It’s natural to feel overwhelmed when confronted with a water bug infestation. These bugs may cause havoc on your mental health. Water bugs are indeed a particularly troublesome species. When waterbugs come into our homes, they can induce anxiety and terror. Many people mistake these beetles for cockroaches. So you might be thinking about what is the difference between cockroaches and water bugs? And how to get rid of water bugs?
Although water insect infestations are harmless, if you don’t want them around and are looking for a way to get rid of them, you’ve come to the right place.
What Are Water Bugs?
We’re not referring to specific water bugs that dwell ‘in’ the water. Those insects may reach a length of 5 inches and, happily, are not present in your house. A waterbug belongs to the Hemiptera (real bugs) order and the Nepomorpha suborder.
They have almost 2,000 species and may be found all over the world. They thrive near bodies of water, and they invade and live in wet environments. It is why you’ll find them in your kitchen and bathroom more frequently than not. They can indeed go a month without food but only a week after water.
Cockroaches vs Water Bugs
True waterbugs are not like cockroaches and do not infest homes as frequently.
Appearance
Waterbugs are often more significant than cockroaches. Waterbugs may grow 2-4 inches (5.08-10.16 cm) long, whereas most cockroaches are about 1-1.5 inches (2.54-3.81 cm) long. Waterbugs lack an antenna, which itself is common among cockroaches. They can both fly since most of the two different species have wings.
Habitat
True waterbugs earn their name because they adore water and spend most of their lives in aquatic settings, which causes misunderstandings among waterbugs and other cockroach species. Cockroaches may live in water, but they prefer to dwell on the ground and feed on decomposing organic waste.
Eating style
The primary difference in feeding behavior seems to be that cockroaches are scavengers, whereas waterbugs are hunters. Cockroaches consume whatever they can get their hands on, but Waterbugs use deadly bites to subdue their victim.
If you find either of these bugs in your house, you should start exterminating them as soon as possible.
Signs Of Water Bug Infestation – How To Inspect Water Bugs?
Early action is critical when completely removing pest infestations; therefore, learning where water bugs originate is vital. Knowing the common indicators of a pest infestation can help you detect the problem as soon as possible.
Waterbugs will almost primarily be there due to their attraction to your pool; thus, the home inspection should be pretty straightforward. Scrutinize your pool as you walk around it.
Even if your pool isn’t green yet, there’s probably algae present since If there are no algae, waterbugs like the Water Boatman will not be present. They prefer to lay their eggs on algae since it is their primary source of sustenance.
How To Get Rid Of Water Bugs?
So how to get rid of water bugs? We’ll go through a few techniques for killing these insects with a more prolonged impact. But if you like to get rid of them right away? Because of their robust, flexible exoskeletons, even mushing them does not always work. Here are a few simple methods for killing water bugs:
Boric acid
Boric acid is an effective pesticide that will kill water bugs. This product is generally in the form of a powder that you may spray in places where waterbug activity is intense. When waterbugs consume boric acid, the toxins enter their digestive tract and poison them.
Synthetic Pesticides
Synthetic insecticides are another effective technique to eliminate waterbugs. They are available as sprays or powders and contain potent pesticide ingredients.
Water Bug Trap
Water bug traps or lures are an easy way to get rid of an entire water insect colony. When an insect comes into touch with a bait containing attractors, the bug returns it to the nest, destroying many water bugs once they ingest the bait particles.
Natural Home Remedies Against Water Bugs
Natural waterbug repellant and efficient home treatments may get used to keep waterbugs at bay and keep them from multiplying.
- Baking soda is a natural mosquito repellent that is entirely safe for home. You may lure waterbugs to it by mixing baking soda with a bit of sugar. Please place it on a plate and place it in its preferred location.
- It may come as a surprise that leftover coffee grounds may act as primary waterbug repellant. To keep them away, sprinkle powdered coffee grounds about your property near their access points.
- Another widely available insect control solution is liquid dishwashing detergent. The detergent kills the water bugs by eroding their protective skin and gradually killing them.
- Garlic’s strong odor can deter a variety of insects, including waterbugs. Crush several garlic cloves and place them in diseased areas. The potent smell can swiftly and efficiently push them off your home.
Prevention Tips For Water Bugs
Here are some natural methods for keeping waterbugs away from the house:
- Keep their favorite spots clean, dry, and well-ventilated, such as restrooms or beneath the sink.
- Fix any plumbing leaks and wall fractures since that’s how they come into the house.
- Remove any rotting leaves or damp soil since they thrive in these environments.
- Garbage cans should not get stored in damp areas.
- Maintain drain traps by keeping them full or capped.
- Most essential, deprive the waterbugs by keeping your house immaculately clean.
Final Thought
Despite their less menacing moniker, water bugs are still cockroaches at the end of the day. The longer they stay in your home, the more likely they will turn into a major infestation. If you have a lot of water bugs in the house and don’t know where they’re coming from. You’ve tried every home remedy available; you might think about hiring professional exterminators.
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