2024 Author: Beatrice Philips | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-15 04:10
Questions about where domestic white cockroaches come from, what their appearance means, why these insects are dangerous in an apartment, arise more and more often. Indeed, having met such an uninvited visitor in a house or apartment, even a person with strong nerves can feel discomfort. To understand everything, to find out if there are albino cockroaches in nature, a detailed overview of the features of such insects will help.
Description
A white cockroach found in a house or apartment raises much more questions than its red or black counterparts. However, any representative of this type of insects promises little pleasant to people inhabiting living quarters. There are many hypotheses about why domestic pests are of unusual color. Among them there are quite fantastic versions - from genetic mutations to radioactive radiation . The reality is much more prosaic.
A cockroach with a white chitinous cover is not at all an albino . This is just a young individual going through a molting period. Small cockroaches, as they grow older, change their cover several times. The insects that have just dropped their old shell look very unusual. They are almost transparent, with a whitish body.
After 4-6 hours, the nymph's carapace gains pigment . Insects become darker, reddish-brown or blackened. Since nymphs are rarely seen by humans (they prefer to hide in dark places in the bathroom or other areas of the house), the myth that there are mutant white cockroaches has turned out to be quite a popular phenomenon.
In addition, sometimes discoloration of chitin can be observed in fully adult individuals. Such a temporary reaction of the body is caused by the poisoning of pests with chlorine-containing preparations.
Moreover, they do not always die from such insecticides - this means that you can meet a white cockroach even after processing housing. This reaction is especially common when using outdated chemicals. In modern disinsection, chlorine-containing agents are not used due to their high toxicity to humans.
Outwardly, a white nymph differs little from an adult cockroach. She has:
- flat oval body up to 20 mm long;
- triangular head;
- pronotum;
- chitinous cover;
- strong jaws with teeth;
- elongated antennae;
- elytra and wings;
- 6 legs.
In houses and apartments, only the most common species of this insect are most often found - synanthropic black and red cockroaches . It is their white nymphs or chemically lightened individuals that disturb the peace of modern townspeople.
Where do they come from and how are they dangerous?
The appearance of cockroaches of any color in residential premises is always associated with a danger to human health. First of all, these pests are the source of strong allergens. The reaction can manifest itself upon contact with their chitinous cover, as well as upon inhalation of the fumes left by feces and insect secretions. Constant contact with such strong allergens can lead to the development of asthma, Quincke's edema.
The danger comes from cockroaches and for other reasons. Their lifestyle is directly related to visiting places that are far from the concept of sanitation. Among the diseases carried by pests, one can distinguish:
- helminthiasis;
- mycoses;
- dysentery;
- salmonellosis;
- tuberculosis;
- coccal infections, including meningitis.
Traveling along the walls of garbage chutes, basements, sewer pipes, insects collect bacteria and pathogens on the surface of their bodies. Moving to a person's home, in contact with food, dishes, household items, cockroaches spread dangerous microorganisms. If they enter the human body, they can lead to the development of infectious diseases.
Synanthropic species of cockroaches are taken in a person's dwelling, too, not from the street. Among the ways of their distribution are:
- garbage cans and container sites;
- catering establishments;
- infected apartments of neighbors;
- cellars;
- attic rooms.
Cockroaches that live next to a person easily move along sewer pipes, ventilation ducts, and make their way into the cracks between the slabs of panel ceilings . It is almost impossible for them to block the path. But more often than not, a person himself turns out to be the culprit of such a neighborhood. Violation of sanitary safety rules in the home, neglect of regular cleaning, storage of rotting food remnants - all these factors, combined with dripping taps, leaking pipes, significantly increase the risk of collision with cockroaches, including their white nymphs.
Another non-standard way of cockroaches entering the home is associated with the exotic hobby of modern people. Terrarium keepers use insects as a food base. An escaped cockroach may well become the founder of a new pest population.
As for nymphs, due to the weak chitinous cover, they lead a more secretive lifestyle than adults. At this stage of development, insects prefer to hide in dark, secluded places with free access to water. If without food a cockroach can live up to six months, then without moisture - only a few days. It is in search of a watering place that the pest immediately after molting catches the eye of a person.
How to fight in an apartment?
Methods for the destruction of white cockroaches that have appeared in the apartment do not differ from those that are used against adult red or black individuals. They can be poisoned with chemicals - the method works if the intensity of the infection is medium to high. Traps help to get rid of single "guests" wandering from neighbors . This also includes gels and crayons, which are used as barriers in places of insect migration.
It is customary to consider folk remedies separately. They have a milder effect than pesticides. Most often, this method is used to scare away pests from human housing.
Features of destruction
White, red, black cockroaches are insects characterized by rapid population growth. That is why, having noticed 1 individual in the room, measures must be taken immediately. Pesticides used against pests are usually divided into 2 categories: household - 3 and 4 hazard classes, as well as professional . The principle of action of most insecticides is simple, it has a contact-intestinal method of intoxication. Eating the poison or contacting it with a chitinous cover, the insect gets paralysis of the limbs, dies rather quickly.
According to the form of release, modern drugs for cockroaches can be divided into granular, gel, emulsion, powder . Depending on the form of release, the mode of action of the drug also changes.
Special means
For home use, modern insecticidal preparations are produced, providing high efficiency and fast action. Among them are the following special tools.
GET Total . This drug is considered one of the most effective in the domestic market, it is as close as possible to the compositions for professional disinsection. The microencapsulated agent is presented in the form of a suspension, the composition contains a 5% concentration of chlorpyrifos. For 1 m2 of area, 50 ml of a solution prepared in the proportion recommended by the manufacturer is consumed. The drug has a prolonged effect, provides protection for up to 6 months, acts on pests at any stage of development.
Medilis NEO . The Russian-made drug is focused on the successful destruction of even a large population of cockroaches. It contains a combination of 2 active ingredients: imidacloprid and chlorpyrifos. The drug is toxic, requires care during processing, the premises must be kept closed for at least 8 hours after disinfestation. The concentrate is diluted to the required proportion, taking into account the manufacturer's recommendations.
" FAS Cypermethrin ". The agent in the form of an emulsion contains an active ingredient from the pyretoid group, is considered safe enough, does not cause addiction. The protective effect in the treated premises lasts from 30 to 60 days. The suspension is consumed very economically, 1 package is enough for disinfestation of a room with an area of up to 60 m2.
Agran . An insectoacaricidal drug, new for the Russian market, is produced in India, and its composition is as close as possible to professional products. It contains a combination of chlorpyrifos and cypermethrin, which provides a prolonged and pronounced effect in the fight against cockroaches. Insects die in 2-3 days, the protective properties persist up to 45 days.
" Executioner ". The drug is produced by a Russian company, presented in the form of a concentrated emulsion containing fenthion. The insecticide is suitable for the treatment of living quarters, furnishings, does not leave stains on textiles, carpets, upholstered furniture. Differs in strong unpleasant odor, acts quickly and reliably.
This does not exhaust the list of popular formulations. Among the recognized sales leaders are Globol in the form of a gel, as well as Ekokiller and Gektor - powders based on silicon dioxide . If a small number of insects are detected, sprays designed to instantly destroy pests can be dispensed with. Among the most popular brands of such funds are Raid, Raptor, Dichlorvos, Combat.
Traps
This type of insect repellent is the most diverse in composition and method of catching pests. Traps are of the following types.
Adhesive . They are presented in the form of small houses with a sticky substance applied inside, produced by the brands Forsyth, Argus, Mashenka. To attract insects, the manufacturer places a bait with pheromones or an attractive food smell inside. Cockroaches get inside but cannot escape. The glue traps are changed periodically.
Electronic . These devices are more expensive, but they are guaranteed. There is a bait inside the body of the device, as well as a live contact field, outside there is an insulated box. When caught in a trap, cockroaches die instantly from the current discharge.
Chemical . Such mini-houses contain not only tasty bait. They contain toxic substances, after contact with which insects quickly die. The advantage of such means can be called the possibility of destroying pests in the nest, where the poison will get from their paws and abdomen. The most popular brands of chemical traps are Raptor, Combat, Raid, Dohlox, Clean House.
Traps are considered a safe alternative to sprays and gels, and are suitable for use in homes and apartments where there are small children or animals that can feast on poisoned bait. Their housing is designed in such a way as to exclude accidental contacts.
Traps are convenient for hidden placement, have a special adhesive base for attaching to the floor, table, kitchen cabinets. They are cheap, but give a good result with a low degree of contamination of the premises.
Traditional methods
Among the methods by which it was previously customary to fight insects, there are many truly extreme ones. For example, it is proposed to freeze pests, which is rather difficult to do in an apartment building. Also, insects can be scared away by flooding their habitat with turpentine, kerosene, and other pungent-smelling chemicals . But it will be very difficult to weather the consequences of such an amateur pest control.
Folk methods with a milder effect include the use of essential oils that can repel insects .… It is enough to mark the places of migration of cockroaches with a few drops of the substance. Oil of lemon tree, geranium, eucalyptus is suitable.
When cleaning floors, you can add 1 tablespoon of ammonia to the water - it will give a deterrent effect.
The most effective folk remedies for cockroaches are powdered substances that are completely harmless to humans . These are crushed inflorescences of Dalmatian chamomile - pyrethrum, as well as boric acid. On the basis of these funds, edible baits are prepared using egg yolk and boiled potatoes. Having tasted them, the pests die.
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