Mite infestations in captive tropical roach colonies are frequent for a range of factors. For starters, cockroaches are naturally attracted to mites. A few roach species are known to be host-specific mite species. A great example would be the Madagascar hissing cockroach. They are a magnet for the mite Androlaelaps schaeferi.
Their relationship, like most roach/mite interactions, is mutual rather than parasitic. The relationship is technically “commensal”, which means the mites do not endanger the roaches. The mites may benefit the roaches by clearing mold from their air passages.
Keep in mind that you do not have to collect all of the mites. You want to eliminate as many as possible, but the key is to shift the colony’s conditions from favorable to unfavorable.
Mite numbers will be reduced, hastening their downfall. It can be ensured by altering the environment. So follow the steps given below to understand how you can do all these things easily.
Clear Out The Bin
To get rid of mites from a dubia roach colony, the first thing you’ll need to do is to clean the roach bin to get rid of as many mites and eggs as possible. Begin by removing all of the items. This contains food and water bowls, as well as shelter and food.
Differentiate the roaches from these items, then from their frass. When you only have roaches, put them in a clean, fresh, and empty container. The bin you just emptied should be washed. Consider cleaning the trash can and any other items that can be cleaned with a weak bleach solution. It is believed that this kills mites and their eggs. If you don’t want to use bleach, you can also use soap.
It’s a good idea to start sorting clean items from those that haven’t been washed yet. This will aid in the prevention of recontamination. Run items through the dishwasher if possible.
Mites and their eggs are killed by heat. If not, thoroughly scrub the items with soap and water before laying them out to dry with other clean items. Mites dislike sunlight, and you don’t want to spread them throughout your home, so do your laundry outside in the sun if possible.
Next, discard contaminated frass, harborage, and anything else that can’t be washed from inside the bin. Make use of a big plastic trash bag that can be closed and reopened as needed.
It is important to note that freezing kills only a few mite species but not all of them. So, unless you know which species you are dealing with, freezing your supplies is not an option, do so only if you are sure which kind of roaches you have been infected with. Provided that there are nearly 50,000 mite species, identification appears unlikely, so rapid cooling as a method of eradication is probably out of the question.
You’ll Need To Shake The Roaches
You will, indeed, “wash” the roaches. Take a look at the Ziploc bag, sieve, bowl, and flour. Fill the bag with 1/4 cup flour. Add a few roaches. Shake it well for at least 10 to 20 seconds or until the roaches are thoroughly coated and thoroughly annoyed.
You’ll need to place the sieve over the bowl, empty the bag into it, and shake off as much flour from the roaches as possible. Repeat the procedure with the flour-coated roaches in a clean container until all of the roaches are absolutely “clean.”
Make Sure That You Clean All The Surfaces
Sanitize the area where you keep your dubia colony. Make it squeaky clean! Use a sponge and a sluggish bleach solution to clean all surfaces. If you prefer, you can use soap.
Towels are used to dry everything. You can wipe off surfaces with 70 percent alcohol or a mild Lysol mixture if you like. Both can destroy mites and their eggs, but once dry, they won’t hurt roaches. Microwave any sponges you used to clean for at least a minute once you’re done.
Don’t Forget To Vacuum
I hope that you haven’t kept your dubia colony in a carpeted room. Mites seek shelter in carpets and other fabrics, and once there, they are difficult to remove. Carpet is also unsuitable for moist environments. Condensation on the wood substrate or carpet padding can cause moisture to accumulate, and particles in the carpet and padding can fatten mold.
Mold, in essence, serves as both a source of food and a breeding ground for mites. If the room has carpet, thoroughly vacuum it and consider relocating your colony to a room with solid flooring. Remove any area rugs, clean them, and think about not putting them back.
Make Sure That You Wash Everything
Toss everything you wore, used, or came into contact with into the washing machine. Before dealing with your roaches, take a shower, be sure to change your clothes, and wipe down the room as quickly as you can. You could even vacuum adjoining rooms to get rid of any mites that may have escaped while you were cleaning.
This isn’t required, but it’s something to think about. Again, getting all of the mites and eggs isn’t necessary because you’ve made (and will continue to make) the environments in your dubia colony uninhabitable for them. Whatever mites are left will die in a matter of days, and with a little good fortune and planning, they will never come back.
Final Thoughts
Depending on the number of roaches and the severity of the infestation, removing mites from dubia roach colonies can be exhausting, but we believe the methods outlined above have a good chance of success. Mites do not have to be a part of daily life when it comes to keeping and even raising dubia roaches if you plan accordingly.
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