The spread of cockroaches in the apartment causes increased disgust among residents. In addition, the growth of the insect population makes homeowners worry about their own he alth. Sometimes you can notice that white cockroaches have appeared in the house. Let's see what these insects are, how to deal with them and whether they belong to a separate species.
White cockroaches in the apartment - what is it?
Immediately it should be noted that insects with a translucent body structure are not a new, independent species. So why are cockroaches white? The appearance of a colorless pigment occurs during the molting of a cockroach. At this time, individuals shed their old chitinous shell, which makes them rather unusual in appearance.
White cockroaches are quite rare. And there are several reasons for this. First of all, the chitinous cover remains whitish for a fairly short time. During the day, a colored pigment is actively produced, which returns the cockroach to its previous color.
In the process of molting, insects are extremely vulnerable to external influences. Therefore, small white cockroaches hide in the bathroom, crawl into household appliances, hide in other secluded places.
Successful completion of the molting process turns a juvenile into an adult. At first, the pigment can give the cockroach a light brown color. In this case, the body of the insect remains translucent. Soon the pigment builds up and the small white cockroaches become familiar.
Differences from ordinary insects
White cockroaches are quite gluttonous during the molting period, because they need an abundant intake of nutrients to form a new chitinous shell. Therefore, they can be seen in large numbers at night in the kitchen, near the trash can, in other places where food is available.
To destroy such insects is much easier. The lack of a tough outer shell makes white cockroaches vulnerable to harsh chemicals. Therefore, the use of insecticides at the time of their appearance is an extremely effective solution.
What harm do white cockroaches do?
Like insects that have a familiar brown color, colorless individuals act as carriers of infections, which can lead to the development of intestinal diseases. White cockroaches contain an abundance of small villi on the body, where a myriad of bacteria, helminth eggs, and spores of pathogenic fungi settle. Traveling through sewers and garbage chutes, small pests collect pathogens of pathogenic cocci, colitis, and enteritis on their surface. Specifiedinfections can infect the human body when eating food that the insect has come into contact with.
How do cockroaches appear in the house?
You can meet white cockroaches in the apartment during the period of active reproduction of insects. Subject to sanitation, they can get into housing from neighbors, as well as along with things taken from friends and relatives.
Even disinfestation does not always allow you to say goodbye to small pests. The fact is that in the course of movement, cockroaches leave a stable chemical trail on the way to secluded places, feeding areas. The latter acts as an excellent guide for individuals from newly formed colonies. If the premises have favorable conditions for feeding and reproduction, insects are able to populate them for a sufficiently long period.
How to avoid the reappearance of cockroaches?
To avoid the next appearance of pests in the apartment, after their destruction, you should follow the following recommendations:
- carefully remove leftover food from the table, floor;
- empty the bin regularly;
- hide food from the table;
- prevent the increase in humidity levels in the apartment by timely repairing plumbing, shutting off taps and eliminating leaks in pipes;
- try to close the gaps in the house, which can become a suitable loophole for insects from neighboring apartments.
Pest Control Methods
White cockroaches are destroyed thanks to the use of the same methods that are relevant in the fight against ordinary individuals. If, after using previously proven, effective remedies, moulting insects have not disappeared, and their color has changed to a darker one, it is worth replacing the chemical.
Quite often, families of cockroaches mutate while in an apartment for a long time. In this way, insects become more resistant to the effects of the active substances in the composition of insecticides.
Before baiting insects, it is worth turning off the water in the apartment, wiping wet surfaces dry, because even on one drop of water, the pest can survive for several days.
The most effective solution in the fight against cockroaches is to call exterminators. It is advisable to carry out a comprehensive treatment of the apartment. In this case, you will have to leave it for a while. If white cockroaches run across from neighbors, it is worth agreeing with the latter on the simultaneous processing of premises.
Pretty well proven in the fight against insects means based on boric acid. To prepare a poison, a chemical reagent must be mixed with flour or a boiled egg. It is recommended to lay out poisonous bait in areas where cockroaches accumulate, in areas that act as potential places for feeding insects.
As for the use of chemical aerosols, poisoned crayons and baits, and other prefabricated products, first of all, you should pay attention to products from trusted manufacturers, the effectiveness of which has been confirmedconsumers.
How to get white cockroaches out of household appliances?
As noted earlier, during the molting period, pests like to hide in household appliances. Quite often, such insects choose televisions, microwave ovens, and toasters as habitats. Here, cockroaches can safely survive the unfavorable period before the formation of a new, more durable shell.
To remove insects from electrical appliances, it is enough to expose the latter to severe frost. Alternatively, the microwave oven can be set to high heat. In this case, the cockroaches will not be destroyed, but they will certainly run away.
If we talk about removing pests from TVs, computers and laptops, where they feel extremely comfortable, in this case, you should resort to disassembling the devices and thoroughly cleaning them. The use of chemical insecticides and folk remedies in such situations is not recommended.
Misconceptions about white cockroaches
Are there albino white cockroaches? Is it worth it to be afraid of such insects more than ordinary ones? Let's try to answer these and other questions:
- A white cockroach does not retain a translucent body structure and a pale shade for life. Acquisition of a habitual look occurs quickly enough.
- White individuals are no more dangerous than ordinary cockroaches. Moreover, such insects prefer to hide in secluded places during the daytime, since the delicate body shell makes themextremely vulnerable to external influences.
- It is widely believed that white cockroaches are sources of radioactive radiation, as they arose as a result of its impact. This myth also has no basis, since mutant insects do not exist, which is confirmed by scientists.
In conclusion
As you can see, the appearance of white cockroaches is not a particular cause for concern. Eliminating the presented threat is quite simple, resorting to the use of proven methods. At the same time, the main weapon in the fight against such pests is strict adherence to sanitation. By keeping your home clean and regularly taking preventive measures, you can get cockroaches to bypass your home.
