8 Best Roach Killers – No Mercy for Pests!

From gels and sprays to foggers and insect traps - we've picked the best roach killers out there
By
Phyllis McMahon
Phyllis McMahon
Research Writer
Phyllis teaches English Literature at a local college and loves writing in her free time. She’s also a great cook – her British beef Wellington is something the best res read more
reviewed
Reviewed By
Chas Kempf
Chas Kempf
Expert Consultant
Chas works in a professional pest control company and knows all the nuances of this job. Also, he’s a fantastic tennis player and loves to organize BBQ parties for his fam read more
Last updated: August 06, 2023
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Did you know that roaches evolved with dinosaurs, and they are the most resilient pests in the world? According to the latest research, the best way to control a cockroach infestation is to keep them out in the first place. Barrier exclusion and cleanliness are some of the crucial steps in getting rid of roaches. It is also necessary to invest in the best roach killer. As there are so many of them in the market, it can be hard to choose an effective one.

We came up with a list of some of the best roach killers that are 100% effective from the get-go. The list has at least all the types of roach killers, from gels and sprays to traps, baits, and foggers. Our in-depth reviews are based on a few critical features like efficacy length, active ingredients, safety, and type. The best roach killer will be quick in getting rid of the pests in your house with clear information about its active ingredients and how to keep your pets and children safe around it.

Quick Summary

  • "A quick-acting roach-killing gel with ingredients that create a Domino effect that kills the majority of the roaches in a matter of days."
  • Best Application Tools: Syngenta Advion Cockroach Gel Bait
    "A spreadable gel that comes with several applicator heads, is long-lasting, and can kill more than just cockroaches."
  • Best for Minor Infestations: Black Flag Roach Motel Insect Trap
    "An easy-to-use roach killer with zero pesticides, thus safe for any room in the house or anywhere around pets and kids."
  • "An affordable and effective roach bait with long-term efficacy and killing potential that can wipe out an entire colony in no time."
  • "An effective roach killer with odor neutralizer that kills all the hidden bugs in your home on contact for up to 2 months."
  • Best Spray for Roaches: Ortho Home Defense MAX Insect Killer
    "A multipurpose insect killer with a spray formula that offers up to 3 months of protection against all of the common household pests."
  • Best Multipurpose Insecticide: Control Solutions CSI 82005007 Viper Insecticide
    "An all-around insecticide that offers residual control of roaches and other insects indoors, outdoors, on logs, lumber, and ornamentals."
  • "An easy-to-use Aerosol roach spray with a non-staining formula that is odorless and can work up to 6 months, killing roaches and many other insects."

Top 8 Roach Killers Review 2024

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Features
  • Type: gel
  • Volume/quantity: 4x 30-gram tubes
  • Targets: Roaches

Other features: Fipronil .01%, for use indoors and outdoors, pet safe.

This is one of the best German roach killers that money can buy. It is a quick-acting gel that begins to work in as little as 8 hours and can be used anywhere in the house. The package offers excellent value for money with 4 tubes that offer long-lasting protection against roaches.

The roach killer stands out with its main ingredient, Fiprinol. It doesn’t kill on contact like many other roach killers. Instead, it creates a Domino effect. Whether it is ingested or carried, it will work its way through the entire population of roaches in your house, killing the majority of them in less than 8 days.

The Maxforce FC Select Roach Killer bait gel is best suited for anyone who has a large infestation or a repeating one. It is cost-effective as it comes as a package of 4 tubes. Plus, the gel can last you up to 2 years in a tightly closed container.

    What makes it stand out?
  • We liked that the gel can be used both indoors and outdoors. However, you have to ensure you use it in cracks and crevices in the outdoors. We also liked how effective the gel is in killing a huge population of roaches. Plus, you get great value with the 4 tubes that you can continue using as protection.
    Which disadvantages must you keep in mind?
  • Being a gel, cleaning up the Maxforce FC Select Roach Killer can be a bit hard. Though we realized you can pair it up with a trap to make cleaning easier. Also, as much as it offers excellent value for money, the roach killer is relatively expensive. If you have to keep using it, you may have to dig deeper into your pockets.
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Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 9169 people in the past 30 days
9.7
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Customer Feedback
9.2
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Based onweb analytics
9.6
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9.2
9.7
2
Best Application Tools

Syngenta Advion Cockroach Gel Bait

Features
  • Type: gel
  • Volume/Quantity: 4x 30-gram syringes
  • Targets: Roaches

Other features: non-refillable, 0.6% indoxacarb, not safe for pets

Coming close to the Bayer gel bait above is the popular Advion 383920 Gel Bait. The spreadable gel is pretty effective at killing roaches and other insects like ants, crickets, and silverfish. It comes with 4 plunger tubes with various applicator heads that allows you to customize its placement even in the most unreachable areas of your home that are susceptible to roaches.

The gel has Indoxacarb as its active ingredient. It attacks the cockroach’s nervous system mercilessly and spreads out through the entire nest, wiping out the whole population. You can use the product both indoors and outdoors.

The Advion 383920 Gel Bait is ideal for anyone experiencing a serious infestation and doesn’t know the source or nest. You can smear it in every corner of your house, including cracks and crevices. It is also approved for cars, boats, and planes.

    Why is it special?
  • We loved that the gel is long-lasting, and it comes with several application tools that make its placement conveniently customizable. A few application tips are also included to make applying it less of a messy chore. Plus, the gel is very effective from the get-go. Its ingredients target roaches and can wipe out an entire colony in no time.
    What are the flaws?
  • Although you get lots of application tools and tips, applying the Advion 383920 Gel Bait can be a bit hard. Also, we dint like that the gel bait is not safe for pets and children. Some contact wouldn't be a problem, but oral ingestion can be quite dangerous. You have to be extra careful.
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Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 5143 people in the past 30 days
9.5
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
9.4
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
9.3
Features & Benefits
Product Review
9.4
9.5
3
Best for Minor Infestations

Black Flag Roach Motel Insect Trap

Features
  • Type: trap
  • Volume/Quantity:  2x 4 traps
  • Targets: Cockroaches, crickets, scorpions, spiders

Other features: traps continuously for up to 4 months

Roach Motel is a long renowned brand that has been producing roach ridding for years. The brand is a favorite go-to for many, and this Black Flag Roach Motel Insect Trap is one of their gems. The trap is incredibly easy to use. All you have to do is place it in areas in your home that are highly susceptible to cockroaches. It traps continuously for up to 4 months, ridding your entire home of roaches and other insects like spiders, scorpions, and crickets.

The Black Flag Roach Motel Insect Trap is unique because it contains no pesticides. Instead, it has a powerful lure combined with a strong adhesive that draws in cockroaches. The roaches get stuck and die in the trap. The lack of pesticides makes the trap safe for use in any room in your house without worrying about your kids and pets.

This trap is perfect for anyone with a mild roach infestation. Also, if you have kids and pets and can’t imagine having anything poisonous in the house, this is your best bet. It is super easy to use.

    What makes it special?
  • Besides the trap’s pesticide-free build, we love its simple application. You only need to lay it in cockroach-prone areas in your home, then wait for them to get stuck. Once one side is full, you flip it and wait for the other side to fill up with dead roaches before discarding it.
    What cons did we find?
  • Like nearly all the insect traps out there, the Black Flag Roach Motel Insect Trap only works effectively for minor infestations. Therefore, if you see a few roaches in your home and you can’t pinpoint their nest, then it’s a fantastic choice. But If you have a large infestation or a repeating one, you may want to look elsewhere for a stronger alternative.
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Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 9128 people in the past 30 days
9.4
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Customer Feedback
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Based onweb analytics
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Features & Benefits
Product Review
9.1
9.4
Features
  • Type: bait
  • Volume/quantity: 18 pcs
  • Targets: Roaches

Other features: works up to 12 months, for indoor use, child-resistant

You don’t have to buy the heavy sprays and gels if all you see are tiny little roaches once in a while. The Combat Max 12 Month Roach Killing Bait is the ultimate roach killer for the standard small roaches. The best thing about this bait is that it is discreet and can work up to 12 months which is a relatively long efficacy.

The Combat Max 12 Month Roach Killing Bait does kill fast and non-stop as it promises on the packaging. It has Fipronil which has a domino effect on the roaches. Once one roach ingests the bait, the entire colony is in trouble. The bait stations are pretty discreet. You can throw them under the fridge or inside the kitchen cabinets where no one sees them.

The Combat Max 12 Month Roach Killing Bait is another fantastic choice for anyone with a minor infestation of small roaches. It offers excellent value for money because it lasts a full year and contains 18 pieces which means you can have 18 bait stations all over your roach-infested house.

    What are our favorite features?
  • The first thing we found impressive about the Combat Max 12 Month Roach Killing Bait is how nondescript its bait stations are. It is pet and child-safe because the bait stations have been made difficult to ingest accidentally. We also love that it offers great value for money and can last a whole year.
    What could be better?
  • Combat Max 12 Month Roach Killing Bait is an effective roach killer, but it only works for small roaches. It doesn’t work for the large roach species. There are bait stations for larger roaches but be careful when getting them as some are prohibited in certain areas. You can opt for more effective options if you have a large-roach infestation.
Also Product Ranking:
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Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 4311 people in the past 30 days
9.2
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
8.7
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9.0
Features & Benefits
Product Review
8.7
9.2
Features
  • Type: fogger
  • Volume/quantity: 3x 2oz.
  • Targets: roaches, flies, ants (except fire ants), spiders, and other listed insects

Other features: keeps killing for up to 2 months, treats up to 2000 sq. ft.

Hotshot is a world-famous brand known for super-effective roach killing products. All their products have rave reviews, and this indoor fogger with odor neutralizer makes it easy to understand why. The fogger kills more than just roaches and has a non-staining formula that wouldn’t damage your drapes, fabrics, upholstery, or floor.

The Hot Shot Indoor Fogger With Odor Neutralizer kills all the flying and crawling insects on contact. It will penetrate into all the cracks and crevices in your home and kill all the hidden bugs for as long as 2 months. Its non-staining formula doesn’t leave any wet messy residue that is hard to clean.

This fogger is the perfect option for anyone who has wall-to-wall carpets they are afraid of ruining with roach killers. It is also perfect for anyone who has more than just a roach infestation and wants to kill 2 birds with one stone.

    What makes it stand out?
  • Any roach killer that doesn't leave a wet messy residue and doesn't stain floors, drapes, and furniture is a huge plus for many. We loved the fogger's ability to treat up to 2000sq. Ft effectively. Plus, not so many roach killers that target other insects have such a long efficacy and effectiveness.
    Which disadvantages must you keep in mind?
  • There is so much to like about this Hotshot fogger except the fact that it is not safe for humans and pets. Even inhaling its mist can be dangerous as it contains strong chemicals that kill insects on contact. In case you come into contact with the fogger, remove your clothing, rinse your body with a lot of water, then call a poison control center.
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Consumer Engagement
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9.0
Customer Feedback
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8.9
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8.7
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Product Review
8.7
9.0
6
Best Spray for Roaches

Ortho Home Defense MAX Insect Killer

Features
  • Type: spray
  • Volume/Quantity: 1.1 gal.
  • Targets: ants, cockroaches, spiders, fleas, ticks, and other listed bugs

Other features: 0.05% Bifenthrin, 0.0125% Zeta-Cypermethrin; indoor and outdoor use

The Ortho Home Defense Insect Killer lives up to its name by offering great protection against roaches and other common household insects like centipedes, stink bugs, ants, and spiders. It is made for both indoor and outdoor uses. The insecticide comes with a comfort wand that makes its application a breeze. The wand eliminates hand fatigue, and since no pumping is required, you’ll be done applying it all over your home in no time.

You can use the Ortho Home Defense Insect Killer as a perimeter treatment. It contains 0.05% Bifenthrin and 0.0125% Zeta-Cypermethrin, which kill insects upon contact. When you spray the insecticide on the foundations and perimeters of your home, your patio, garages, windows, and doors as recommended, you can create a 3 month barrier against outdoor bugs that may enter your home.

This Ortho bug killer is perfect for anyone looking to kill and create a bug barrier against different insects in their home. If you have a roach infestation, it will effectively wipe the entire nest out, then create a 12-month indoor barrier and a 3-month outdoor barrier against different types of insects.

    Why are we impressed?
  • We obviously loved that the insecticide works both as a killer and bug barrier. This makes it a perfect choice for anyone who lives in a wooded area with insects that are likely to crawl or fly into their home. We also liked that the insecticide doesn’t leave a wet messy residue behind after application.
    What negatives must you be aware of?
  • We realized the spray doesn't kill roaches on contact as it promises. If you spray it as a barrier, you will find roaches dead on their backs at the barrier, but if you spray the insecticide at a living roach, then you must drench it to actually kill it. We also noticed that the application wand can wear out pretty fast with just a few uses.
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Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 5205 people in the past 30 days
8.7
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
8.4
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
8.4
Features & Benefits
Product Review
8.5
8.7
7
Best Multipurpose Insecticide

Control Solutions CSI 82005007 Viper Insecticide

Features
  • Type: spray
  • Volume/Quantity: 16 oz.
  • Targets: cockroaches, spiders, fleas, ticks, ants, mosquitoes, scorpions, silverfish, wood infesting beetles

Other features: Cypermethrin 25.3%, may be used indoors.

The Control Solutions CSI 82005007 Viper Insecticide is one of the best multipurpose roach killers for apartments, an entire home, a car, and the workplace. Other than roaches, the insecticide can kill mosquitoes, ants, spiders, silverfish, and wood infesting beetles. Indoors, you can apply the viper insecticide in all the roach-prone areas like cabinets, closets, windows, and doors. In the outdoors, you can apply to all areas as a broadcast spray.

The Control Solutions CSI 82005007 Viper Insecticide contains Cypermethrin 25.3%, which kills insects on contact. The chemical is safe for use indoors, but you have to be careful to prevent ingestion by your kids or pets. Also, indoor use is restricted in California.

If you are experiencing more than just a roach infestation, this is a product you can rely on to clear your worries. Plus, it offers great value for money. You can use the insecticide for many repeated treatments for a large infestations or repeating ones.

    What do we love it for?
  • We loved how ferocious the Control Solutions CSI 82005007 Viper Insecticide is against a plethora of insects. Once you spray a stream around your house or where you suspect the roach nest is, they’ll be gone in as little as 30 minutes. It kills on contact and makes the environment harsh for all the unwanted insects.
    What were we disappointed with?
  • There are only 2 downsides to this deadly insecticide. One, we didn’t like its smell. It has a strong petroleum scent which some people may not be able to tolerate. Second, it is not pet or child safe. The manufacturer even insists on wearing protective clothing when applying the insecticide.
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Consumer Engagement
Chosen by 3868 people in the past 30 days
8.5
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
8.1
Brand Reputation
Based onweb analytics
8.4
Features & Benefits
Product Review
8.3
8.5
Features
  • Type: spray
  • Volume/Quantity: 11 oz.
  • Targets: roaches, ants, mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, and spiders

Other features: works up to 6 months, odorless and non-staining formula

If you hate to imagine killing roaches as another chore, then this is a fantastic solution for you. The Bengal Products Gold Roach Spray comes in an aerosol can that is super-easy to use. It has an odorless and non-staining formula that specifically targets cockroaches and kills them instantly upon contact.

The Bengal Products Gold Roach Spray contains permethrin as its main ingredient. It is a common insecticide that attacks the nervous system of insects when they ingest, touch or crawl on it. The spray also has another component, Nylar, that gives it long-lasting effectiveness. Nylar prevents baby roaches from maturing into breeding adults.

This insecticide is best suited for anyone looking for a quick fix that is also preventive. It will kill all the roaches and other insects then prevent a future infestation for 6 months.

    Why did it make our list?
  • We loved the odorless nature of the roach spray. Some roach killers can kill you with unpleasant scents. This makes it the ultimate option for people who are sensitive to scents or suffer from allergies. We also liked that the spray’s formula was safe for furniture, drapes, upholstery, carpets, and floors.
    What is not ideal about it?
  • The Bengal Products Gold Roach Spray is somewhat more expensive than other aerosol spray roach killers. If you don't have a budget for it, it may hurt your wallet. We also realized that it doesn't kill the insects on the spot as it promises. They die eventually, but for them to die instantly, you'd have to drench them in the spray.

Things to Consider

Roaches are the most pervasive and hard to kill insects in the world. There are a couple of preventive measures that can keep them away, like cleaning up and ensuring your space is clutter-free, but what if you already have an infestation? The most effective solution is to get the best roach killing product. They come in different forms and strengths, and choosing one can be a daunting process. This buying guide has all the information you would need to make a sound choice.

Types of roach killers

As mentioned above, roach killers come invariants, and they work in different ways. Each variant has unique features and is best suited for certain situations. Here is a quick rundown of the different types of roach killers:

Gels

8 Best Roach Killers - No Mercy for Pests!
When the roach ingests ot contacts a gel and then dies in its habitat, it becomes food for the others and the killing process starts

Gels are made with components that emit a strong smell that roaches can’t resist. Most of them cause the Domino effect Trusted Source Horizontal Transfer or The Domino Effect ADVION video education series.Module 5 of 5: Horizontal Transfer, or “The Domino Effect”.The holy grail of dealing with ant and cockroach problems is the Domino Effect: when a pest that is poisoned by the active ingredient then infects other insects in its harbourage or nest, resulting in the eradication of the entire colony. www.syngentappm.com.au . They do not kill the roaches instantly but begin their action when one roach goes back to their colony after ingesting or contacting them. When the roach dies in its habitat, it becomes food for the others, and the killing process becomes rapid enough to wipe out the entire colony.

Sprays

8 Best Roach Killers - No Mercy for Pests!
Sprays attack the nervous system of the roaches and kill them in less than a day

These are the best for your kitchen safety. They are also pretty simple to use. Sprays work by attacking the nervous system of the roaches, which kills them in less than a day. They are also the best alternative for reaching inaccessible places.

Traps

8 Best Roach Killers - No Mercy for Pests!
Some baits have a bait that lures roaches inside and kills them

Traps are among the most popular ways of killing roaches. They come in different designs. Some traps like Combat Max 12 Month Roach Killing Bait have a bait within an enclosed space that contains poison. The bait lures roaches effectively and kills them. Other designs don’t include the poison for the safety of kids and pets, but they aren’t as effective as the ones with poisonous baits.

Baits

8 Best Roach Killers - No Mercy for Pests!
Baits have a delayed action that kills the roaches inside their colony

Baits use different attractants to lure the roaches towards them. Most of them feature a delayed action insecticide that spreads throughout the colony when one roach ingests or contacts the bait. Some roach species are resistant to baits. You must do thorough research before buying one.

Foggers

8 Best Roach Killers - No Mercy for Pests!
Foggers leave a harmful gas that penetrates inaccessible places with roach nests

These are also popularly known as bug bombs. They are can-shaped roach killers, and they contain a poisonous gas. When activated, a fogger will leave a harmful gas that penetrates inaccessible places with roach nests, then slowly fail the roaches’ nervous systems and slowly kill them.

How to choose the best roach killer

There are a handful of factors to consider when buying a roach killer, and they include:

Type

You have to choose the type of roach killer that would work for your infestation. If you have a large infestation, you should go for a very effective solution like a gel. If you have an infestation and you don’t know the source or can’t pinpoint the nest, then you should opt for a fogger. If you have a small infestation or you are dealing with small roaches, then you can go for milder options like the Combat Max 12 Month Roach Killing Bait.

Efficacy length

This is how long the roach killer will work without replacement or re-application. The efficacy length of a roach killer is determined by 2 things: the amount of product you use and how quickly its active ingredient breaks down.

The minimum efficacy length for most roach killers is one month and the maximum 2 years.

Be sure to check and follow the instructions on applying and when to replace the roach killer for effectiveness.

Pests it targets

This is a crucial factor to consider when choosing a roach killer. Different killing products work differently, and they usually have targeted insects. The type of pests Trusted Source Types of Pests - NIOS In this lesson we are learning mainly about the pests belonging to animal kingdom. The others are already learnt in previous lesson as disease causing organisms. Pest: It is an organism that causes any type of damage to the crop plants. oer.nios.ac.in that a roach killer targets is determined by 3 factors: the type of the product, its active ingredient, and the bait used to lure the pest.

Some roach killers use very high-potency pesticides that may be dangerous for your kids and pets because roaches have good immunity. Others use glue sheets that catch nearly all types of insects, including ants, wasps, beetles, and spiders.

Pets and children safety

Before buying a roach killer, you must consider the safety of your pets and family. Most roach traps and gels come in attractive colors and usually have sweet scents and tastes that can attract kids and pests. Foggers can create a toxic space for several hours after use, and sprays can be absorbed through the skin.

If you are worried for your kids’ and pets’ safety, you can opt for safer options like one-way door traps, ultrasonic repellants, and glue paper that either trap, kill, or repel roaches.

Active ingredient

The most common active ingredients used in roach killers include hydramethylon, Fipronil, boric acid, and Indoxacarb. The active ingredient may be mixed with sugar to attract the insects then kills them instantly or cause delayed transfer toxic action that kills the roach after a couple of days.

Ease of use

How easy will it be to apply the insecticide? Will you have to wear protective gear and crawl on your knees, or will it be as simple as opening up a cartridge and slipping it under your fridge and kitchen cabinets?

FAQ

How long can a roach live after being sprayed?

This depends on the active ingredient in the roach killing spray you use. Most sprays are made to kill the roaches instantly upon contact. Therefore, after a few minutes, the spray’s active ingredient will attack the roach’s nervous systems, and it will writhe about and die.

Does killing roaches attract more roaches?

Dead cockroaches attract more cockroaches because a dead roach releases oleic acid, which has a pungent smell that attracts others.

How do I get rid of roaches permanently?

Choosing the right plan in exterminating a roach infestation then applying preventive measures is the only way of getting rid of roaches permanently.

Our verdict

It’s impossible to rid the world of roaches, but it is possible to keep your home and business premises roach-free. Even though they have outlived dinosaurs, roaches are 100% killable when the right methods are used. Besides proper waste disposal and food storage, a roach killer is needed to remove roaches from your space permanently. For instance, our best overall choice, the Maxforce FC Select Roach Killer Bait Gel, is the best you can get to wipe out a large infestation. Its active ingredient, Fipronil, creates a Domino effect which kills the roaches slowly.

Our runners-up pick, the Advion 383920 Gel Bait, stands out for the multiple application tools it comes with. It is not the easiest to apply, but you would never stop to think of how to go about it.

Our third choice, the Black Flag Roach Motel Insect Trap, is one of the best roach motels that money can buy. It has a long efficacy length of 4 months and can trap other insects like crickets, spiders, and scorpions.

References

1.
Horizontal Transfer or The Domino Effect
ADVION video education series.Module 5 of 5: Horizontal Transfer, or “The Domino Effect".The holy grail of dealing with ant and cockroach problems is the Domino Effect: when a pest that is poisoned by the active ingredient then infects other insects in its harbourage or nest, resulting in the eradication of the entire colony.
2.
Types of Pests - NIOS
In this lesson we are learning mainly about the pests belonging to animal kingdom. The others are already learnt in previous lesson as disease causing organisms. Pest: It is an organism that causes any type of damage to the crop plants.
9,8
Total Score
Maxforce FC Select Roach Killer Bait Gel - Editor’s Choice
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