Nature has gifted bugs, including cockroaches, with a highly sophisticated sense of smell. The sense of smell helps keep bugs and roaches away from dangers and helps them communicate with each other via pheromones.
The antennas of bugs, including cockroaches, are equipped with millions of micropores to achieve this feat. However, humans have taken this to another level and taken advantage of this by discovering and synthesizing natural repellents such as peppermint oil.
Yes! Peppermint oil repels bugs, including roaches, and is more effective at keeping them away than other available natural repellents (Reference). Moreover, peppermint oil is also highly lethal to bugs and roaches, and it is far superior at destroying eggs than any available essential oil (Reference). All these effects are achieved by Menthol and Menthone, two chemicals found in high concentrations in peppermint oil.
If you are a pet lover or have children in your home and want to keep bugs, including roaches, away without using chemicals, you are probably in the same situation as I was a few months ago.
Thanks to my colleague, who introduced me to a marvelous chemical-free, highly effective bug repellent item; peppermint oil. After using that, I never looked back and hence will share my personal experience about that in the blog below.
Tired of cockroaches? Invest in only these products and follow the guide to eliminate roaches!
Use these products, and you will be roach free in less than a week.
1. Advion Cockroach Gel Bait (Review)
2. Gentrol IGR Point Source (Review)
Other Products to try:
1. Combat Roach Traps (Easy than gel baits)
2. Hot Shot Foggers (To kill in masses – 95%)
3. Pet Safe Killers (Uses Essential Oils)
4. Ortho Defence Outdoor Roach Killer (Prevent Roaches)
Peppermint oil for Bugs and roaches; How effective it is?
Humans will keep fighting bugs and roaches throughout their existence. After all, humans have invaded the natural habitat to a level that has kept no space for bugs to thrive. Moreover, the vast amount of urbanization has forced two powers of nature, humans, and bugs, into a head-on collision with each other.
However, humans are gifted with intelligence and have taken advantage of everything, including nature.
Thanks to Peppermint oil, it is highly effective for repelling bugs and roaches out of human space. If you mix a few drops of peppermint oil with water and spray it around the house, it will keep bugs and roaches away for up to 8 hours.
Two independent studies, one published by Dr. Arthur, showed repellency and toxicity of peppermint oil to cockroaches, and the other by M.A Ansari et al. showed that Larvicidal and mosquito repellent action of peppermint oil.
These studies showed that peppermint oil is a highly effective natural repellent for bugs, including insects, mosquitoes, and cockroaches.
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How Does Peppermint Oil Repel Bugs and Cockroaches?
Almost all bugs, including cockroaches, have a pair of antennas. These antennas are not there for cosmetic purposes. Instead, they perceive a wide range of stimuli ranging from vibrations to odors via hair cells present on antennas. These stimuli are perceived via micropores equipped with sensitive sensory receptor cells.
Once smell molecules activate the receptors cells on antennas, the brain processes this information and draws meaning. The bug’s brain either perceives the odor as appealing, such as emitted from the food or considers it a threat.
Peppermint oil repels bugs, including roaches, by activating the hair cell receptors on antennas that signal the brain, which the brain perceives as a threat. Chemicals achieve this repelling action in peppermint oil, methanol, and menthone.
How to mix peppermint oil for roaches and use it to repel bugs and roaches?
Peppermint oil is a clear yellowish to light green liquid with a strong yet refreshing menthol smell. Based on the need and personal preferences, you can use peppermint oil in several ways to repel roaches and bugs,
Method 1: Using Pure Peppermint Oil to repel bugs and roaches
Pure peppermint oil is best used when facing a heavy bug or roach infestation. Peppermint oil smells for about 15 to 20 hours when used in pure form.
However, one disadvantage of using pure peppermint oil is leaving stains on items, including cloaths.
Pure peppermint oil is also best for skin application and repels roaches and mosquitoes away from you. All you need to do is apply two to three drops on the skin and rub it to the body.
However, peppermint oil might not be safe for everyone because it can cause skin burning and rash in some individuals.
Method 2: Mixing Peppermint Oil with water to repel bugs and roaches
Mix 10 to 15 drops of peppermint oil in about 250 ml of water. This will give you an excellent bug and roach repelling solution.
Next, spray this peppermint solution at multiple locations around the house, including windows, under the furniture, curtains, and bedsheets.
Peppermint oil mixed with water works for about 8 hours at keeping bugs and roaches away.
Method 3: Making dough and peppermint oil balls
Add 10 to 15 drops of peppermint oil in about 50 grams of dry dough and mix three to five spoons of water. Make a semisolid dough out of it, and next, make multiple small balls out of it with your palm.
These balls emit a strong peppermint smell and kill bugs and roaches if they consume it within 10 hours. However, the good thing about dough and peppermint oil balls is that it keeps emitting a strong smell for about 24 hours.
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Does Peppermint Oil Kill Roaches?
You will be amazed to know that a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Urban Entomology states that 3.5% of peppermint oil was able to kill cockroaches within 4.1 hours of exposure, whereas 100% peppermint oil killed roaches with 1 hour 4 minutes.
Another study published in the Journal of Economic Entomology showed that “Menthone,” an active chemical in peppermint oil, had the most significant role in preventing cockroach eggs from hatching.
These studies showed that Peppermint oil effectively kills roaches and destroys their eggs.
Does Peppermint Oil Kill Bugs?
You will be amazed to know that peppermint oil effectively kills almost all bugs, including mosquitoes, beetles, and roaches. This is because Peppermint oil contains a high concentration of monoterpenoids.
A study published in the Journal of Industrial Crops and Products showed that monoterpenoids successfully blocked bugs’ neurotransmission, killing them.
Another study showed that peppermint oil offered the highest toxicity to adults and larvae of the black carpet beetle and cigarette beetle.
Additional Read!
