What Attracts Cockroaches? | Common Factors and Prevention Tips

Written by George Climer

Cockroaches can invade your house or building for multiple reasons. Although they do not cause any structural damage, in larger numbers they can pose a serious health risk. There are more than 4000 known species of cockroaches, but only a few of them are indoor pests.

Due to their incredible thriving ability and rapid growth, they are hated and unwanted pest all over the world. The cockroach infestation should be dealt with during the early stages before it got worse. Before you address the problem, you should learn more about the behavioral and eating habits of cockroaches.

What attracts cockroaches? Poor hygienic conditions are one of the major reasons why cockroaches are attracted to our homes. Cockroaches are also attracted to your house in search of food, shelter, or warmth. They are considered opportunistic feeders and eat almost anything, including, sweets, crumbs, vegetables, decaying matter, fungi, small insects, dead organisms, trash, and even meat.

In the following section, we have provided a list of components that attract cockroaches in indoor and outdoor settings. Further, we have shared the methods on how to actually use some of their attractants in order to kill them. Let’s begin!

Table of Contents

What Attracts Cockroaches Indoors? | Information

Cockroach infestations are a common problem all over the world. Once they invade your house or apartment, you will find them everywhere, including the bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, living room, pantry, etc. 

The main reasons for cockroach invasions are their search for a warm and humid environment and easy access to food and water.

What Attracts Cockroaches in Your Home?

Cockroaches will mostly invade your home due to poor sanitation, in search of food, and safe shelter. Cockroaches have a wide range of eating options and can eat almost anything they find.

What Attracts Cockroaches in Your Home

If you have opened trash bins, uncovered food items, wooden cupboards, tiny gaps, and leaky pipes then your home will certainly be attractive to them. A poorly maintained lawn, decaying matter, and a damp yard are perfect places for cockroaches.

Cockroaches are omnivores which means they can eat vegetables, crumbs, sweets, dead roaches, other insects, decaying wood, mulches, fungi, fruit peels, etc.

They can also be drawn to your house by electronic devices, machines, pet food, bird feed, animal feces, compost, and bugs. Repair leaky pipes, fix the cracks in your home walls, and keep your environment clean to avoid them.

What Attracts Cockroaches in the Bedroom?

Cockroaches are attracted to bedrooms due to optimal temperatures and good hideouts. Fruit peels, animal urine, feces, uncovered trash, or other food traces can also draw cockroaches to your bedrooms. 

The cockroaches can easily sense the smell of snacks or other food items from anywhere. They make their shelters in cupboards, under the bed, behind furniture, or in other tight and dark places. Do not leave food traces or snack wrappers in your room and always keep it clean.

What Attracts Cockroaches in the Kitchen?

The kitchen is the perfect thriving place for cockroaches. The humid climate, warm areas, dirty countertops, garbage, dirty sink or dishes, spilled and carelessly stored food items, open pet food, empty cans, wrappers, excess water, and plenty of other food sources will attract roaches in your kitchen. 

They make shelters under sinks, near leaky pipes, beneath the stove, inside the refrigerator, microwave, toaster, under coffee maker, behind cupboards, or in dark holes.

To avoid cockroach infestation, regularly clean your countertops and dirty floor, remove excess moisture, repair leaky pipes, and fix the cracks in your kitchen. Also, dispose of your leftovers and garbage daily.

What Attracts Cockroaches to Bathrooms?

The major reasons for cockroach infestations in bathrooms are moisture and warmth. Leaky pipes, dirty floors, wet sponges, dirty towels, bath mats, and standing water around sinks, or bathtubs can attract cockroaches to your bathrooms.

What Attracts Cockroaches to Bathrooms

The best shelters for roaches in your bathrooms are holes under the sink, dark corners or holes, space under the bathtub, drains, or space behind cupboards.

To keep cockroaches away, do not leave excess water in your bathroom, clean your trash, and hang your wet towels and other items after taking a bath. Eliminate all the factors that can attract roaches to your bathrooms.

What Attracts Cockroaches in Apartments?

Cockroaches are common pests in apartments and other residential areas. They are attracted to your apartment due to unhygienic or poor sanitary conditions.

Cockroaches are drawn to your apartments by following food traces or moisture. Food leftovers, wrappers, dirty floors, pet feeders, animal waste, bugs, garbage, refrigerators, electronic devices, dirty or damp bathroom, and the kitchen provide the best hideouts for cockroaches. 

Repair all damaged pipes and remove excess water to prevent any roach attack. Clean trash bins and leftovers in your apartment and remove the potential nesting sites of cockroaches to keep them away.

What Attracts Cockroaches Outside?

Cockroaches can be found anywhere near water and food. Poorly kept garden, overgrown vegetation, decaying logs or trees, wilting grass, compost, dead insects, animal feces and urine, open drains, wet pots, pet feeder, leaky pipes, standing water in lawn or yard, food leftovers, and open trash bins can attract cockroaches.

Cockroaches can effortlessly live outdoors, for example, they can hold their shelters under logs or decaying wood, in drains, inside holes and crevices, under pots, etc. Keep your garden clean, get rid of excess water, use covered trash bins, and remove decaying litter or logs on your lawn, this way you will lower the chances of attracting cockroaches.

Do Chicken Coops Attract Cockroaches?

Cockroaches are also drawn to chicken coops due to perfect shelter, warmth, moisture, and food. Chicken feces or decaying matter in the coop can also attract cockroaches. 

Do Chicken Coops Attract Cockroaches

To keep cockroaches and other pests away from the chicken coop install them above the ground level, take care of cleanliness, and do not overfeed the chicken.

Related: What Eats Cockroaches? | Natural Predators and Enemies

Do Bird Feeders Attract Cockroaches?

Seed droppings, animal waste, or urine near bird feeders are a feast for cockroaches. They love to make their shelters near pet feeders due to easy access to food and water. They have a strong sense of smell and can detect food and water from far away through their antennae. Do not spill water and bird feed near the feeder and clean all the bird droppings regularly in order to prevent the infestation of cockroaches.

Does Mulch Attract Cockroaches?

Cockroaches are drawn to any decaying or decomposing matter, litter, pine straw, wood shavings, decaying plants or grasses, fruit or vegetable peels, compost heaps, and other organic mulches.

Mulch is an ideal shelter as it provides warmth, moisture, and food for cockroaches. You can replace organic mulch with inorganic mulch to avoid as a means to prevent them from invading.

Does Pine Sol Attract Cockroaches?

Pine-sol does not attract cockroaches. It is a strong oil-based cleaning detergent used to wipe heavy stains. It can also be used to kill cockroaches and other insects due to its oil-based composition.

According to some reports, if you regularly clean or mop your floor with pine sol, it leaves a scent that keeps the cockroaches away from your house or apartment.

Does Rain Attract Cockroaches?

Cockroaches love water and are drawn to places that have a lot of water. Water is one of the most common reasons why cockroaches are attracted to your yard or garden.

What Food Attracts Cockroaches?

Cockroaches can eat everything that has nutritional value. They are omnivores but prefer to eat fruits, vegetables, garbage, sweets, starches, greasy items, crumbs, juices, cheese, etc. Cockroaches also love to eat decaying matter, they are particularly attracted to garbage, compost, and dead insects.

What Food Attracts Cockroaches

Their digestive tract contains a variety of microorganisms that help them to digest inedible organic products such as cardboard, paper or thin plastic packages, book covers, toothpaste, glue, leather, paper scraps, wood shavings, dead skin, nylon cloths, wallpaper, and even soap.

Not let’s talk about specific foods that attract cockroaches!

Does Coffee Attract Cockroaches?

Cockroaches can eat almost anything and can survive without food for months. They can consume every organic substance including coffee. Cockroaches are attracted to coffee in your pantry or kitchen cabinet but they prefer crumbs or other sugary items more than coffee. However, according to some reports, the excessive consumption of coffee can also negatively affect roaches.

Are Cockroaches Attracted to Alcohol?

Cockroaches can also be drawn to sweets or sugary beverages. They show attraction to alcoholic beverages, especially beer. They can detect the sweet smell of drinks from far away and will happily come to consume them.

Are Cockroaches Attracted to Baking Soda?

Baking soda does not attract cockroaches. However, a mixture of baking soda and sugar is used to get rid of them. Baking soda and sugar powder mix are usually sprinkled near infested areas. The sugary scent in the mixture will attract cockroaches and after they consume the mix it will slowly kill them.

Are Cockroaches Attracted to Popcorn?

Cockroaches love to eat popcorn. If you will leave popcorn in an opened container overnight, it will surely attract cockroaches. Therefore, you should keep the popcorn and other snacks in a tightly sealed container to prevent a cockroach infestation in your house.

Are Cockroaches Attracted to Sweets?

Cockroaches love sweets or starchy-based products such as jams, jellies, cakes, juices, drinks, cookies, candies, etc. Although, they consume both plants and meats as their food source they love sweet items more than other organic products. 

They can sense the smell of sweet food through their antenna and invade your house leaving their traces behind for other cockroaches to follow. Some cockroaches communicate through bacteria present in their feces.

Do Onions Attract Cockroaches?

Do Onions Attract Cockroaches

Cockroaches are not attracted to onions but they have no trouble eating them. Some people also use a mixture of onion and cayenne pepper to kill cockroaches but this is really not that effective. Onion helps to repel cockroaches only due to their strong pungent smell but that smell can evaporate quite easily.

Do Potatoes Attract Cockroaches?

Potatoes and other starchy products are some of the favorite foods of cockroaches. If you leave potatoes in an opened sack or in a container, you will increase your chances of attracting a cockroach invasion. Do not leave potato peels in your kitchen overnight, store potatoes in a thick plastic container and you will not attract these annoying pests.

Does Apple Cider Vinegar Attract Cockroaches?

Apple cider vinegar is used as a natural cockroach repellent which means it does not attract cockroaches. It is a disinfectant and serves as a cleansing agent for getting rid of stains and odors that can attract cockroaches and other pests. You can also use it to clean the kitchen or other potential nesting sites to prevent cockroach invasion.

Does Coconut Oil Attract Cockroaches?

Does Coconut Oil Attract Cockroaches

Coconut oil repels cockroaches and other pests like fleas, bed bugs, and mosquitoes. According to recent studies, the fatty acid-derived substances present in the coconut oil help to eradicate them. It can also be used in combination with vinegar.

Does Dog Food Attract Cockroaches?

Cockroaches are specifically attracted to dog or cat or cat food. To keep cockroaches away from your dog’s food, immediately clean the food bowl and spilled food after feeding your pet, and do not leave anything in the bowl overnight.

Does Garlic Attract Cockroaches?

Cockroaches hate the smell of garlic just like other insects. The aromatic chemicals present in garlic release a strong smell that can deter them. You can sprinkle garlic powder wherever you notice roaches, it will act as a natural repellent. It can also be used with hot red peppers.

Does Salt Attract Cockroaches?

Salts repel cockroaches to some extent but you will also see them eating salty chips or snacks. The bacteria present in their stomach help them with digesting almost anything. However, if you will sprinkle some salt over the countertop it will keep them away.

Does Sugar Attract Cockroaches?

Sugar and sugary products are one of the major reasons for any cockroach infestation. Sugar is often mixed with toxic substances and used as bait to lure cockroaches in order to eradicate them.

It contains items such as drinks, juices, candies, cakes, cookies, vegetables, and fruits are a treat for cockroaches. Fruits and vegetables contain natural sugars which can lure roaches and other insects (especially ants) out of their shelters.

What Animals Attract Cockroaches?

Due to their versatile eating habits, cockroaches can also be attracted to anything they can consume as food. Pets themself do not attract cockroaches but their waste material or pet food can attract them. Cockroaches can also enter your house due to dead remains (dead insects or animals).

Do Cockroaches Attract Other Cockroaches?

Do Cockroaches Attract Other Cockroaches

Dead cockroaches attract other cockroaches. They release chemical substances (oleic acid) that produce a strong pungent smell that attracts other cockroaches. They will eat anything (even dead cockroaches) if there is no other food source.

Female cockroaches can also release sex pheromones that attract male roaches, they can also be used as bait to lure cockroaches out of their shelters.

Do Dogs Attract Cockroaches?

Dogs do not attract cockroaches but their feces and animal food can attract cockroaches into your house. If you will leave spilled dog food on the floor or leave food inside the bowl it can attract cockroaches or other bugs into your house.

Do Hamsters Attract Cockroaches?

You may notice cockroaches if you have hamsters in your house. Although hamsters do not attract cockroaches, their food and waste can lure them. Keep their food in an airtight container and do not leave it on the floor overnight. Cockroaches have a great sense of smell and they can invade wherever they find food and moisture.  

Do Rabbits Attract Cockroaches?

Like hamsters, rabbits do not attract cockroaches by themself but their feces and food can attract them.

Are Cockroaches Attracted to Chickens?

Cockroaches are attracted to moisture, food, and warmth. They are not attracted to chickens but to their coops. Then the reason for their invasion is usually food, water, or waste in the chicken coop.

Do Cats Attract Cockroaches?

Cats do not attract cockroaches but their food certainly does. Cockroaches can be drawn into your house by sensing the strong smell of cat food. If you observe cockroaches near your pet then look for the things that are attracting them and remove them.

Related: What Do Cockroaches Hate? | Effective Repellents and Prevention Tips

What Plants Attract Cockroaches?

What Plants Attract Cockroaches

Although, cockroaches prefer plants or plant-based products more than meat (proteins and fat). If you have indoor plants in your house they can also attract cockroaches and other insects. They fulfill all the requirements that cockroaches need to survive such as moisture, food, and safe shelter.

Cockroaches can invade your house by following the scent of decaying matter, wilting plants, overgrown weeds, or unhealthy grasses. Although plants are not the direct reason why you have cockroaches, they provide a great flourishing environment for cockroaches and other pests.

Some plants are notorious for attracting cockroaches. Australian cockroaches, American cockroaches, and smoky brown cockroaches mostly use trees or indoor plants as their shelter. There are also a number of plants that repel cockroaches and can be used as a natural insect repellent.

Do Indoor Plants Attract Cockroaches?

Cockroaches can thrive in a variety of environments including gardens and in the areas beneath plant pots. Some species of indoor plants can attract cockroaches more than other plants. 

In most cases, these are not indoor plants that draw cockroaches in your house. Organic fertilizer, decaying plants, or excessive moisture is the most probable reason for cockroach infestation. Additionally, If indoor plants attract bugs then they can also attract cockroaches. Some indoors prefer warmth and humid environment which attract roaches indoors.

Do Palm Trees Attract Cockroaches?

Palm trees do not attract cockroaches. The palm trees that provide moist and warm shelter can potentially provide them shelter. Decaying palm trees or fertilizer on the other hand can attract cockroaches. There are some species of cockroaches that are also named palmetto bugs because they live in or at the base of the palmetto tree (also known as Cabbage palm or Sabal palmetto).

Does Lavender Attract Cockroaches?

Does Lavender Attract Cockroaches

Lavender is a natural pest repellent, it helps prevent an infestation of different pests such as cockroaches, ticks, mosquitoes, moths as well as mice. It releases a strong aromatic smell that prevents the entry of roaches to your house.

You can grow the lavender plant in your garden for easy pest control. Apply the lavender essential oil spray at the entry points of your house and potential nesting sites to keep cockroaches away.

Are Cockroaches Attracted to Fruit Trees?

Cockroaches are particularly attracted to fruits and vegetables especially rotting fruits. Fallen or decaying fruits or even organic fertilizer in the soil can attract them to your house or garden.

Does the Smell of Eucalyptus Attract Cockroaches?

Cockroaches do not like the smell of the eucalyptus tree. It is an aromatic plant that releases a strong smell that keeps different insects away. Eucalyptus essential oil can be used to prepare cockroach-repellent spray. The essential oil smell will alarm them and prevent their entry into your house.

Different Types of Cockroaches and Things That Attract Them

The most common household cockroaches are American cockroaches and German cockroaches. They are attracted to your house by following the scent of food or water. Cockroaches can multiply in days, and the eradication of a larger infestation need strict measures and methods.

Are American Cockroaches Attracted to Light?

The American cockroaches

American cockroaches are also called palmetto bugs because they live near palmetto trees. This is a common indoor pest. American cockroaches are not attracted to light and they thrive in dark and moist places. They are attracted to your house due to easy access to food and water.

Are American Cockroaches Attracted to Dark?

American cockroaches mostly show nocturnal behavior and come out of their shelters during the night. They like to live in dark and damp places. If you turn on your light during the night you will see them on the kitchen counters, water, and near any food traces. Light will scatter them away and they will move to their hideouts.

What Are German Cockroaches Attracted To?

German cockroaches are one of the most common pests. They are attracted to humid climates, warmth, water, or food. Like other cockroaches, they prefer to eat sugar or sugar-based products, starchy items, greasy foods, decaying fruits and vegetables, and meat.

German cockroach

You will notice them near moist and warm places. German cockroaches are active during the night and build their nests near leaky pipes, under sinks, beneath the cabinet, or in other dark and moist areas.

What Attracts Flying Cockroaches?

Flying cockroaches are drawn to light, you will see flying cockroaches at your windows, doors, or near lamps. They love moisture, heat and make their shelters near heating ducts, leaky pipes, inside air conditioning units, under dirty sinks, behind bathtubs, etc. Flying cockroaches can also invade your house by following the scent of food traces, garbage, or decaying fruits and vegetables.

Related: Can Cockroaches Fly? | Unsettling Facts (with Pictures!)

What Attracts Large Cockroaches?

The cockroach species that are comparatively larger in size are the American cockroach, smoky brown cockroach, and oriental cockroach. These cockroaches prefer to live outside but can be attracted indoors when drastic changes in the environment are occurring.

They are attracted to your house in search of moisture, food, or heat. Like flying cockroaches, smoky brown cockroaches are attracted to light whereas others prefer to live in dark.

Are Hissing Cockroaches Attracted to Light?

Hissing cockroaches prefer to make their shelters in dark and damp places. This species is only found on the island of Madagascar, therefore, they are called Madagascar hissing cockroaches. They show negative phototactic behavior and are most active during the night.

Hissing Cockroaches

The hissing cockroaches are strongly attracted to rotting fruits, sweets, peanut butter, oranges, bananas, and other sugar-based items.

What Attracts Oriental Cockroaches?

The oriental cockroach is a common indoor pest, mostly found near vegetable and fruit leftovers, garbage, decaying plants, and animal waste. They get attracted to your house by sensing the smell of rotting leftovers or garbage in general. They are also attracted to moisture and live in dark and damp places.

What Are Florida Cockroaches Attracted To?

Florida wood roach is an outdoor pest that will rarely enter your house. These cockroaches are particularly attracted to molds, mosses, decaying plants, animals, and organic matter. They can be seen near leaf litter, mulches, compost, under dung piles, decaying wood logs or shaving, etc.

They are also referred to as palmetto bugs because they live near palmetto trees or under their leaves. Florida wood roaches are drawn to dark and moist places where there is an abundant food supply.

What Attracts Wood Cockroaches?

Wood cockroaches include a group of 12 different species, all of which are outdoor pests. They are attracted to light unlike most of the other cockroach species. Wood cockroaches feed on dead or decaying wood and decomposing organic matter.

They are drawn to moisture, and warm places, and live under wood logs, beneath dead trees, or inside drains. They enter your house mostly through firewood.

Other Things That Could Potentially Attract Cockroaches

Cockroaches can be attracted to anything that they can consume as food or that can provide them warmth and safe shelter. They have specialized bacteria in the stomach which help them to digest a wide variety of non-food items including cardboard, plastic packages, shoe soles, skin shedding, finder nails, sputum, book bindings, paper, glue, etc.

Therefore, you need to be careful with storing food if you have a cockroach infestation in your house. However, factors that attract cockroaches can vary depending on the species of cockroach.

For instance, German cockroaches prefer damp surroundings in comparison to other parts of your house like the kitchen and bathroom whereas American cockroaches can be found anywhere if there is an abundant supply of food. Further, we have provided a list of items that can attract cockroaches to your house or apartment.

Do Candles Attract Cockroaches?

Do Candles Attract Cockroaches

Cockroaches can also eat candle wax and other wax-based products. The scented candles contain ingredients that can attract cockroaches to your house. Therefore, keep your scented candles wrapped or in a container.

Does Cardboard Attract Cockroaches?

Cockroaches are also attracted to cardboard, ceiling boards, or other wood-derived products. They can digest fibers of organic material due to microorganisms residing in their stomach. Cardboard provides food as well as shelter to cockroaches.

They eat cardboard boxes including glue. They are specifically attracted to wet cardboard boxes, as they release a scent that attracts cockroaches and provides them with damp surroundings to thrive in.

What Smells Attract Cockroaches?

Cockroaches are attracted to the smells of the food that they can consume. They are especially drawn to the smell of sweets, grease, crumbs, pet food, snacks, vegetables or fruit peels, pastries, sweet chocolate, grain products, garbage, juices, wet cardboard, decaying organic matter, mulches, etc.

Decaying plants, grasses, or even the smell of dead bugs can also attract roaches to your house or garden.

Does Light Attract Cockroaches?

Almost, all species of cockroaches are active at night. They do not like light and tend to hide in dark and narrow spaces. You will rarely see them during the day. If you notice them during the day, it might be due to a lack of food.

Does Light Attract Cockroaches

However, cockroaches can also adapt to the environment after a while. Nevertheless, keeping the lights on will not keep the cockroaches away.

Are Cockroaches Attracted to Blood?

Although cockroaches prefer plant-derived products or decaying matter, they can also be attracted to fresh or dried blood. You may observe cockroaches on hospital waste eating blood or other excrement. This can pose a serious health risk because cockroaches can carry diseases.

Are Cockroaches Attracted to Cat Poop?

Cockroaches are not particularly attracted to cat or dog poop, but they will eat it if there is no other food source available. Regularly clean the cat’s litter box to eliminate the chances of attracting a cockroach invasion.

Are Cockroaches Attracted to Cigarettes?

Cockroaches are attracted to both cigarette butts and tobacco, they will even eat the rolling paper on the cigarette. Moist or decaying cigarette butts are a treat for cockroaches. Always properly discard your cigarette butts after smoking.

Are Cockroaches Attracted to Heat?

Cockroaches thrive in damp and warm surroundings for example spaces between water heaters, air conditioners, and electronic appliances. However, they cannot survive above 115°F to 120°F. 

They can enter your house for warmth during extremely cold weather. Cockroaches can hibernate to survive lower temperatures. They prefer temperatures between 77°F to 86°F. Between these temperatures, cockroaches are more active and can reproduce rapidly.

Are Cockroaches Attracted to Humans?

Humans and cockroaches live in similar environmental conditions and they prefer foods that humans consume. They are especially attracted to human waste, leftovers, and garbage. They are not particularly attracted to humans but to their waste or food.

Are Cockroaches Attracted to Litter Boxes?

Are Cockroaches Attracted to Litter Boxes

You may notice one or two cockroaches in the litter box near feces or they may also be attracted to the cat litter box due to the presence of food remains or other dead pests. The cat litter box itself does not attract roaches. Always clean the litter box and remove the potential sources that can attract cockroaches.

Are Cockroaches Attracted to Smoke?

There are no reports of cockroaches being attracted to smoke. Cockroaches can get annoyed by smoke. However, the smoke alone will not kill cockroaches.

Are Cockroaches Attracted to Urine?

Cockroaches are attracted to anything that they can feed on. Urine has a strong, pungent smell, and about 91 to 96 percent is water, which can attract cockroaches and other pests. They can attract germs through urine and later contaminate your food.

Do Oil Stains Attract Cockroaches?

Oil stains or greasy products can also be the reason for cockroach infestation in your kitchen or in other parts of your house. Take care of cleanliness and do not leave any food or oil traces on the floor, or at the kitchen counters.

Does Perfume Attract Cockroaches?

Does Perfume Attract Cockroaches

Cockroaches are attracted to sweet scents or things that smell like food. People also use scents as bait to lure cockroaches.

Does Sperm Attract Cockroaches?

Cockroaches will eat anything that has nutritional value. It is not surprising to see cockroaches near sperm stains. Keep your sheets and clothes clean as they will eat sperm stains or other excrements.

Does Water Attract Cockroaches?

Cockroaches live in damp or moist places, they cannot survive without water for a longer time period. Every species of cockroach shows distinct behavior and most of them make shelters near water reserves or moist places such as gaps in the sink, leaky pipes, damp pots, wet towel, sponges, etc. Some of them show a greater affinity for water than others.

What Color of Light Attracts Cockroaches?

According to the latest studies, cockroaches do not like colored lights. They show maximum dislike to red light followed by green, white, yellow, and blue light. Their behavior under black light is still ambiguous. To keep the cockroaches out of your room, your best chances lie with the red lights.

Why Are Cockroaches Attracted to Electronics?

Cockroach infestations can also be commonly seen in electronic devices or electrical outlets because they prefer warm, darker, and narrow surroundings. Electronic devices provide them with warmth.

How to Attract a Cockroach to Kill It?

Cockroaches can be easily drawn out of their nests by using some foods that they prefer. Place cookies, sweets, crumbs, peanut butter, or other sugar or grease-based items near infested areas in order to lure them.

You can also prepare natural cockroach baits. Some of the commonly used natural baits are baking soda in combination with sugar, boric acid, peanut butter bait, diatomaceous, and sugar powder.

Sugar and Baking Soda Bait

To prepare sugar and baking soda bait, mix equal parts of sugar and baking soda and sprinkle it near the infested areas and around potential nesting sites of cockroaches. The scent of sugar will attract roaches out of their nests and baking soda will kill them.

Boric Acid and Peanut Butter Bait

Boric acid and peanut butter bait can be prepared by mixing boric acid in peanut butter. You can put the paste on a disposable container or on tape and place it near infested areas. The peanut butter will attract cockroaches out of their shelters and boric acid will cause their death.

Diatomaceous Earth and Sugar Powder

Mix an equal amount of diatomaceous earth and sugar powder. Sprinkle it all over infested areas and entry points. Sugar powder will draw cockroaches out of their nests and diatomaceous earth will cause their death. The direct application of DE can also kill cockroaches by damaging their exoskeleton.

Sale 1
Advion Cockroach Gel Bait, 4 Tubes x 30-Grams, 1 Plunger and 2 Tips, German Roach Insect Pest Control, Indoor and Outdoor Use, Roach Killer Gel for American, German and Other Major Cockroach Species
  • COCKROACH CONTROL: Advion Cockroach gel bait from Syngenta is a...
  • VERSATILE USAGE: Advion Cockroach Gel Bait is suitable for indoor...
  • HIGHLY ATTRACTIVE FORMULATION: Advion Cockroach has a...
  • EFFORTLESS APPLICATION: With a plunger and user-friendly tips...
  • CONVENIENT PACKAGE: This package includes four 30-gram syringes...
Sale 2
Combat Roach Killing Bait, Roach Bait Station For Large Roaches, Kills The Nest, Child-Resistant, 8 Count,Insects
  • Get rid of cockroach problems at the source with this specially...
  • Easy-to-use, no-mess baits do not require activation.
  • Simply place them wherever you see or have seen roaches and relax...
  • Best used in areas like under sinks, behind toilets, and behind...
  • This package contains 8 large roach killing bait stations.
3
Combat Max 12 Month Roach Killing Bait, Small Roach Bait Station, Child-Resistant, 18 Count
  • Quick Kill Formula – Your secret weapon against roaches Starts...
  • Eliminates the nest – Roaches take the bait back to the nest,...
  • Protects your home – Child resistant bait stations provide...
  • Ready to Use – Easy to use with nothing to activate. No mess,...
  • Use throughout your home – place bait stations wherever roaches...

How to Attract a Cockroach Out of Hiding?

Most of the cockroaches come out of their hiding during nighttime for food or water. Cockroaches that infest indoors, prefer fruits, vegetables, sweets, sugar, or kitchen leftovers than animal-based products.

Put some vegetable or fruit leftovers near cockroach hideouts to attract them out of their nests. Different species of roaches show distinct eating habits, you can change the bait according to the species of cockroach. Try natural cockroach baits to get rid of them.

Does Killing a Cockroach Attract More of Them?

You can attract more cockroaches by killing them. The dead cockroaches release chemical compounds that attract other cockroaches to your house. They will eat their dead mates; therefore, immediately clean dead cockroaches after killing them. You can also use it to your advantage, as it will lure the remaining cockroaches out of their hiding.

List of Sources

Potter, M. F. (2018). Cockroach Elimination in Homes and Apartments, Entomology at the University of Kentucky.

National Pesticide Information Center, (2016). Why do I have cockroaches in my home? Oregon State University.

Cantu, M. (2015). How to prevent and get rid of cockroaches in your home: Part 1. Michigan State University Extension.

Jacobs, S. (2013). American Cockroaches. PennState Extension. The Pennsylvania State University.

Dean K. A. (2017). Step into the Light: How Choosy Are Cockroaches About Light? California State Science Fair, Project Summary.