How Long Do Roach Baits Take To Work?

Roach baits are one of the easiest and most effective ways to get rid of roaches. So how long does it take cockroach bait to work? They do not work immediately like contact sprays, but baits allow the roach to live long enough to take the poison back to its hiding place and share it with the rest of the nest. The actual amount of time that it takes to eliminate roaches depends a lot on the species involved and the size of the infestation. After a week, you should notice a big improvement, and after about a month, you should be close to getting rid of them all.

Recommended Read: What Are the Different Types of Cockroaches?

By Toby Hudson , from Wikimedia Commons

What are roach baits?

A roach bait is food that has been blended with insecticide. Usually, different types of attractants are used to lure many different species of roaches. Baits come in the form of gels, flowable dusts, and bait stations. Gels are typically the fastest acting, but they can dry out, while other forms can provide longer lasting coverage. A combination is usually the most effective.

How do roach baits work?

Roach baits use common cockroach behaviors against themselves. Roaches will eat nearly anything, including roach feces and dead roaches. By using a delayed toxicant in the bait, roaches will eat it and return to their harborages. Along the way, they will release urine and feces that are contaminated with insecticide that other roaches will then eat. When the roach finally dies in the nest, the other roaches will ingest the body and become poisoned as well. Depending on the insecticide used, kill times may range anywhere from 6 hours to 4 days.

How do you use roach baits?

Placement of roach baits is extremely important. The closer the baits are to thecockroach nests, the more effective they will be. Inspect your home for signs of roaches. Along with live or dead roaches, you may also see molted skins and roach excrement, which may look like ground black pepper. Roaches love dark, moist, secluded areas, so common places to look may include: behind appliances, under sinks, in cabinets and drawers, near your washer and dryer, inside closets, and under water heaters. When you have located a roach nest, place a small pea-sized amount of gel near it. For hard to reach areas, you can also use flowable dusts or roach tablets. Replace the baits after two weeks so that the bait remains fresh and appealing. Small amounts of bait in several locations tend to work better than large amounts in just a few. Within a few days, you should start to notice an improvement, and hopefully full control can be achieved in a matter of weeks. Traps, liquids, and aerosols can also be used to supplement baits, if necessary.

Recommended Read: How to Use Harris to Use Harris Famous Roach Tablets

Does Roach Bait Attract More Roaches?

It may seem like you are seeing more cockroaches out in the open when you apply a roach bait to your home, but roach bait will not attract more roaches. If you follow the appropriate steps to eliminate other food sources and do a deep clean, the bait should be the only food source available for the roaches. This will help to encourage more cockroaches to ingest the roach bait.

How Can You Tell If the Roach Bait is Working?

So you are not sure if the roach bait is working or not? Most homeowners will start to see a reduction in adult cockroaches in about 7 days, this is usually a good indicator that the bait is working. Another indicator is that the bait needs to be replaced in 7 to 14 days, meaning that the roaches are eating the bait. Be patient and allow the bait to work, replace bait when necessary.

Recommended Read: Killing Cockroaches for Good

Ready to eliminate your roaches for good?

If you have a roach problem and need more information, seeCockroaches: The Ultimate Guide. You can trust PF Harris for all your home pest control needs.

More Cockroach Questions Answered:

The Ultimate Cockroach Control Guide

Check out our roach control guide that offers a quick reference to the most common cockroaches found in your home and how to get rid of them.

What to Do if You Find Cockroaches in Your Kitchen Sink

No one wants to wake up and find roaches in their kitchen sink, but it happens. Find out why roaches have a tendency to show in and around kitchen sinks and how to prevent them.

What Attracts Cockroaches to Your Home

The million dollar question answered, what attracts them to your home. Find the most common reason homeowners are dealing with cockroaches inside and some easy to follow solutions. Not sure what you are seeing, is it roach poop? Check out our post on identification and learn what cockroach feces looks like.