonella, staphylococcus, and streptococcus. You can kill a cockroach by stepping on it. But you have to make sure you completely squash it because it is strong enough to withstand a force equivalent to hundreds of times its body weight.
There are also more sophisticated ways to kill a cockroach. You can use commercial products like insecticides and home remedies like baking soda. But if you think you have a cockroach infestation that is already beyond your control, you can always get help from pest control professionals.