Cockroach Behavior and Effective Control Methods

Cockroaches are resilient pests that have survived for millions of years due to their remarkable adaptability. Unlike ants that live in colonies with a queen, cockroaches are gregarious insects that congregate in harborages, but control methods must still target the entire population to be effective. Spraying visible cockroaches typically only addresses a small percentage of the infestation, as up to 90% may remain hidden in nests.

Cockroaches typically invade homes in search of three essentials: food, water, and shelter. They're omnivorous scavengers that will eat virtually anything - from crumbs and grease to book bindings and toothpaste. Their flattened bodies allow them to slip through cracks as thin as a quarter of their body height, often entering through plumbing penetrations, under doors, or through utility lines.

These nocturnal pests leave behind important chemical trails:

• Fecal matter containing aggregation pheromones that attract other cockroaches

• Ootheca (egg cases) that can hatch 30-40 nymphs each

• Regurgitation marks that contaminate surfaces with pathogens

When disturbed or killed, cockroaches release:

1. Alarm pheromones that cause others to scatter

2. Stress hormones that accelerate reproduction in survivors

3. Chemical signals that may cause the population to disperse to new locations

Cockroaches practice sophisticated hygiene behaviors:

• They groom themselves meticulously to maintain sensitive antennae

• Segregate sick individuals from the group

• Can develop behavioral resistance to common insecticides

A single German cockroach female can produce up to 400 offspring in her lifetime. This rapid reproductive rate means visible cockroaches represent just 10-20% of the actual infestation. Fast-acting sprays often create the illusion of control while driving the population deeper into walls and voids.

Effective cockroach control requires:

1. Slow-acting baits that allow foraging roaches to return to harborage and die, spreading the insecticide through:

   • Secondary poisoning (when others eat the dead)

   • Fecal transmission

   • Contact transfer

2. Growth regulators that disrupt reproduction and molting cycles

3. Residual insecticides that remain active in hiding areas

4. Physical controls like trapping and exclusion to monitor and prevent reinfestation

The most successful treatment plans combine these methods over 4-6 weeks to break the entire life cycle. Quick-kill methods often fail because they don't account for the 20-40% of cockroaches that may be in egg cases during treatment, which will hatch days or weeks later.

EMIT GERMAN COCKROACH GEL BAIT
(EM-1335C)
HOMES/KITCHEN/FOOD PREPARATORY

CONTENT: 20g

NEA Registered
Tested with Singapore caught cockroaches

Copyright © 2024 by EMIT TECHNOLOGY. All rights Reserved.

Model: EM-1335C

Description:
EMIT GERMAN COCKROACH GEL BAIT

EMIT GERMAN COCKROACH GEL BAIT is formulated for Singapore climate and tested with locally caught cockroaches to ensure efficacy.

Many commercially available cockroach gel baits from large brands do not perform effectively in our local climate. The primary reason is that most of these products are not formulated to withstand the high humidity levels in our region, which range from 72% to 82%. For example, a packet of potato chips or biscuits left exposed to the open air in Singapore will become soft within two hours, while the same products can remain fresh for up to two days in countries like Japan, Europe, or the U.S. This highlights why Emit German Cockroach Gel Bait is preferred by many professionals in Singapore.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Domino Killing effect, resulting in drastic population reduction in weeks.
  

TARGETS: Household Cockroaches

CONTENT: 20g

ACTIVE INGREDIENTS:
• Fipronil ........................................................ 0.3% w/w
OTHER INGREDIENTS:
• Determined as Non-hazardous......................96.0% w/w
TOTAL ..................................................................100%

FOR USE: Residential, Commercial, Institutional, Vehicles and Warehousing Establishments.

• Quick control of cockroach population.

HOW DOES IT WORK
The Gel formulation makes eradication of roaches “POSSIBLE”! The bait contains 0.3% Fipronil and a highly palatable food-based attractant formula which is particularly attractive to roaches. Once the roaches feed on the gel bait, it crawls back to its’ harbourage area and die. The fast acting formulation eliminates the cockroach population in the harbourage area. That is the reason Emit Cockroach gel bait outperform others and makes control of cockroaches easy to achieve.

DIRECTION FOR USE
SPOT TREATMENT
To apply gel, remove cap from tip of applicator tube. Apply gel in 1cm diameter spots (1cm spot~0.6g), 15cm apart. Recommended dosage is (5g/m2). Numerous small application spots are preferable to a single large application pool. Cockroaches are more likely to consume small spots as it appears to be food crumbs that are dropped off. Do not apply cockroach gel in long bead-like caulk or large spots. To cockroaches, these large gel placements look like traps and cockroaches will more likely avoid them due to its cautious nature.

EMIT ROACH TACOS
(EM-1336)
HOMES/FOOD KITCHENS

CONTENT: 30 Wraps

Copyright © 2025 by EMIT TECHNOLOGY. All rights Reserved.

Model: EM-1336

Description:
EMIT ROACH TACOS

Science Backed Wax Paper-Gel Bait Placement. Our localised testing revealed that the placement of gel bait in thin wax paper doesn’t just improve efficacy—it revolutionizes the entire application process.

HIGHLIGHTS:

✅ Increased Bait Load per Placement
✅ Prolonged Freshness & Palatability
✅ Faster, More Efficient Application
✅ Cleaner, Client-Friendly Solution
✅ Reduced Post-Treatment Cleaning
✅ Trojan Horse Effect:

TARGETS: Cockroaches (Blattella germanica, Periplaneta americana, and other tropical species)

CONTENT: 30 Wraps

FOR USE: Kitchens/Homes/Hawker centers/Food Processing places

HOW DOES IT WORK

EMIT ROACH TACOS (EM-1336) leverages behavioral science and innovative design to outsmart cockroaches effectively:

1. Attracts with Natural Cues

   • The wax paper mimics discarded food wrappers, triggering cockroaches’ instinct to scavenge.

   • Unlike bare gels, which pests may avoid, the "Trojan Horse" design tricks roaches into perceiving the bait as a safe food source.

2. Encapsulation Enhances Performance

   • The wax barrier locks in moisture, preventing the gel from drying out—even in humid climates.

   • Ensures 3x longer palatability compared to exposed gels, maintaining high attraction over time.

3. Promotes Colony Elimination

   • Foraging roaches consume the bait and return to nests, spreading the active ingredient to others.

   • Acts as an early warning system: heavy feeding indicates infestation hotspots.

4. Simplifies Pest Control Operations

   • Pre-portioned wraps enable fast, mess-free placement—no squeezing tubes or sticky residues.

   • Saves 50% more time per application, allowing PCOs to cover more areas efficiently.

Result: A cleaner, smarter, and more effective cockroach control solution tailored for tropical environments.

More Videos from Conceptual to Finished Product

Part 1: Concept of Gel bait placement in wax paper.
https://youtu.be/sBhQoAoDtIU

Part 2: The Science Behind Smarter Pest Control
https://youtu.be/NdXoRuVlBd8

Part 3: Placement and Day 1 of Testing
https://youtu.be/e_3L6fbZZx0

Part 4: Day 2 of Testing
https://youtu.be/L-wtHJRI_2U

Part 5: Day 3 of Testing
https://youtu.be/RRAsJE0quyw?si=iK4FKxG8aa22aggs

Part 6. Day 4 and Conclusion
https://youtu.be/Tq7Sf-2HuJM?si=8JW42w-wgFnsiwiv