What Attracts Roaches?

Food

• Roaches are scavengers and survive for long periods of time because they are not picky eaters. They prefer to eat the same things human eat, such as sweets, meat and starches, but they also eat items such as leather, hair, plant or animal matter and even book bindings to survive. Do not leave food scraps or crumbs on counter tops or tables.

Water

• Cockroaches need water four times more often than food and search for water more frequently. They seek out damp environments such as drains or places with standing water. If you have a leak in your bathroom or basement, roaches will be more attracted to the area.

Darkness

• Roaches love to live in dark places. They are nocturnal and spend the majority of the day resting and hunt for food and water at night. Common dark areas to find roaches include in cardboard boxes, cupboards and inside books. If you're trying to remove roaches from your home, be extra vigilant in darker areas.

Smells

• Cockroaches gravitate toward foul smells such as a garbage bag with food in it. Garbage attracts more than a single roach, they may attract a large group and make it into a family buffet. You may also find roaches in your compost pile. Take your garbage out when it gets full and don't allow it to sit. If you compost, seal the container tightly and ensure you only use it for compost.

Elimination

• Prevention is the best way to get rid of roaches initially but if you have an infestation, you can also use traps and baits to eliminate the populations. Traps have a bait in them to attract roaches. Once the roach enters, they stick to the trap and cannot leave. Place the traps in areas where you see cockroaches frequently. Use insecticides in cracks and crevices where traps will not fit, such as where shelves and cupboards meet walls.