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ChemicalCommon Household Pests

Chemical Control for Roaches, Silverfish, Crickets & Termites

TL;DR

For cockroaches, gel bait decisively beats spraying and fogging, and the data isn't subtle: a 2025 lab study found gel and liquid baits caused over 80% mortality in 14 days against home-collected German cockroach populations, while foggers failed to reduce cockroach numbers at all in a separate study. Silverfish, crickets, and earwigs respond to moisture control plus targeted baits or crack-and-crevice treatment. Eastern subterranean termites are the one pest in this group that's never a DIY chemical job — termiticide treatment is licensed-applicator work.

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NH License #782664Family-owned since 2017Updated Jul 2026

  • Gel bait vs. spray/fogger

    Gel and liquid baits caused >80% mortality in 14 days against home-collected German cockroaches

    Gordon et al., Journal of Economic Entomology, 2025.

  • Foggers failed outright

    Total-release foggers failed to reduce cockroach populations, while similarly priced gel baits caused significant declines

    DeVries & Schal, BMC Public Health, 2019.

  • Fogger residue

    Fogger use left kitchen surface pesticide residue ~603x higher than baseline

    DeVries & Schal, BMC Public Health, 2019.

  • Termites

    Not a DIY chemical target — termiticide treatments require a licensed applicator

    RSA 430 restricted-use framework; standard industry practice.

The honest verdict

Does this actually work?

HIGH for gel bait against cockroaches when placed correctly and left undisturbed; MODERATE for targeted/perimeter treatment of silverfish, crickets, and earwigs alongside moisture control; chemical DIY is INAPPROPRIATE for termites — licensed treatment only.

Situational

Evidence: A 2025 peer-reviewed study found gel and liquid baits caused >80% mortality within 14 days against home-collected German cockroach populations, while a 2019 study found foggers failed to reduce cockroach populations at all and left surface pesticide residue roughly 603x baseline. Termiticide application is licensed-applicator work industry-wide because misapplied barriers can fail to eliminate a colony while creating a false sense of resolution.

Works when

  • Gel bait is placed in harborage and left undisturbed, with no repellent spray nearby
  • Moisture is addressed alongside any silverfish or camel cricket treatment
  • Earwig treatment focuses on the exterior perimeter and moisture sources, not indoor broadcast spraying
  • Termite treatment is performed by a licensed applicator using a soil termiticide barrier or bait system

Fails when

  • A fogger/bug bomb is used instead of bait — documented to fail against cockroaches
  • Repellent spray is applied near an active bait station, contaminating it
  • A homeowner attempts DIY termiticide treatment, potentially masking rather than eliminating an active colony
  • One active ingredient is used indefinitely without rotation, allowing resistance to build
At a glance

Gel bait beats spray for the pest most people reach for a can over

How it works

Moderate DIY

Gel baits deliver a slow-acting active ingredient that roaches carry back to harborage and share, producing colony-level decline that sprays and foggers can't match. Crack-and-crevice treatments and perimeter granulars target silverfish, crickets, and earwigs at entry points and harborage rather than broadcasting across living spaces. Termiticide barriers and bait systems — licensed-applicator only — work below and around a structure's soil contact to intercept or eliminate a termite colony.

Vital stats

Time
1–2 weeks for gel bait to show results on cockroaches; ongoing monitoring for other pests in this group; termite treatment is a multi-step professional process
Best for
German, American, and Oriental cockroaches via gel bait; silverfish and camel crickets via moisture control plus targeted treatment; earwigs via exterior perimeter work; eastern subterranean termites via licensed liquid or bait-system treatment.
Cost
Low for consumer gel bait and crack-and-crevice products; free inspection / same-day service for termite inspection and treatment, which is always licensed work

This page covers the classic everyday indoor complaints: cockroaches (German, American, Oriental), silverfish, house and camel crickets, earwigs, thrips, and eastern subterranean termites. Cockroaches get the most attention, and the science is unusually clear-cut: a 2025 laboratory study (Gordon et al., Journal of Economic Entomology) found gel and liquid baits caused more than 80% mortality within 14 days against home-collected German cockroach populations. A separate study (DeVries & Schal, BMC Public Health, 2019) found total-release foggers "failed to reduce cockroach populations, whereas similarly priced gel baits caused significant declines" — and fogger use left kitchen surface pesticide residue roughly 603 times higher than baseline, without controlling the pest.

Silverfish, crickets, and earwigs are less studied but follow the same general logic: moisture control plus targeted baits or crack-and-crevice treatment outperforms broadcast spraying. Termites are the exception that proves the rule for this whole page — eastern subterranean termites are structural pests where a botched DIY chemical barrier can mask an active colony without stopping it, which is why termiticide work is licensed-applicator territory everywhere, not just in New Hampshire.

Step by step

How to do it

  1. Identify the specific pest

    Confirm whether you're dealing with cockroaches, silverfish, crickets, earwigs, thrips, or termites — each needs a distinct chemical approach, and termites in particular change everything about next steps.

    Caution: Signs that look like carpenter ant or termite damage should be confirmed before any DIY chemical attempt — treating the wrong pest wastes time while damage continues.

  2. For cockroaches, place gel bait in harborage

    Put gel bait in cracks, under appliances, and near food/water sources roaches actually use, following label-directed placement.

    Caution: Never spray a repellent product near an active bait station — it contaminates the bait and stops roaches from feeding on it.

  3. Leave bait undisturbed and rotate actives over time

    Give slow-acting gel bait time to work — results build over roughly two weeks — and rotate to a different active ingredient class if activity persists to manage resistance.

  4. Address moisture for silverfish and camel crickets

    Dehumidify basements and crawlspaces, then supplement with targeted baits or crack-and-crevice treatment at entry points.

    Tip: A moisture fix alone often resolves silverfish activity without any insecticide.

  5. Treat the exterior perimeter for earwigs

    Apply a labeled perimeter treatment where earwigs are entering, and fix mulch-against-foundation or gutter issues drawing them to the exterior wall.

    Caution: Indoor earwig sightings are usually incidental wanderers, not a breeding population indoors.

  6. Call a licensed applicator for any termite activity

    Don't attempt DIY chemical termite treatment. A licensed applicator inspects, confirms the species and extent, and applies a soil termiticide barrier or bait system correctly.

    Caution: A botched DIY barrier can fail to eliminate an active colony while creating a false sense that the problem is solved.

What you need

Tools & materials

  • Cockroach gel bait + applicator

    Colony-level cockroach control via harborage feeding

    The single most effective consumer tool for this group

  • Dehumidifier

    Remove the moisture silverfish and camel crickets need to thrive

    Often more effective than any spray alone

  • Crack-and-crevice applicator

    Targeted treatment at entry points and harborage for silverfish, crickets, earwigs

    More precise than broadcast spraying

  • Exterior perimeter sprayer

    Treat foundation entry points for earwigs and other wandering pests

    Pair with fixing mulch/gutter moisture sources

  • Sticky monitors

    Track activity and confirm treatment is working

    Useful for cockroaches, silverfish, and crickets alike

Products & actives

What to use — the label is the law

Product classes only — never a dosage. Always read and follow the product label.

Cockroach gel baits

Active class: Fipronil / indoxacarb / hydramethylnon / abamectin / dinotefuran class

Harborage placement for colony-level German, American, and Oriental cockroach control

Read and follow the label — the label is the law

Insect growth regulators (IGR)

Active class: Hydroprene / pyriproxyfen class

Disrupt roach development cycle alongside gel bait

Read and follow the label

Crack-and-crevice residuals

Active class: Pyrethroid class

Targeted treatment for silverfish, crickets, and earwig entry points

Read and follow the label; targeted application, not broadcast

Liquid soil termiticide / bait station systems

Restricted — licensed only

Active class: Varies by system; licensed-applicator products

Eastern subterranean termite colony elimination or barrier protection

Read and follow the label — licensed-applicator application only

Stay safe

Safety first

  • Children

    Caution

    Place gel baits and crack-and-crevice products out of reach; keep children away from active termiticide treatment areas until the licensed applicator confirms it's safe.

  • Pets

    Caution

    Keep pets away from bait placements and any treated perimeter until dry; check product labels for pet-specific cautions.

  • General

    High risk

    Foggers left kitchen surface pesticide residue roughly 603x baseline in one study without controlling cockroaches — avoid them entirely for this pest group (DeVries & Schal, 2019).

  • Waterways

    Caution

    Keep perimeter pyrethroid products away from ponds, streams, and storm drains.

  • Applicator

    Caution

    Termiticide application requires licensed-applicator PPE and training; this is not a consumer DIY category.

Avoid these

Common mistakes

Why this method fails in practice.

  • Reaching for a fogger or bug bomb instead of gel bait for cockroaches

  • Spraying a repellent product near an active bait station, contaminating it

  • Attempting DIY termiticide treatment, which can mask rather than eliminate an active colony

  • Broadcast-spraying an entire room for silverfish or earwigs instead of addressing moisture and entry points

  • Using the same bait active ingredient indefinitely without rotation, allowing resistance to build

New Hampshire context

Chemical control for common household pests in New Hampshire

Cockroaches, silverfish, crickets, and earwigs concentrate indoors as New Hampshire cools toward the first hard frost (Manchester ~Oct 19 at 50% probability, ~Oct 29 at 80%, per NOAA), seeking the same warmth and moisture that draws people inside. Eastern subterranean termites are active in New Hampshire's soil-contact structures during the warmer months and are one of the few pests on this entire hub where Anchor strongly recommends against any DIY chemical attempt — termiticide barriers and baiting systems require licensed application and, done wrong, can drive an active colony deeper into a structure rather than eliminating it. New Hampshire auto-classifies EPA restricted-use products as restricted-use (Pes 701.02), and treating property you don't own requires an NH commercial applicator license under RSA 430:33.

Peak season

Indoor activity concentrates in fall as temperatures drop toward the first hard frost

First-frost anchor: Manchester first hard frost ~Oct 19 (50%) / Oct 29 (80%) per NOAA 1991–2020

NH Rule Pes 701.02 auto-classifies EPA restricted-use products as restricted-use; RSA 430:33 requires licensing to treat property you don't own; termiticide application is licensed-applicator work.

Extension guidance for cockroaches mirrors the peer-reviewed findings here: bait-based IPM outperforms broadcast spraying and foggers.

This method targets

Pests this applies to

When to call a pro

General Pest Control with Anchor

Cockroaches, silverfish, crickets, and earwigs are largely DIY-manageable with the right targeted products. Termites are the clear exception — Anchor's licensed technicians (NH #782664, F1) handle inspection and termiticide treatment, since a DIY attempt on an active colony risks masking rather than solving the problem.

Call us when…

  • Any confirmed or suspected termite activity — mud tubes, discarded wings, hollow-sounding wood
  • Cockroach activity persists after correctly placed gel bait had time to work
  • Recurring silverfish or camel cricket activity despite moisture correction
  • Multi-unit or commercial-property infestations
  • You're unsure which pest you're dealing with

General Pest Control

free inspection; same-day service across southern and central New Hampshire.

Get a free inspectionLearn about the service

Keep them out

  • Fix moisture sources — dehumidify basements and correct grading/gutters
  • Seal cracks and entry points around the foundation and utility penetrations
  • Schedule a termite inspection before signs become visible structural damage
Common questions

Frequently asked

Sources & further reading(6)
  1. [1]
    Gordon, J.M. et al. — Efficacy of gel and liquid baits against German cockroach, Journal of Economic Entomology, 118(2), 2025

    >80% mortality within 14 days for gel/liquid baits against home-collected German cockroach populations

    academicverified 2026-07-13
  2. [2]
    DeVries, Z.C. & Schal, C. — Fogger vs. gel bait cockroach control study, BMC Public Health (2019)

    Foggers failed to reduce cockroach populations; ~603x baseline surface residue after fogger use

    academicverified 2026-07-13
  3. [3]
    EPA — Safety Precautions for Total Release Foggers

    Fogger limitations and hazards

    govverified 2026-07-13
  4. [4]
    University of Florida IFAS — Cockroach IPM / Insecticide Resistance

    Cockroach bait rotation and resistance management

    extensionverified 2026-07-13
  5. [5]
    UNH Cooperative Extension — Pesticide Licensing in New Hampshire

    RSA 430:33 licensing requirement

    extensionverified 2026-07-13
  6. [6]
    NH Pesticide Control Rules — Pes 700

    Pes 701.02 restricted-use auto-classification

    govverified 2026-07-13

Written & reviewed by

Verified

Daniel Brady

NH-Licensed Pesticide Applicator · License #782664 (NHDAMF, RSA 430)

Daniel Brady is the New Hampshire–licensed applicator behind Anchor Pest Services, a family-owned pest control company serving the Manchester area since 2017.

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Anchor Pest Services

When common household pests won't quit, we will.

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