You may see a single cockroach crawling in your house here and there. But you need to be aware that they often create a roach nest. There could be even hundreds of roaches living in a single nest.
Here’s everything I learned about how to find roach nests and how to destroy them.
What Does a Cockroach Nest Look Like?
Do roaches have nests? Actually, cockroaches don’t build literal nests but they live in groups. They even share a collective decision-making behavior. A cockroach nest is a place where a large number of cockroaches gather.
They sense each other’s scents and follow it, that’s how they attract and follow each other.
There are different types of cockroaches, each forms their roach nests in a different environment. For example; American cockroaches nests usually come from the sewer and pipes, while German cockroaches are found in buildings, rooms, and infrastructures.
How To Find a Cockroach Nest?
The task of how to find roach nests can be challenging. There are some common places where roaches nest. That can be a good place for you to start.
Where To Look At Home?
Cockroaches usually create nests in dark, humid, and moist places.
Where do roaches nest? Well, looking in your kitchen would be a good start. Look inside and behind cupboards, shelves, or your sink. You can also check behind home appliances like the refrigerator, washer, or dishwasher.
You can check all the areas in your house with little or no light at all. Do not mistake any place for being too small. Cockroaches can form their nests in small places.
Also, avoid leaving food uncovered or outside. Leftover food is practically an invitation for cockroaches to stay and prosper in your house.
Bathrooms and basements might also be dark and moist, therefore, a convenient place for roach nests. Regularly cleaning your bathroom and your basement will help keep them away. If regular cleaning isn’t enough, then it’s time to check the source they’re coming from.
Here is quite a good video on how to find a cockroach infestation at home:
Where To Look In The Garden?
To roaches, your garden is their golden ticket to your home. If you see cockroaches in your garden, I recommend you check for nests as quickly as possible.
Cockroaches practically eat anything, grass included. If an infestation happens in your garden they will destroy your plants.
You might find them on tree logs, or under any wooden object in your garden. They might be coming out of your garden drain as well.
What Counts As Infestation?
An infestation is when you have a cockroach nest where a large number of cockroaches live together. Getting rid of a cockroach or two can be disturbing in itself, let alone having to deal with an infestation.
The first step is to determine whether or not this is an infestation.
If you’ve seen cockroaches around your house or your garden more than once, this is probably a warning sign. This means they found a suitable environment. So, there’s an infestation already there or it’s about to happen.
Keep an open eye to small signs. One of the clearest signs is cockroach eggs or skin sheds.
Finding eggs and skin sheds is a sign of a whole cockroach’s life cycle happening here. It also says they found a place where they can even plan for the new generation, so to speak.
What To Do When You Find Cockroach Nest?
Probably the most important thing to do is to make sure that this is the cockroach nest. You don’t want to find a solution for the few cockroaches you found randomly around the house. Find the original roach nest.
Then it’s only natural to properly clean the area around it. Use water, soap, and antibacterial products if you prefer.
Make sure to avoid leaving food around the area.
If you have children, it’s advisable to keep them away from the infested area. You can explain to them what’s happening and why they should stay away before you close the room or ask them to stay away from it until it’s clean and safe again.
How To Destroy Cockroach Nest?
Now it’s time to get rid of the nest. There are various products and techniques to destroy roaches’ nests.
Baits
You can find many different types of cockroach baits.
There are homemade and DIY mixes and store-bought ones.
This may be a good option for small or still starting nests. It might not be sufficient for a large infestation
Chemical Treatments
There are several types of chemical treatments for cockroaches. You can find spray bottles, dust powder, and different types of chemical bait.
They vary in strength and effect. You can find them in supermarkets, some pharmaceutical sections, or shops and online shops specialized in insect repellents.
Caution is a must if you decided to use chemical remedies. They can also affect you and anyone living at the house. If you have pets at home you need to make sure you are using pet safe roach killers. Read their instructions carefully and follow them thoroughly.
Professional Help
If you tried different remedies without success, or if you find cockroach nests coming back every now and then, I recommend you ask for professional help.
Professional help in taking out insects and nests can be very effective and quick. It’s an easy way for you to take this burden off your shoulders.
However, it might cost you more than the usual expenses. You might also need to evacuate your house for a few hours.
If a cockroach infestation is a constant struggle for you, then I recommend the professional help choice. Even with paying more, you’ll be investing in the safety of your house.
Block The Source
Once your house is clear of cockroaches, it’s time to block the source where they came from in the first place.
They usually came in through holes in the walls, under the doors, or from inside pipes. Make sure to block all these cockroach doorways as well as potential ones.
Anti-Cockroach Plants
Mother nature blessed us with so many gifts, even anti-cockroach plants. There are some types of plants that cockroaches hate and will avoid. Those include catnip, bay leaves, garlic, and cucumber.
Keeping those plants in your garden or indoors could help keep the roaches away.
Final Words
Houses might be a tempting environment for cockroaches. Finding and destroying cockroach nests as soon as you suspect their presence is crucial. Knowing how to find roach nests and where do roaches nest will make your task a little easier.
Nowadays, there are several treatments to destroy a cockroach infestation. Varying from natural to chemical remedies, and even professional help.
This wide variety is to help you find what works best with your place.