In this article, I will show you some ways how to get rid of water bugs. I will show you how to prevent them from showing up and also how to exterminate them.
What are water bugs?
Several cockroach species are known as waterbugs, but the true water bug is an aquatic insect classified under the order Hemiptera. Bugs that live in water include water boatmen and water scorpions. Water bugs are also members of the Gerridae family, which includes pond skaters, water striders, and water spiders. To remain afloat, they use surface tension instead of paddles.
Step 1- Study their movements
By this I mean before you try to eliminate them, you should try to observe them first. Study their behavior and where they usually hide. Since most waterbugs usually come from outside you will probably need to look for their nest and any entry point that they might use. These entry points are usually located at your windows, cracks, pipes, and doors. After studying their behavior you can know move on to the next step.
If you cannot find a nest during the day, go into a dark newly-lit room at night. This will allow the bugs time to become active. You should turn on the lights in all the rooms you suspect they are living in. They will probably shatter if they’re present. Pay attention to where they go, and focus your eradication efforts there.
Step 2- Know your pesticides
Now since you know where they hide it is now time to eliminate them. But before I can get into that, I need to let you know that there are two types of pesticides you can use, these are natural and synthetic.
Natural pesticides
These usually include vinegar, sugar (brown), borax, baking soda, and some essential oils. While these pesticides are great because they can be made from simple household items and they aren’t as toxic as other pesticides, most people say that they aren’t as effective as synthetic pesticides.
Synthetic Pesticides
These pesticides are usually the ones you buy. Most of these pesticides don’t require any form of mixing to be effective which makes them somewhat simpler to use. However, while they might not require any additional work they are still way more toxic than natural pesticides. This may sound like a good thing which in a way it kinda is because they might be more effective than natural pesticides, however, they are toxic to humans as well, and not only that but they cost a good amount of money too. So if you are going to use synthetic pesticides make sure you wear a face mask and other protective covering depending on what type of pesticide you are using.
Most synthetic pesticides can be found in the following forms:
- Traps- Most of these act as bait. This one doesn’t have any harsh chemicals in it.
- Gels- Using gel pesticides is great because they usually come in syringes which makes them easier to apply onto hard-to-reach areas.
- Sprays- Pesticide sprays are probably the most common form of pesticide for the average household. This is because all you have to do is spray and not do anything else.
Step 3- Its time to eliminate the waterbugs
Now that you know the different types of pesticides it is now time to take action. I will show you how to get rid of waterbugs using the different types of pesticides starting with natural pesticides. Making your own natural pesticide is very easy just mix baking soda, brown sugar, borax together and sprinkle the mixture where the nest is or near the entrances that the waterbugs use such as windows, cracks, pipes, etc.
Synthetic pesticides it is way easier to use because you don’t have to mix anything. However, you do need to wear a face mask and protective coverings (if you are using a spray). Personally, I would use all the synthetic pesticides such as gel, sprays, and traps but not a lot of people can afford to use all of them so if I had to choose the best one, I would probably say the spray. This is because I’ve used it so many times a long time ago and it worked the best for me. To use the pesticide spray to prevent waterbugs all you have to do is spray the bugs individually, spray the nest, and the entrances as well (cracks in walls, pipes, windows, doors, etc.)
If you are using a trap then place it near the nest or entrances where the waterbugs usually hide and place food onto it. Doing this will draw the bugs to the trap and they will get stuck and can’t move. If you are using the gel then do the same thing minus the food.
Step 4- GET PROFESSIONAL HELP
If the previous step didn’t work then you should probably get professionals to help. While pest control services may be expensive, they are usually very effective. This means you won’t have to call them again after they get rid of the water bugs in your home.
How to prevent water bugs
After exterminating the waterbugs, you should follow these steps so that you won’t have to deal with them again.
- Seal every food item in your cupboards, and cracks/wholes in your home.
- Make sure to empty your bins at least once a week and remove garbage daily (from bins).
- Fix any leaks you have. Most leaks usually occur at pipes under the cabinets.
- Remove crumbs and other food particles by vacuuming your kitchen and the rest of your house very often.
Faqs
How to lure water bugs out of hiding?
There are a couple of ways in which you can lure water bugs out of hiding. Most waterbugs are drawn to food and dark unpopulated areas. So if you place food (something sweet) on the ground and turn off the lights after some time the water bugs will come out of hiding to eat the food.
What are water bugs attracted to?
Water bugs are attracted to food, dark areas, and wet places as well. So they will most likely be in your kitchen under the sink or in your cabinets/cupboards.
What is the best water bug killer?
I personally would just recommend any bug spray or traps to use. Traps (bait) work the best.
Will bleach keep waterbugs away?
While I’m not sure how effective bleach is when it comes on to scaring away waterbugs, I do know that bugs such as cockroaches, bed bugs, and other insects usually hate the smell of bleach. So you can test it out to see if it works against water bugs.
If you want to know how to get rid of cockroaches as well then click here.
In this article, I showed you how to get rid of waterbugs using some simple and effective methods. I hope you found this post useful.
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