You must have heard the myth that cockroaches can easily survive a nuclear blast. That could be true since these bugs can resist many environmental factors and continue to live in tough conditions. However, they can’t survive a sudden temperature change.
Yes, cockroaches cannot survive really warm or cold temperatures. Although they can live for several months without food and water, extreme temperatures are not something they can live in. Not even for a few minutes!
Of course, that does not mean you burn your whole house down or freeze yourself to death just to get rid of cockroaches. Instead, the intelligent way is to opt for professional treatments that require high heat or cold to kill these pests.
So, if you want to know how to use extreme temperatures to kill these pests, you are at the right place. Let’s learn everything about what temperature kills roaches and how to use it the right way.
Can Heat Kill Cockroaches?
High heat can kill any pest in your house, including cockroaches. It is because they are not heat-resistant creatures and can die instantly with a sudden spike in the temperature.
Since cockroaches are cold-blooded creatures, they cannot change or adjust their body heat according to the temperature. Therefore, if they are used to living in a certain environment, they will not be able to survive at any other temperature.
If the temperature rises suddenly, their bodies will overheat and succumb to the hot surroundings. Their exoskeleton can also burn and dehydrate in extremely high temperatures, exposing their sensitive inner body to the environment.
Fortunately, they cannot survive for a long time without their exoskeleton and eventually die.
So, heat can kill roaches because:
- They can’t adjust their body heat with temperature
- Excessive heat damages their exoskeleton
In fact, roaches are popular for their temperature resistance abilities, But if the temperature reaches above 115°F or more, it kills them instantly.
Therefore, most professionals use high heat treatment to exterminate cockroaches from a building.
It is one of the most effective methods to kill cockroaches without damaging the property. Since increasing the temperature does not include any chemicals, it does not leave toxic fumes behind. However, this treatment will only work if the temperature rise is sudden and not gradual.
How to Kill Cockroaches with Heat?
Killing cockroaches with heat is one of the most surefire ways of getting rid of these nasty creatures.
However, different cockroach breeds have different thresholds to withstand heat. For example, American and oriental cockroaches have a low resistance to heat, while German cockroaches can withstand more heat.
However, treating your property with heat can be a bit difficult and require specific tools. Therefore, it is important to consult a professional for such services.
Here are some heat treatments you can get to eliminate cockroaches from your house:
Dry Heat Treatment
Dry heat treatment is used for places that can get damaged from steam, like wooden houses. This treatment is done in the following steps:
- First, all the heat-sensitive products and furniture are removed.
- Next, the place is insulated to apply high dry heat to the area.
- Once the insulators cover the area, dry heat is blown at the area with a heavy-duty machine for a few minutes.
- After the heating process, the area is allowed to cool down.
Since the heat is extremely high, a few minutes of exposure is enough to kill any pests in the area. This process kills the pests, their larvae, and eggs instantly.
Luckily, the dry heat treatment does not damage the walls or any other part of the property. However, if you have wallpapers in the area, it can damage the glue.
Wet Heat Treatment
Wet treatment includes introducing steam to a specific area to kill bugs. This process is slower than the dry heat treatment but can effectively eliminate pests and eliminate all the dirt the cockroaches spread.
It slowly washes away any trace of feces and kills the eggs instantly.
- Firstly, all the electronic and heat-sensitive furniture is removed.
- Next, steam is applied to the hot spots and cockroach nest using a steam gun for five to six minutes.
This procedure effectively kills all the pests. However, even if any cockroach survives, the high heat damages the female cockroaches’ reproductive capabilities.
As a result, it will not be able to transfer fat-body intracellular symbiotes to the eggs, resulting in a weaker next generation.
Can Cold Temperature Kill Cockroaches?
Just like a sudden increase in temperature can kill cockroaches, a sudden drop in the temperature can also kill them instantly. Their bodies are not made to heat themselves when the temperature drops. Instead, it starts freezing their internal organs, causing them to die.
It is one of the main reasons why cockroaches exist inside the houses in colder regions and not outside. Since the houses have a heating system, it creates an ideal living condition for them.
Some species of cockroaches, like the Japanese, are highly resistant to freezing temperatures. Meanwhile, other species cannot withstand the harsh change.
Working with colder temperatures can be tricky, unlike heat treatments that guarantee to eliminate cockroaches. That’s because roaches can psychologically strengthen themselves to fight the colder weather if the drop in temperature is gradual.
They can also go into a hibernation-like state known as diapause.
Therefore, exposing cockroaches to a sudden temperature drop is important to damage their internal organs. Any temperature before 45°F can be sufficient to kill cockroaches.
However, this process requires professional machines and expertise, which makes it unsuitable as a DIY home remedy.
How to Kill Cockroaches with Freezing Temperature?
Killing cockroaches with a sudden drop in temperature is a relatively new technique. This procedure was mostly used to terminate bed bugs but is now used to control a cockroach infestation.
Getting in touch with a professional exterminator can help you eliminate cockroaches using freezing temperatures. We do not suggest using the freezing techniques on your own as they can damage you and your house.
Here are the cold treatments you can get to eliminate pests:
Dry Ice Treatment
Dry ice is an effective treatment for pest control due to two reasons. It includes the following steps:
- Firstly, it significantly drops the temperature of the area.
- Secondly, dry ice is made up of solidified carbon which can suffocate and kill the cockroaches effectively.
- For dry ice treatment, the infested area is covered with an insulative layer like a plastic sheet. Any sensitive appliance or piece of furniture is also removed from the area.
- Next, a block of dry ice is placed in the insulated area to freeze and suffocate the cockroaches.
This method effectively kills any pests in the area, including roaches of all sizes. In fact, six-hour-long dry ice fumigation can kill all the pests in the area.
Once the process completes, it is essential to air out the place to prevent carbon dioxide poisoning.
Cryonite Treatment
Cryonite treatment uses liquid carbon dioxide to target and freeze cockroaches. It is one of the safest procedures to remove cockroaches from a place. However, it requires special tools to target the infected area and instantly freeze the cockroaches.
When the cockroaches or their eggs come into contact with liquid carbon dioxide, they freeze, suffocate, and die. However, this technique is ideal for small or medium-sized infestations, not for large infestations.
It is also quite cost-effective, which makes it one of the most used treatments for cockroaches by small homeowners.
Freezing treatments also do not damage the house’s walls, windows, wallpaper, and paint.
What is the Ideal Temperature for Cockroaches to Survive?
Cockroaches like to live in warm, dark, and humid environments. The ideal temperature for cockroaches to populate is 70-90°F. It is the common temperature of most kitchens and drains, making them one of the most favorable places for cockroaches to live.
If you want to prevent a cockroach infestation in your house, you need to maintain a clean and dry environment.
Alternatively, you can also use pesticides and home remedies to kill cockroaches in the early stages of infestation. Lastly, try to keep your kitchen dry to avoid attracting cockroaches.
FAQs
Why Do Roaches Die From Heat?
Roaches die from heat because their body cannot adjust to the sudden temperature shift. Since they are cold-blooded creatures, their bodies start to overheat with the temperature rise. Extremely high temperatures can also burn and dehydrate their exoskeleton, exposing their inner organs and resulting in sudden death.
Does Dryer Heat Kill Roaches?
Yes, dryer heat can kill cockroaches if the settings are adjusted to “high.” If cockroaches are exposed to high heat for a long time, they are bound to die. Typically a dryer runs for 30 to 40 minutes which is enough to kill cockroaches.
Can Cockroaches Survive Winter Weather?
Yes, cockroaches can survive winter weather since the change is gradual. They can live in colder climates and go into diapause to preserve their energy and protect their body from external damage. You need to expose cockroaches to a sudden drop in temperature to kill them instantly.
Final Thoughts
Cockroaches have a relatively hard exterior that protects them from any environmental damage. However, you can still burn or freeze cockroaches to death, as they cannot survive temperatures above 115°F or below 45°F.
Since these pests’ bodies can not adjust the heat according to the change in temperature, their inner systems collapse. Eventually, they die. However, the temperature change must be sudden to instantly kill the cockroaches.
When the temperature changes, cockroaches try to fly or crawl out into safety. Therefore, hiring a team of professional exterminators is important to get this job done effectively.
Lastly, ensure not to provide the ideal living and breeding conditions to these pests as they can multiply rapidly.