How to Get Rid of Roaches?

Serving Atlanta Metro | Columbus | Augusta | Savannah

Cockroaches: just the word alone is likely to send someone running. Do you have cockroaches on your property? If the answer is “I’m not sure,” you may be in trouble, because if you’ve seen even one cockroach scuttling across your kitchen floor, you already have an invasion on your hands! Roach motels and sprays are only half the battle; it’s important to consult professionals about combating these repulsive pests. If you have cockroaches in your business or home, you need them gone ASAP—call Active Pest Control today!

What Type of Cockroach Do I Have?

Georgia is home to several types of cockroaches, each with unique characteristics. Identifying the type of roach in your home is the first step in developing an effective treatment plan.

American Cockroach

The American cockroach is one of the largest roaches found in Georgia, typically measuring between 1.5 and 2 inches. It is reddish-brown, with a distinctive yellowish figure-eight pattern on the back of its head. These roaches prefer warm, moist basements, crawl spaces, and drains.

Australian Cockroaches

Australian cockroaches, often confused with American cockroaches, are 1.5 inches long and have yellow markings on their thorax and wings. They prefer warm, humid environments like greenhouses and gardens but may enter homes seeking food and moisture, especially during cooler months or when their outdoor habitats are disturbed.

German Cockroaches

German cockroaches are much smaller than American roaches, usually only about 0.5 inches long. They are light brown with two dark, parallel stripes running down their backs. German roaches are notorious for infesting kitchens and bathrooms due to their attraction to food sources and moisture. They reproduce rapidly, making them a particularly challenging pest to eliminate.

Brown-Banded Cockroach

As their name suggests, brown-banded cockroaches have distinctive light brown bands across their wings. They are smaller than American roaches, about the same size as German roaches, and tend to prefer drier areas of your home, such as bedrooms and living rooms. They are often found hiding in higher locations, like shelves and cabinets.

Oriental Cockroach

Oriental cockroaches are dark brown or black and are often mistaken for beetles due to their shiny appearance. They are about 1 inch long and prefer cooler, damp environments, making them common in basements, around pipes, and under sinks.

Smokybrown Cockroach

Smokybrown cockroaches are similar in size to American cockroaches but are uniformly dark brown or mahogany. They are strong fliers usually found outdoors, but they will enter homes seeking food, water, and shelter, especially during the warmer months.

Surinam Cockroach

Surinam cockroaches are small, dark brown to black roaches that typically live outdoors in soil, mulch, and gardens. They prefer moist environments and can enter homes by hitching a ride on plants or soil. Often found in basements, greenhouses, and crawl spaces, they thrive in areas with high humidity and organic material.

What Attracts Cockroaches?

Cockroaches are resilient pests and are attracted to environments where they can easily access food, moisture, shelter, and warmth.

Food

Cockroaches are scavengers that will eat almost anything. They are attracted to food sources such as crumbs, grease, and leftover food. Pet food left out overnight is also a common attractant. Small particles of food that are not immediately visible, like crumbs under appliances or in cabinets, can be enough to draw these pests into your home.

Moisture

Cockroaches need water to survive, so they are naturally drawn to areas of your home with excess moisture. This includes kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and areas with leaky pipes or standing water. Moisture provides cockroaches with the water they need and creates ideal conditions for breeding and laying eggs.

Shelter

Cockroaches prefer to stay out of sight, hiding in small, dark places during the day and emerging to forage for food at night. Common hiding spots include cracks, crevices, baseboards, and behind appliances. Any clutter around your home can also provide ideal harborage for cockroaches.

Warmth

Cockroaches thrive in warm environments, often found near heat sources such as stoves, water heaters, and heating ducts. They are especially attracted to homes during colder months when outside temperatures drop, seeking warmth indoors.

How Do Cockroaches Enter Homes?

Cockroaches are resourceful creatures that can find multiple ways to enter your home. Understanding these entry points can help you secure your home against these pests.

Cracks & Crevices

Cockroaches can squeeze through tiny cracks and crevices in your home’s foundation, walls, and windows. They often enter through gaps in doorways, damaged weather stripping, or cracks in the exterior of your home. Once inside, they continue to explore, looking for food, water, and shelter.

Pipes

Pipes and plumbing systems provide cockroaches with direct access to your home. They can enter through drains, sink overflow holes, and gaps around pipes that are not appropriately sealed. Cockroaches can easily travel between different parts of your home through plumbing systems, making it difficult to control their movement.

Hitching a Ride (or Laying Eggs) on Household Items

Cockroaches are notorious hitchhikers. They can easily be transported into your home on grocery bags, boxes, furniture, and even luggage. Additionally, cockroaches may lay eggs on household items, which can then be unknowingly brought inside. Once inside, these eggs can hatch, leading to a full-blown infestation.

Cockroach Prevention Tips

Preventing a cockroach infestation is much easier than dealing with one. Taking proactive measures can make your home less inviting to these pests.

Cleanliness

Maintaining a clean home is one of the most effective ways to prevent cockroaches. Wipe down countertops regularly, sweep floors, and immediately clean up spills and crumbs. Don’t forget to clean under appliances and furniture, where food particles can accumulate unnoticed. Additionally, empty your trash cans frequently and make sure they have tight-fitting lids.

Food Storage

Proper food storage is essential in keeping cockroaches at bay. Store all food, including pet food, in airtight containers. Ensure that any opened packages are sealed tightly and that no crumbs or food residues are left behind. Regularly clean your pantry to remove any spilled food that could attract roaches.

Sealing

Sealing entry points is a critical step in cockroach prevention. Inspect your home for cracks or gaps around windows, doors, pipes, and vents. Use caulk to seal these crevices and install weather stripping where necessary. This will prevent cockroaches from entering your home, help eliminate drafts, and conserve energy.

Repellents

Various natural and chemical repellents are available to deter cockroaches. Essential oils like peppermint, eucalyptus, and lavender repel roaches when applied to areas where they may enter or hide. Diatomaceous earth and boric acid are also effective at killing cockroaches when applied to entry points or areas of activity. Our professional cockroach pest control experts can help manage the situation for more severe, challenging infestations.

Contact Us Today to Schedule a Comprehensive Cockroach Pest Control Consultation

Cockroaches are worse than simply skin-crawling–they’re carriers of bacteria and pathogens. Because they’ll go anywhere and eat anything, roaches can pick up diseases and pathogens from the darkest places, scattering these dangers throughout your building. A professional cockroach exterminator is your best bet for eliminating these disgusting pests. Active Pest Control uses Integrated Pest Management to get rid of cockroaches in the most efficient way possible. We’ll work with you to make sure your needs are taken care of, any problems are addressed, and we won’t stop working until the cockroaches are gone for good. Contact our cockroach exterminators today to treat and prevent your pest problems!

Back to Cockroach Exterminators, Control & Removal