Get Rid of Cockroaches!

Do You Have Cockroaches?

Cockroaches generally like dark, humid places to hide. You might find them behind your stove, refrigerator or underneath electronic appliances on your kitchen counter. Roaches are very adept at hiding in cracks and crevices around your home. Roaches also multiple prolifically so by the time you notice their presence, there can be hundreds.

Cockroaches are typically nocturnal and normally only come out at night to avoid being seen. If you are seeing roaches during the day this could mean your problem is larger than you think. Seeing roaches during the day is a sign of overcrowding which forces the roaches to forage during the day.

Fecal spotting and cockroaches living in an electrical outlet.
Fecal spotting and cockroaches living in an electrical outlet.

Types of Cockroaches and Where You Might Find Them

In the San Francisco Bay Area we are typically dealing with 3 different species of cockroaches: the german roach, the oriental roach and the american roach.

You don't want cockroaches in your house because:

  • The German Roach – The german roach is approximately ½ inch long, light brown in color and prefers a warm, humid environment. These roaches are usually found in the kitchen and bathroom of a home.
  • The Oriental Roach – The oriental roach is larger than the german roach. These roaches are typically 1 to 1.5 inches long. They are black in color and prefer damp locations such as sewers, drains and under concrete slabs.
  • The American Roach – The american roach is the largest of the three local species. These roaches are 1.5 to 2 inches long and are brown in color. The American Roach also prefers cool, damp places such as sewers and drains.
On the left a german roach, and on the right is an american roach. Notice the size difference!
On the left a german roach, and on the right is an american roach. Notice the size difference!

Why You Don't Want Cockroaches in Your Home

Cockroaches secrete an oily liquid that has an offensive and sickening odor. The odor as well as the oily substance can get onto your dishes as well as on your food and clothing. Additionally, roaches produce a large amount of allergens, which include their feces, shed skins and body parts. These allergens can result in mild to severe rashes and other allergic reactions including but not limited to asthma attacks.

Cockroaches spread filth and contaminate our environment with a variety of human pathogens. They are known to carry Salmonella, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus and other bacteria which may cause diarrhea, dysentery, gastroenteritis, intestinal infections and urinary tract infections.

Furthermore roaches cause additional contamination by vomiting partially digested food material and continually defecating while eating. All this takes place inside your home, on your dishes, cookware and silverware.

Having cockroaches in your home creates a disgusting and unsanitary living environment for yourself and your family. Omega Termite and Pest Control can come to your aid immediately to eradicate this pest.

Dead roaches and empty egg capsules located underneath a refrigerator. This picture represents thousands of roaches!
Dead roaches and empty egg capsules located underneath a refrigerator. This picture represents thousands of roaches!
Smaller cockroach infestation

How to Get Rid of Cockroaches Fast and Effectively

Some of the keys to effective roach control are good sanitation, habitat reduction, and moisture control. Combining these with a surveillance, baiting program and crack & crevice sealing to reduce harborage sites can eliminate a roach problem.

Baiting programs can be very effective when used in conjunction with the other measures discussed above. Occupant participation and cooperation is critical in establishing control. The baiting process can be done while you are home and requires minimal preparation prior to the service. Omega’s technician will discuss and explain all aspects of the control program while at your residence.

Another method to get rid of cockroaches is the traditional liquid product application. This type of service is usually reserved for severe or heavy infestations. For this strategy to be most effective, occupants must prepare their home for the application. This includes clearing out cupboards in the kitchen and bathroom. While the customer prep work is more extensive for the liquid application, the results are a more efficient cockroach control.

The liquid application requires all people and pets to vacate the residence for 2-4 hours. Children less than 1 year of age and individuals with respiratory ailments will be required to stay out longer. The liquid product application can help reduce the roach population very quickly but long term control requires what we discussed earlier, good sanitation, habitat reduction and moisture control. Rest assured Omega has experienced, knowledgeable technicians to assist you with the toughest roach problems.

Monitor glue board with hundreds of roaches.
Monitor glue board with hundreds of roaches.

Omega, through our strong history of environmental stewardship and excellence in the pest management field, is one of only 3% of companies nationally that qualified as both QualityPro and GreenPro Certified. Being certified as QualityPro means the employees of Omega are held to a higher standard and are constantly on the cutting edge of the industry through training and education. Qualifying as GreenPro certified assures commercial and residential customers that Omega offers reduced risk, comprehensive, and effective pest control services with the environment in mind. With these certifications, customers can have the utmost confidence Omega will solve their pest problems in the most responsible manner. Click on our coupon below to take advantage of our special offer!

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Frequently Asked Questions: 

How do you get rid of roaches?

This is no simple task and could end up taking repeated treatments and time. There are multiple strategies to get rid of cockroaches including baits and liquid treatment methods. Click here for a more detailed explanation.

How to get rid of cockroaches naturally?

This can be done by using environmental controls, monitoring devices and applying a reduce risk, green product. Environmental controls consist of habitat reduction, moisture control, food control and sanitation.

How do you get rid of cockroaches in apartments?

This can be very difficult if the problem did not originate in your unit. You can follow all of the proper steps but if your neighbor’s unit is infested, your chances of success are greatly reduced. The first step is to involve your manager or owner. Next is a thorough inspection of all units to determine the extent of the infestation. Once the size of the infestation is determined, your pest control professional will determine the best course of action get rid of the cockroaches. It is essential that all tenants and management are on the same page as this will greatly increase the odds of successfully eradicating the roach infestation.

How to get rid of cockroaches in car?

We usually recommend first trying an over the counter "bug bomb".  A non-aerosol product is usually more successful. If the over the counter strategy doesn’t work, vehicles can be fumigated similar to a home.  A tarp is placed over the vehicle and a gas is inject inside. This is usually a 3 day process.