Job Discussion Forums

[aziraphale]

There is nothing like coming home after a long day of teaching, turning on the TV, and -- HOLY CRAP! THAT C0CKROACH IS HUGE!

WHAP! WHAP! WHAP!

(I think it was a youngster, because it didn't fly)

Okay, here's the question: Does anyone have some practical c0ckroach removal tips? I've done a search, but I'm having trouble finding info specifically for Japan. Since there are different species here (as well as different brands of traps and insecticide), I'm not sure how effective tips intended for North America are. Also, did I mention that the c0ckroaches are HUGE?

Thanks!

Aziraphale

P.S. I can't believe that the system is censoring the word c0ckroach!

[ryuro]

Hey,

I lived in Tokyo for nearly five years and every abode I inhabited (new or old) had the occassional roach. In one fairly old building I stayed in for a bit, I found a combination of the "sticky" traps and those round roach poison dispensors worked fine at controlling them- mind you in older buildings that's about all you can hope for in the summer- control and containment. Word of warning thoouhg- while the sticky traps work great, if you don't want to know how many roaches may really be in your apartment, I advise you NOT to look into the traps the morning after you set them out. The number and size of the little beasties caught over-night may be enough to send ya packin' from that place.

Good luck,
ryuro

PS. saw some roaches big enough that I asked if they'd mind splitting the rent and utilities with me. The rent didn't phase 'em, but they balked at paying utltities- they "never used the lights" was their argument.

[Lucy Snow]

Our cat was pretty effective in containing the roach population in our apartment...and we had some that were the size of small domesticated animals. Fortunately, our cat weighed over 20 lbs (10 k), and was more than a match for them.

[canuck]

Keep your apartment clean. Always do the dishes. Get hoihoi traps and the little poison disks and you're fine. A little extra effort being clean and you're fine.

[aziraphale]

[canuck]

I don't know of any brand names. I use the black disks. No real help though. They are all basically the same. If you can get your roommate to clean up some more, that's the best method to avoiding the little critters.

I haven't seen any in two years!

[aziraphale]

[TokyoLiz]

You have some choices

1. Put collars and name tags on the roaches. Then at least you'd know how many live with you. Guiness Book might be interested.

2. Make up business cards that say Aziraphale, Roach Wrangler and start charging your roommate for your services.

3. Put down traps in corners, behind the fridge, in the cupboards. Wash the floors with a weak bleach solution as soon as you've done this. Apparently, roaches leave a scent trail or something to tell their brethren where the good stuff is. I just washed down my place by hand, floors and walls, and I haven't seen a beastie for a few days. Maybe they're mounting a massive guerilla attack at dawn Friday or something...

[Celeste]

Too bad about the piggy roommate. My husband and I saw a few roaches when we first moved in a year ago, but after a month of fastidious living, we had no problems. When I saw my first roach here, I marched myself down to the local home centre immediately and told them my problem...
"Sumimasen- Gokiburi- "I know, not really perfect grammar, but they pointed out the traps and discs and tried to explain to me how I should use them (but with my almost nonexistant Japanese and their almost non-existant English this was kind of funny to all the other customers in the store). I have the same traps still, and to this day they have never trapped a roach. I have only seen one since then, and it FLEW in the window WHILE I WAS TAKING A SHOWER! ick yuck ugh there are no emoticons strong enough to describe this feeling ......

[monocongo]