Tips to Control the American Cockroach

The American Cockroach like the German Cockroach are common Structural species that invade homes and building structures for example restaurants, bakeries, grocery stores, or any area where foods are prepared stored, and consumed.  Their activity can also be found around outdoor sanitation areas that are unkept, in the garden, moist shady areas such as hollow trees, mulches, wood piles, warm, damp places, drainage systems, basements, steam tunnels, sewers, beneath roof shingles, etc…

These indoor pests let off a foul odor known as oleic acid and it’s a stinky chemical that they use to communicate with each other that attracts more cockroaches. In the case of heavy infestation, this foul odor can reach cooking and dishware. 

Cockroaches have been known to be the carriers of viruses, molds, bacteria, and funguses, these roaches spread disease by their saliva, through their droppings, or by direct contact. Some of these diseases include Typhoid fever, Campylobacteriosis, Leprosy, Cholera, Salmonellosis, Gastroenteritis, Dysentery, etc…

How to Identify the American Cockroach

The adult American cock roach is reddish brown with a pale brown or yellow band around the edge of the pronotum. The males are larger than the females because their wings are 4-8 inches beyond the tip of the abdomen. Males and females have a pair of slender jointed cerci at the tip of the abdomen. The male cockroaches have cerci with 18 to 19 segments while the females’ cerci have 13 to 14 segments. The male American cockroaches have a pair of styli between the cerci while the females do not.

How Many Eggs Do the American Cockroach Produce

The female American Cockroach on and advantage produces one egg case a month for 10 months, laying 16 eggs per case, the female deposits the ootheca near a food source, sometimes gluing it to the surface with a secretion from her mouth. The egg case is brown when deposited and turns black in about 1-2 days. The egg case is about 8 mm long and 5 mm high, from egg to adult averages about 600 days, and the adult life span may be another 400 days. After 6-8 weeks the nymphs emerge from the egg case, the nymphs will not reach maturity until 6-12 months. On average the adult female lays 150 young in her lifetime.

12 Preventive Methods to Discourage American Cockroaches

Because of the danger and health issues the American cockroaches present it’s best to put control measures in place as soon as they are spotted or detected. The first is exclusion do some scouting and look for entry points where these roaches may have gained excess. Some of these entry points may include under doors, through torn door and window screens, cracks in the exterior wall, cracks in the foundation, attics, and openings in the wall where plumbing and electrical pipes run through, plumbing drains. Bundles of wood that are brought inside if you have a fireplace should be inspected because a roach/ roaches may get indoors this way, Boxes, containers, plant pots that are brought indoors, etc. are just a few entry points for German cockroaches.

1. Keep your home and kitchen clean at all times, especially of food particles, clean grease from the stove, and don’t allow dirty greasy dishes to remain in the kitchen sink. Wash them right away after use.

2. Repair broken or leaky water sources, roaches also seek out a water source,  if any indoor pipes are leaking water fix those pipes immediately to cut off all water sources. Remember to clean up all water spills, don’t allow standing water to remain in containers or on countertops and floor areas.

3. Trash cans should have a tightly fitted cover, indoor trash cans should be tightly sealed because the odor that comes from your trash can attracts roaches, and trash cans should have lids that are in good repair will discourage roach invasion.

4.  Make sure to keep tightly sealed containers and food packages, if dried foods are kept in packages make sure that the packages are not torn or have any holes, the packages should always remain tightly sealed.

5. Make sure that areas of the home where meals are prepared and consumed are clean of food particles, when cleaning your kitchen don’t only clean the top of the stove surface but get inside the stove and do some spring cleaning as well.

The stove top may be cleaned but one thing to keep in mind is that as foods are prepared particles will get inside of the stove so it’s good to, if possible lift up the stovetop and remove food particles that are found inside.

The oven should be clean as well, also clean alongside the back of the stove, don’t forget that food particles can get in areas alongside the refrigerator so check these areas also. Microwaves, toasters, and other appliances where foods are handled should be clean. Keep indoor areas clean and clear of clutter because roaches love clutter to use as a hiding place or haven. Don’t allow dirty greasy dishes to remain in the kitchen sink. Wash them right away after use.

6. Used furniture and appliances should be inspected before bringing them indoors because cockroaches may be hitchhiking and brought indoors this way.

7. Seal off all entry points, Caulk, and repair holes around doors, windows, water pipes, and baseboards. Place mesh screens over windows, floor drains, and vents. Seal any cracks or holes leading indoors with caulk or other sealants. Make sure that doors and windows fit securely inside the frames, to eliminate entry.

8. Remove rotten leaves from gutters and wells.

9. Place mesh screens over vents, windows, and floor drains.

10. For indoor pets don’t allow pet food to sit indoors overnight, for pets that are outdoors clean up any remaining food after your pet has eaten.

11. Keep the consumption of foods in one room and vacuum regularly to remove hidden food particles.

12. Because roaches and other indoor pests are attracted to moisture make sure that your tubs and sinks are kept dry when not in use.

Note: It is best to consider calling first a professional company to do the job for you.

Other Ways to Control the American Roach

Borax – For the use of minor problems mix borax and sugar.

Glue Traps – These boxes are sticky attracting and trapping roaches which is ideal for replacing chemicals in the home.

Contact Sprays – These will deliver a quick knockdown and are non-messy, contact sprays will kill roaches on contact and will flush roaches out of hiding places.

Hand Dusters – Apply insecticide dust in areas where roaches are seen for example underneath appliances such as washers and dryers, wall-out outlets, wall voids, and behind baseboards, cabinets, and cupboards.

Baits – If large cockroaches are entering your home from the artic these bates are ideal for crawl spaces.

Insecticide Granular for American roaches – Insecticide granular can be placed around the base of the house, and wherever outdoor mulches are placed.

Spray Mixture – Spray outdoors along the perimeter of the home in a wide band extending about 3 feet up the siding and 3 feet onto the lawn.  Pay close attention to door frames, windows, and other point of entry.

Residual Sprays – Residual sprays should be reapplied every month to every 3 months depending on how heavy the infestation is.

A great choice of insecticide that’s very effective is insect growth regulator (IGR),  this chemical disrupts and prevents the life cycle of insects in the eggs and larval stage from developing. In other words, IGR prevents insects from reaching adulthood which will cut off future generations.

Conclusion

The control of American roaches will take some work especially if the infestation is great but the good news is that an effective program will not only put roaches on the run but will eliminate them also. Why let these uninvited guests take over your home when you can strike back and enjoy a pest-free environment? Contact us and let us help you put a plan in place where roaches will not stand a chance as you take back your home.