Pest guide: cockroaches
CockroachControl.
Roaches hide all day and come out at night, so by the time you see one, there are usually more. They breed fast and shrug off store-bought sprays. We find where they are hiding and keep after them until they are gone.
Know your enemy
The cockroaches you'll seeOut West.
German cockroach
Small and tan, with two dark stripes behind the head. The kitchen roach. Lives near sinks, dishwashers, fridges and stoves, and breeds indoors.
American cockroach
Big and reddish brown, up to two inches long. Lives in sewers and drains and comes up into garages, basements and bathrooms.
Oriental cockroach
Dark brown to black, about an inch long, sometimes called a "water bug." Likes cool, damp spots like crawl spaces, drains and water meter boxes.
Turkestan cockroach
An invasive roach spreading across Southern California and the Central Valley. Lives outside in meter boxes, cracks and leaf litter, and moves in during dry months.
Heads upCockroaches are more than gross. Their droppings, shed skins and bodies break down into dust that can trigger allergies and asthma, especially in kids, and they can carry germs onto counters and dishes.
Why they move in
What brings themInside.
Cockroaches need food, warmth and water, and a kitchen or bathroom has all three. German cockroaches usually arrive by hitching a ride in grocery bags, cardboard boxes, or used furniture and appliances. The bigger outdoor roaches wander in from drains, sewers, meter boxes and damp crawl spaces, and in California many push indoors in late summer and fall looking for water during the driest months.
Inside all year long
The Redwood way
How we handleCockroaches.
Find the hot spots
We inspect kitchens, bathrooms, drains, garages and meter boxes and use monitoring traps to see exactly where roaches are living and how many there are.
Bait them out
We place professional baits in the cracks and gaps roaches hide in. Roaches eat the bait and share it in their hiding spots, which reaches the ones you never see.
Treat the hiding places
Wall voids, cracks and outdoor spots like meter boxes and drains get targeted treatments, and we point out the openings and leaks that should be sealed.
Follow up until they are gone
Roaches breed fast, so we come back, check the monitors, and keep treating until the numbers drop to zero.
Our promise: if they come back between scheduled visits, so do we, at no extra charge.
Get a free quoteYour part
What you can doBetween visits.
- Do not leave dirty dishes, food or pet food out overnight
- Store food in sealed containers and take the trash out often
- Fix leaky pipes and faucets and dry out sinks overnight
- Check grocery bags, boxes and second-hand appliances before bringing them in
- Clear leaf litter and debris from around the foundation and meter boxes
- Seal gaps around pipes and keep floor drains covered
Small habits. Fewer bad guys.
Straight answers
Cockroach questionsWe get a lot.
Does one roach mean I have an infestation?
Not always. A single big roach near a drain or in the garage in summer may just be an outdoor roach that wandered in. But small tan roaches with two stripes in the kitchen are German cockroaches, which breed indoors, and they need to be treated quickly.
Will a bug bomb get rid of them?
No. University of California experts advise against foggers: they mostly hit open surfaces while roaches hide deep in cracks and walls, and they can scatter roaches into new rooms. Baits placed where they hide work much better.
Are cockroaches a health problem?
Yes. They are a known trigger for allergies and asthma, especially in children, and they can carry germs onto food and surfaces.
How long does it take to get rid of them?
It depends on the type and how many there are. Light problems often clear up in a few weeks; heavier German cockroach problems need several visits, because new roaches keep hatching from egg cases.
Know your enemy
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