# Cockroach article **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [December 10, 2008, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cockroach-article/476602 "2008-12-10T20:25:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ArmenE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ArmenE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArmenE)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2008, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cockroach-article/476602/1 "2008-12-10T20:25:06Z")
Re: [Where are all these damn cockroaches coming from? - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/19/where-are-all-these-damn-cockroaches-coming-from) Cecil says: > [@](#): > > Judging from the autumnal appearance of the hordes, I’d mark the arrival of the contraband roach around early summer (the eggs take 30-60 days to hatch). Is there some reason that whoever brought in the eggs could not have brought them in a near-hatched state? ---
**Author:** ![SiXSwordS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@SiXSwordS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiXSwordS)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cockroach-article/476602/2 "2008-12-11T15:52:06Z")
A more complete quote might be the answer: > [@](#): > > The best explanation for your problem is that one of you carried a mama roach… into your building… Judging from the autumnal appearance of the hordes, I’d mark the arrival of the contraband roach around early summer. Emphasis Mine I think Cece is saying that the Mama roach moved in and laid eggs as her first order of business. ---
**Author:** ![ChordedZither](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9c0ed/32.png) [@ChordedZither](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChordedZither)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cockroach-article/476602/3 "2008-12-11T19:37:16Z")
I have to disagree with the statement that cockroaches “don’t normally enter a building of their own volition”. When I return home at night, I will frequently spot one or two of them on my front porch. If the porch light is on and there are no bright lights in the entry hallway, then when I open the front door, they make a dash for the dark entryway. I’ve learned from experience to stomp/sweep the critters away before trying to enter the house. ---
**Author:** ![ArmenE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ArmenE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArmenE)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cockroach-article/476602/4 "2008-12-11T21:07:45Z")
> [@SiXSwordS](#): > > A more complete quote might be the answer: > Emphasis Mine > > I think Cece is saying that the Mama roach moved in and laid eggs as her first order of business. An even _more_ complete quote explains why I’m asking, [QUOTE=Cecil] The best explanation for your problem is that one of you carried a mama roach–**or possibly just some eggs (the eggs aren’t susceptible to pesticides)**–into your building with the groceries or something. [/QUOTE] But I understand what you’re saying, yah. ---
**Author:** ![SeanArenas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeanArenas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeanArenas)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cockroach-article/476602/5 "2008-12-12T01:42:41Z")
In the first year we lived in this apartment, we found one (1) roach. In the next 4 years, we’ve found zero (0) roaches. Crickets, yes. Roaches, no. The secret seems to be washing all dishes immediately after use, and wiping up all food crumbs, liquid, and everything else they might find interesting or comfortable immediately. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cockroach-article/476602/6 "2008-12-17T07:26:56Z")
I’d rather have roaches than crickets. At least roaches do their business quietly. Crickets have to change their habits and exchange their intermittent chirp to a continuous screech!’ Death to the crickets! ---
**Author:** ![breezy501](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@breezy501](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/breezy501)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cockroach-article/476602/7 "2008-12-17T21:35:32Z")
\*\*:)R.S. from Baltimore is TOTALLY CORRECT! MY FATHER SEALED MY APARTMENT BEFORE I MOVED IN WITH CAULKING AND PLUGGED UP ALL HOLES. IT WORKS PERFECTLY – OVER 12 YEARS AND NO ROACHES. His brother told him how to do it, and it really works. If they can’t get in, they will go elsewhere. Now, how do I get rid of the damn household centipedes? Everything is still sealed…😕\*\* ---
**Author:** ![SeanArenas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeanArenas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeanArenas)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cockroach-article/476602/8 "2008-12-17T23:46:21Z")
Hey Breezy, last night we chased a cricket around for a bit (this was by far the cleverest one we’d found) and it escaped us by going out through a hole next to the sliding glass door. I’m sure it’s the same hole it entered through. It’s hidden behind the carpet and is really small - over 5 years we’ve lived here and never saw it until a cricket showed it to us. Now it’s sealed with putty. Now we learned the trick - instead of killing crickets, just chase them around for a bit and watch where they escape to. Seal that hole.