Nothing to Sing About: Cockroaches
Tara A. Spears
The tropical summer is famous for heat, humidity and bugs. The effects of the heat and humidity can be offset with air conditioning or by heading to higher elevations. But no matter where you are in Mexico, the rainy season brings an impressive diversity of tropical bugs lead by the ubiquitous cockroach. For those that come from places with hard winter freeze-without roaches- that meet the cockroach for the first time, it can be a bit of a shock.
The cockroach is probably the most reviled insect on the face of our planet. However, here in Mexico the cockroach has been celebrated in song and folk lore for centuries. Accepting life with La Cucaraca is a cultural reflection. Since the wise Mexican realized that they couldn’t get rid of them it makes sense to have roaches part of their traditions. What a very Mexican solution!
The cockroach loves to forage and eat at all hours. They also love to wander around discovering new shelter, food, and water sources. The number one concern of the cockroach is eating and finding water. The cockroaches’ kryptonite, so to speak, is its unavoidable urge to eat. They also love to be touched on all sides so they will hide in any crack and crevice they can fit in. The roaches also like to do most of their foraging in the night hours. Cockroaches can live anywhere from six to 24 months depending on the area they inhabit.
Cockroaches are filthy pests. They can spread disease and even cause asthma. Cockroaches can pick up germs on their legs and bodies as they crawl through decaying matter or sewage and then transfer these germs to food or onto food surfaces. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cockroaches are proven or suspected carriers of the organisms causing diarrhea, dysentery, cholera, leprosy, plague, typhoid fever and viral diseases such as poliomyelitis. Roaches are not good to have inside your house.
In the southern US large cockroaches are called Palmetto bugs, and elsewhere in the US they are often referred to as water bugs, most likely because they proliferate in city sewers. Roaches come into our homes in search of food and water. Finding one roach inside is basically like stumbling across the awful love child of a threesome gone wrong: an unlikely mix of a lobster, an armadillo and a creepy alien. As if this insect walking over your counters and tables isn’t repellant enough, the suckers also fly!
I find it a never ending cycle to try to eliminate the roaches inside. The nasty bugs will disappear following vigorous effort only to return in a few days after the chemicals fade. None-the-less, I repeat all of the following steps. For those that are seasonal residents, it is IMPOSSIBLE to keep them out of an empty space. Roaches love strutting in damp dark places and if your house is locked up the humidity builds up becoming nirvana (a perfect environment) for these obnoxious critters.
Cockroaches leave their droppings in the dark areas where they hide. Homeowners may find these droppings in basements, in pantries or behind appliances. Professional exterminators encourage people to help reduce cockroach populations by removing all food and unnecessary water sources, sealing all cracks and crevices, vacuuming and removing shelter sites like cardboard and paper.
DIY treatment to get rid roaches- share your beer. Sure you can reach for that can of roach poison but remember you and your pets are also breathing that stuff. There are several roach deterrents that are safer, non-toxic methods. Placing borax mixed with sugar or peanut butter on an empty lid will get results. Roaches do love beer. Recycle an empty container, such as a mayo jar, a plastic yogurt container, or a soda bottle. Save the lid for later. Coat the inner top 1 inch with Vaseline which will prevent the roaches from escaping. The next step is to put a slice of beer-soaked bread at the bottom. Place where you suspect there are roaches and leave overnight. You can then dispose of them however you see fit; I screw on the lid and place the entire container in my outside trash.
Who hasn’t heard the lively melody for the Spanish song, “La Cucaracha.” La Cucaracha is a Spanish folk song that became popular in Mexico between 1910-1920, during the Mexican Revolution. The origins of the song are unknown, but it was created for Victoriano Huerta, a Mexican military officer and 35th President of Mexico, known for having alcohol issues. One of my favorite English translations is kid friendly, as opposed to the adult political versions.
In the house nobody wants her
and they hunt her through the back door
so she goes after the music
and she’s dancing on the dance floor.
The little cockroach, the little cockroach,
all she wanted was to dance.
She doesn’t mind that
a leg is missing,
she would never miss the chance.
She won’t stay where they don’t want her,
there are better things to ask for.
Now the music seems to charm her
as she’s dancing on the dance floor.
As you enjoy your summer months, sing the Cucaracha song to yourself as you sip a margarita or Pacifico. Try not to think about the millions of cockroaches lurking in the jungle, your yard, inside your house. lo que será sera.
