I have always had an issue with bugs whether they are spiders, silverfish, and the most disgusting of them all cockroaches. From the kitchen to the bathroom, no matter how many are killed, they just keep coming back. So, I started looking for solutions other than a bug spray.
Do cockroach gel baits work? Yes, as long as you know what kind of cockroaches you have and buy a gel bait that they aren’t resistant to. This is important and there are resources available that will let you know what kind of cockroaches you have so you can buy the correct baits.
One thing to remember is that, like wolves, cockroaches always travel in packs. So, if you see one then you are bound to see another one. And that my friends, is a sign that you have a problem. Or you are about to have a problem. So, taking care of this situation is paramount. And I’m here to help.
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Table of Contents
Do Cockroach Gel Baits Work?
Cockroaches have been known to occupy this earth since the dinosaur era. So, imagine the number of pesticides and natural repellents that cockroaches have been exposed to in their long lives. And yet, they survive!
That is why it is important to know what kind of cockroach you are dealing with so that you can treat them with stuff they have not developed a resistance to or better yet, have not been exposed to thus far.
How to Determine What Kind of Roaches you have
The way you can determine what kind of cockroaches you have is by going to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Department of Entomology website. They have a list with pictures of all the different species of cockroaches you might encounter.
Once you have narrowed it down to the species, then you can look for products that will work with that particular species. There is a large variety of products out there made to target specific species depending on their feeding habits.
What if You Have Multiple Types of Cockroaches in Your Home?
You may find a product that treats more than one species, but oftentimes, to attack multiple types of roaches, you will have to buy multiple types of products.
This can quickly become costly if you are not careful. This is not to say that there aren’t cheap products available, but you want to buy something that is quality. So, always make sure you are reading reviews. Hearing what has worked for others is better than going with a product based on price alone.
Do Some Investigating
Buy smaller quantities of different kinds of gel baits and use them all over your home. Keep tabs on which one the cockroaches are most attracted to, then go out and buy larger quantities of that particular type of gel bait.
Why Do Gel Baits Work?
The reason gel bait works are due to how it targets the cockroaches. Roaches consume the gel, thinking this poison is food. The chain reaction that is caused by the gel bait is what makes it the most effective way to deal with the infestation problem you have in your home. But you have to use it right.
This will only work if the bait is the only food source available to the roaches. Which means, that maintaining cleanliness in your home is important. Make sure you are always picking up after yourself and vacuuming regularly.
This is especially true for the area where you have placed the gel bait. You want to make certain that the gel bait is not competing with any other food morsels that the cockroach might find more interesting. That will defeat the purpose of having the baits in the first place.
How Does Gel Bait Work?
Fair warning, this possibly could be the most disgusting thing you have ever read. I am getting goosebumps just writing about it. But it is important information, so I have to include it here for you to better understand the process with which the gel bait works.
The way this works is, when the cockroach feeds on the gel, it stays in its system for some time. In an ideal world, this would give the roach plenty of time to get back to its nest and start the chain reaction. Now, if you have an infestation of cockroaches, then this will work. It will take time, but it will work.
If you just have the occasional roach here and there, then it might take a good while for this reaction to work. Either way, here is what happens after the cockroach has ingested the bait.
We have already established that cockroaches are disgusting creatures. So, it should come as no surprise then that their habits are also revolting. They like to feed on their own fecal matter, vomit and other dead roaches. Because of these habits, the gel bait works perfectly to target and get rid of their colonies.
- Fecal Matter: Once the cockroach has eaten, like any other creature, it relieves waste from its system. And instead of getting rid of that waste, they actually feed on it. So, what happens is, once the roach has digested the bait and relieved itself of it, other roaches will feed on it and get targeted with the poison that will end up killing them.
- Vomit: Another thing that roaches like to eat is the vomit of other roaches. I hope you are noticing the pattern here.
Once the cockroach ingests the gel bait, it takes it back to its home. There the roach slowly dies. As it dies, it regurgitates whatever it has eaten, and when the other roaches feed on that vomit, they ingest a little bit of the bait as well which then leads to their death. And, the process continues.
- Dead Roaches: The last thing that helps with the baiting process is the fact that cockroaches, those that are cannibal, like to feed on other dead cockroaches.
So, once a cockroach dies, if it doesn’t regurgitate the contents of its stomach, other cockroaches will tear apart the dead roach’s stomach and eat up the contents inside hence, passing along the gel bait and killing them.
All in all, the gel bait works to destroy a whole colony of cockroaches because of the roaches’ own nasty habits. This kind of destruction will not work if you were to spray or just step on the cockroach, because you will only kill one or two roaches.
So, your best bet would be to use the bait and let it do its thing. If you see a lone roach and you know that they might have ingested the bait, you are going to have to learn to let that roach live so it can go on to do bigger things.
Where Should You Put the Baits?
You have to put the bait in places where you normally see the cockroaches. Also, make sure you’re putting them in the dark, warm areas since that is where cockroaches like to hangout.
These baits are highly toxic, so it goes without saying, but make sure you keep them away from where little hands and paws can get to it.
Don’t put the bait in an area where there is a lot of human traffic; you will not get any use from that bait. Also, putting it in the middle of the room is also not a good idea because a roach will never venture out that far willingly.
Lastly, once you kind of know where the nest of these cockroaches is, try and place the baits as close to the nest as possible for maximum and quick effect. So, make sure you are very strategic about how and where you place your baits.
Think cupboards, back of drawers, underneath the cabinets, behind the fridge, etc.
How Long Does It Take for Roach Gel to Work?
I would say it takes anywhere from two weeks to about a month for it to fully work.
If you have an occasional roach here and there, then it may take longer because you’re not sure how far their home is and if they make it that far.
But, if you have an infestation in your home, then it will be faster because that means their hideout is close by and they will be able to take the bait there faster. Also, because it is an infestation, you’ll have a lot of roaches that eat the bait and take it back to their homes with them.
You know what they say: the more, the merrier!
Are There Any Negatives to Using Gel Baits?
As with anything else in life, there are pros and cons. The same principle applies here. Although in my opinion, the gel baits are worth the extra time and effort, the main problems that are associated with gel baits are:
- It dries out quickly. This means you have to constantly remove the old, dried up gel and replenish it with a new coat.
- Finding the right places to apply the gel for maximum impact. Sometimes the places where we apply the gel may not be the ideal location to attract the roaches. So constantly keeping tabs on the places where the roaches congregate would be a great idea but can get tedious.
- Depending on the size of your home, you may need a large quantity of gel to cover a large area which can get expensive.
- Not knowing which kind of gel will work best with the kind of roaches you have. So, experimenting will be required.
Best Cockroach Gel Baits
To help you along your journey to be cockroach free, here are the three best cockroach gel baits that you can use.
Advion Cockroach Gel Bait
This gel bait is known to work with a lot of different types of cockroach.
This gel bait not only works in residential places but can also work in commercial places.
And it is effective both indoors and outdoors.
- Pro
Works with a variety of different species of roaches. It has a long shelf life. Doesn’t dry too quickly once applied, unless it is applied in an area with constant airflow.
- Con
It has a strong odor. Roaches might not be attracted to it because of the odor.
Invict Gold Cockroach Gel Bait
If you have an infestation of German roaches, then this should be your go-to bait.
It contains a patented active ingredient called “Imidacloprid” which is a slow-acting poison and perfect to be used as a gel bait.
This gel bait is known to work really fast. It is also one product that can be a bit expensive.
- Pro
Can kills roaches in as little as 24 hours. Proven to secondary kill when other roaches are exposed to carcasses & droppings of roaches that have previously eaten this bait.
- Con
It only targets one kind of roach. It can be expensive. The texture of the gel is runny hence, you can use up more gel than needed. The plunger can be a bit flimsy. If you are not careful, you can end up easily breaking it.
Maxforce FC Magnum
It can be a price saver since one application can last up to a year. It also works both indoors and outdoors. It can be effective on multiple species of roaches.
- Pro
It can be a price saver since one application can last up to a year. It also works both indoors and outdoors. It can be effective on multiple species of roaches.
- Con
It can be useful in killing the larger cockroaches while leaving the little cockroaches unharmed. The attractant isn’t very powerful. Which means, it might not attract as many roaches as we would like.
The Best Deterrent to a Roach: A Clean House
One of the most important things, in order to succeed in your roach-free mission, is to keep your house clean at all times. It is not only important to keep your house clean to prevent the roaches, but in general, you want to live in a clean and hygienic place for the sake of your personal health as well.
This will not only help keep the roaches at bay but also help with other insect problems. If there is nothing to attract the roaches, then, for the most part, you will not have this issue. Food is not the only attractant for the roaches. There are other things as well like a wet carpet in the bathroom, sink filled with dirty dishes, etc.
Summing it Up
Roaches are filthy creatures that need to be dealt with right away. As soon as you see one you should know that others are nearby. It is imperative to take action right away.
Things to remember:
- When bug spray isn’t cutting it. You can spray and smash all you like to get rid of the one you see, but if you have plenty of roaches roaming around your home, then clearly the bug spray ain’t helping.
- What you need is a long-term solution, which comes in the form of Gel baits. This is a Gel-like substance that you can apply to all the nooks and crannies in your house where you think roaches reside or frequent the most.
- Let them eat bait! Once they ingest the bait, they take it to their homes, and that is where the magic happens that leads you to be one step closer to being roach free.
- Get experimental. You may have to try a few products to determine which gel works best for the kinds of roaches you have in your home. When experimenting though, make sure you buy a small number of products, so you do not waste your money. Once you are sure that a product working, then you can go ahead and invest in it.
- Keep your castle clean.
These gel baits are a lifesaver. They have come a long way, and now they are more targeted to kill not only the roach that eats it but its whole colony as well. Of course, this won’t happen overnight. You will have to be patient and persistent, but it will happen.
The last resort, as always when dealing with any sort of infestation is to consult a professional. Hire a pest control service to take care of the problem for you before it gets out of hand. Especially if you have little kids in your home.
