Need help from you southerners (or anyone else)

[Ed62]

One of my sons found a roach in his place last week. Yesterday he saw another one. Roaches are not typically a problem in our area, and if you happen to find one, it probably came in the house with groceries.

I know they are a problem in our southern states. Is there anything that will be effective to use, since there isn't a bad problem (yet)? Or is an exterminator the only hope?

Ed

[OpaDC]

Now you know why flip flops are so popular down here.

Boric acid works well if you think they are coming in from outside. A little along the threshold works wonders. Off the shelf bug killers around or in cabinets will keep them away. If they did come in with the groceries though I wouldn't worry about it though, just keep an eye out for a few days to see if any more show up. Might want to consider changing grocers though.

[conwaygolfer]

Roaches

I used to live up north and actually have seen a lot more there, than here in South Carolina. They will come into your house with almost any box you open.

What I always did, was get a concentrated quart of anything used to kill ants. Place several ounces in a pump up sprayer and add about one gallon of water.

Walk all the perimeter walls - outside and in - and with a course spray, give it all a good dose. You can find interior sprays (not as much odor) if you read the label. Follow the directions concerning pets, etc.. I even spray under the refrig., washer, dryer, etc.. This works for me, as I never see them in my house. I do it about every 2-3 months.

Since doing it this way, I have avoided paying the exterminator for his services.

[FL Buckeye]

Kinda early to be worrying about such things up there isn't it? Down here they do tend to come in with boxes or such that has been in the garage or outside. They also like to fly towards light after dusk, so if your son leaves a door open with a light on inside it will fly towards the light. Besides the Boric acid that OpaDC mentioned, down here the HD's, Lowes, etc sell a gel that you put by a door hinge or where-ever that acts as a bait/poison. The exterminators use it on the inside of cabinet doors and other places inside. I think it comes in a tube or squeeze bottle.

[LCHIEN]

i find that very patronizing, as if yankees did not have cockroaches, either. Just because they're bigger here in texas...

[docrowan]

Bengal Roach Spray. Throw away any other pesticide you have. Bengal will flush 'em out and kill 'em dead.

[dbhost]

Actually the MOST and BIGGEST roaches I have ever seen were in Arizona... They grow 'em big over there!

I had a little trouble with them that came in from a box shipment from Harbor Freight of all things. (There was an egg sac inside the box, it sat about a week before I opened it...). I simply used the bait stations per directions and they went away pretty quick.

The worst pest problem I have is the stupid gators in the bayou behind the house... Cops keep wondering why I am carrying a bow in my back yard....

[BerniePA]

The worst pest problem I have is the stupid gators in the bayou behind the house... Cops keep wondering why I am carrying a bow in my back yard....

Cops should be happy -- at least you're being quiet about it and not disturbing the peace!!!!

[cabinetman]

They probably aren't coming in with the groceries. They walk in the front door. Just don't let 'em in. Ours are pretty tough. If I wake up at night because I hear them walking around, I turn on the light and they yell to turn off the gosh darn light. They'll ask if I got anything other than the crumbs on the floor, because they saw us walk in with groceries.
.

[eezlock]

need help from you southerners

Ed, best product you can buy is one called Roach Pruf, and it is spelled that way! Go to your local hardware store and ask for it...they should have it in stock. I think it is a boric acid solution...not sure...but it really does work,I found out about from Paul Harvey on the radio years ago.

[BerniePA]

Actually the MOST and BIGGEST roaches I have ever seen were in Arizona... They grow 'em big over there!

You sure you weren't confused with scorpions???

[Ed62]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll try to find one of them locally.

Ed

[herb fellows]

i find that very patronizing, as if yankees did not have cockroaches, either. Just because they're bigger here in texas...

Oh, we have 'em. The hardest part is trapping them and finding an exotic chef.....

[Uncle Cracker]

Around here, roaches are simply part of the lifestyle. I have seen palm trees cut down, and watched as at least a thousand of them swarmed from a single tree as it hit the ground. We can pretty much keep 'em out of the house with any of a number of products, but outdoors is another story, as they can squeeze into and breed in places where pesticides fear to tread. We pretty much just give 'em all names, and train 'em to go over to the neighbors' to eat.

[Ed62]

as if yankees did not have cockroaches, either.

Oh, we've got 'em. We just don't have the numbers or the size you have. Around here, they're found mostly in larger cities or many stores/restaurants. We had a some in our house about 30 - 35 years ago. We only had a few, but LOML couldn't handle it. The exterminator took care of them.

Ed