I Killed a Cockroach, Will It Attract More?

Any homeowner who has had cockroaches knows how frustrating it can be to get rid of an infestation. Roaches are dirty nasty and annoying little critters that invade homes in search of food, water, warmth, and shelter. Unfortunately, most efforts to eliminate this creepy crawlies end up being futile, with many DIY reporting that the pests keep coming back non-stop.

Perhaps you’re wondering, does killing cockroaches attract more? The correct answer is yes; dead cockroaches can attract more roaches into your home. To delve deeper into this question, this article looks at how and why dead roaches attract more of them. You will also learn how to kill roaches and eliminate their dead bodies the right way.

Does Killing Cockroaches Attract More?

Much like ants and bees that tend to their dead, cockroaches have also shown interest in their dead individuals by congregating around them. If you’ve ever noticed this, you probably thought it was some totally bizarre way of insect mourning. On the contrary, however, cockroaches are attracted to dead roaches and might even consider them free food to eat.

A good example is Oriental and German cockroaches that eat members of their colony. These cannibalistic pests prefer to feed on dead roaches. However, if the situation is dire and there’s no other food, larger roaches may be driven to bite humans, eat their nymphs, and even feed on their own poop. So to answer your question, killing a cockroach will attract more roaches into your home. Cockroaches are scavenging pests that are known to eat anything, including dead roaches.

Why Does Killing Cockroaches Attract More?

The question that begs an answer is: What happens when you kill a cockroach? Roaches have an incredibly rigid and flexible exoskeleton that makes them almost impossible to squash. However, there are many other methods to kill a cockroach, some of which will mess you up by attracting more roaches into your home. When you kill them, it naturally squirts out a chemical known as a pheromone. It is this undesirable liquid that attracts other roaches to check them out and may end up eating them as free food.

A pheromone is a chemical odors produced or excreted by roaches and other insects as a form of communication. When a cockroach releases this chemical, it transmits various suggestions and messages to other members of the colony, for instance, a potential food source, shelter, or inviting a mate. In the same way, they can release this pheromone to warn or alert other members of impending danger or a call for help.

If you squish the cockroach scurrying across your kitchen floor, it releases a pheromone or a fatty acid known as oleic acid. This acid can be smelled by other roaches from a distance, alerting them about the danger. Once things settle down, however, the roaches (and other insects) congregate around the fallen member to feast on, especially if food is scarce around the area.

How to Properly Kill Cockroaches

Cockroaches are not only annoying and embarrassing but also frustrating to deal with. This is especially true when a cockroach you just killed attracts an entire colony into your home. But as mentioned earlier, there are numerous ways to kill these nasty creatures and prevent a potential infestation. Below are tips on how to properly kill roaches and prevent their corpses from attracting others:

• Kill Roaches with Glue Boards and Gel Baits

Gel baits are extremely effective control products. Consisting of a slow-acting poison and a food attractant, baits successfully kill large, small, and even the most notorious roaches. In addition to effectively controlling an infestation, baits also stop dead roaches from attracting other pests. Another effective method is placing glue board behind effective areas that also work very well, as you will see a lots of them will follow each other’s to the sticky glue boards magically.

• Kill Roaches with Roach Bombs

Roach bombs are aerosol cans containing a chemical insecticide that is sprayed as a mist into the air in a confined space to kill bugs. Cockroach bombs effectively prevent dead roaches from attracting others as they instantly kill all the roaches in the confined space. Additionally, the smell of the chemical insecticide helps keep other roaches away.

• Repel Roaches with Natural Remedies

There is a wide variety of natural remedies that can help get rid of roaches and keep them away from your property. For instance, peppermint oil is one of the best home remedies against roaches. All you need to do is spray the oil in places you’ve noticed cockroach activity to repel the pests. While this method does not get rid of the persistent creatures overnight, the continuous application will keep their population at bay in time to be less.

• Kill and Dispose of Dead Roaches

As mentioned above, dead roaches release Oleic Acid, which triggers other roaches to come and feed. Therefore, you must eliminate cockroach corpses as soon as you kill them to prevent a re-infestation. Pick up the dead roaches and put them in a plastic bag to be disposed of at a safe distance from your home.

Keep in mind that roaches release body elements and smell from their bodies when killed. These elements and pheromones will draw other roaches to your house. Hence, it’s paramount that you thoroughly clean and disinfect the surface with bleach. You should also consider using natural repellents such as peppermint and catnip oil.

Engaging a Pest Control Professional Company

Roaches are social pests that often live in large family groups. So, if you spot a dead or live cockroach in your home, chances are that there are others lurking nearby. Because these pests are skilled at hiding and are rapid fast breeders, most DIY methods often produce ineffective results. Comparably, professional cockroach exterminators such as Maximum pest control services can eliminate an active pest problem while reducing the chances of re-infestations.

Maximum Pest Control Services experts are happy to help you eliminate all pests from your property. Once you contact us, a certified bonded technician will visit your home to do a complete inspection and determine the level & type of infestation you’re dealing with now. The expert exterminator will then recommend the best, safest, and highly affordable solution for your pest problem. As part of our program, we give professional advice on how to prevent future pest infestations from your house or business.

Contact Maximum Pest Control Services today calling (905) 582-5502 to arrange a survey of your home and discuss the best solution for your entire pest problem: Cockroaches, Mice, Rats, Ants, Spiders, Clover Mites, Wildlife; Raccoons, Squirrels, Skunks, etc…. Maximum always here to help (289) 396-5426.