Information

In our service area, there are four main species of economic concern, and they comprise the majority of complaints.

The most common indoor cockroach species is the German cockroach. This species thrives in warm, humid areas. They especially like kitches and bathrooms, but can be found anywhere. German cockroaches reproduce very quickly, so a small population can quickly become a major issue if not eliminated.

Another common species in our area is the American cockroach, the largest roach in the region. American roaches thrive at slightly higher temperatures than their German counterpart. They are typically confined to the basement and ground floors of a structure unless conditions are suitable at higher locations. American roaches reproduce at a slower rate than German rocahes, but can also escalate very quickly if left to their devices.

The third species of cockroach in our area, the Oriental cockroach, is often referred to as a water bug. They love environments like cellars, crawl spaces, pipe chases, or any other area that is cool and damp. Although Oriental roaches reproduce slowly compared to other species, their habits make them the dirtiest species. They feed on garbage, sewage, or other organic material and have a very pungent odor.

The final species commonly found indoors is the Brownbanded cockroach. These roaches are the only species common in the area that are competant fliers. They hide in high areas and prefer warm temperatures.

Prevention

The truth is that anyone can have roaches, and it is often NOT sanitation or cleanliness issues that started your problem in the first place. Often, roaches get in your building as “stowaways”, hiding in some object that was brought inside. However, there are sanitation measures that should be taken to ensure that any roach introduced will not be able to reproduce freely:

1. Food should be stored in insect-proof containers and never left out over night.
2. Wash dirty dishes as soon as you are done with them. Don't leave them in the sink.
3. Vacuum and sweep regularly to remove food crumbs and debris
4. Eliminate standing water in basements, crawlspaces, and around the foundation.
5. Install a ventilation system where condensation occurs
6. Take garbage out regularly.
7. Store garbage in sealed containers as far away from the structure as possible.
8. Wash garbage containers regularly.
9. Remove clutter, especially plastic bags and cardboard boxes, where cockroaches like to hide

Control

Tri-County uses an Integrated Pest Management solution to finally rid you of roach infestation. Low impact pesticides in the form of granules and powders are used as bait for the roaches. Many of these baits contain gene altering chemicals which affect the roaches on a genetic level. When foraging for food, the roaches bring these baits back to harborage areas where the rest are killed as well. The best part of this Integrated Pest Management system is that these types of chemicals are targeted specifically for roaches, meaning humans and other non-targets will not be effected.