Home remedies, concoctions, comforts & cures ...

This is nothing but coffee grounds and a little bit of water, that's all that's in there, that's what Jim Snyder said to do, so this is a fantastic idea. I'm not a bug collector, but I'm happy to have them here rather than coming through my door into the house.

Folklore includes numerous claims that catnip and osage orange are repellent to insects and spiders. Results presented at the American Chemical Society National Meeting in New Orleans, LA, August 22-26, show that when given a choice between a surface treated with these plant oils and an untreated surface, German cockroaches spent much more time on the untreated surface. Graduate research assistant Chris Peterson observed the responses of the cockroaches. He said that "the roaches will venture onto the treated surface, stop, turn around and walk off onto the untreated surface."

BIG, ugly cockroaches are invading Melbourne. The black bugs are breeding in suburban gardens thanks to the growing use of mulch to save water.

But before you panic, that intruder in your kitchen sink, bathroom or barbecue is probably a harmless native attracted to light or hunting moisture.

Pest controllers and Museum Victoria are reporting more roach sightings from freaked-out residents fearing their houses need fumigation.

But, unlike the nasty little German roaches that thrive on filth and food scraps, hide in the dark and carry disease, the common shining cockroach munches on organic matter and breaks down leaf litter.

Museum Victoria entomology expert Simon Hinkley said the large critters were migrating from the bush to suburbia and the CBD's edge as mulch was dumped on gardens.

"These ones seem quite stupid and don't run when they see you," Mr Hinkley said. "They are not as cluey as the pests that use the cover of darkness.

"If you can, try to return the natives outside rather than killing them because they help return nutrients to soil."