German cockroaches are, without a doubt, the perfect domestic pest insect. Like our domestic pets, our domestic pests have adapted to living with people and in our dwellings. And they’re good at what they do. German cockroaches eat what we eat, they like the comfort of our homes and the fact that we keep our houses warm in winter (see Why Cockroaches Are Year-Round Pests).

Unlike many other insects that sometimes end up in homes, German cockroaches don’t have another life outdoors. They are completely adapted to living indoors and have no interest in escaping to the outside. There are predators outside after all, it’s rough living on the streets and it’s pretty cushy inside.

There are many different species of cockroaches and even many different species of cockroaches that can become indoor pests, but almost all of them can, and do, survive outdoors as well. Not the German cockroach.

VACANCY! Free heat, Free TV, and Midnight Snacks

Besides providing cockroaches with food, we also supply free lodging inside all of our collected “stuff,” and simply in the abundance of cracks and crevices that exist in a standard home. German cockroaches spend most of their lives hidden in protected places, especially during daytime.

A German cockroach’s favorite hidey hole is inside a narrow crevice with its antennae extended out. Typical “prime” locations are the cracks between cabinets and walls, the flange under the kitchen sink, and the space between door corners and jambs. Because cockroaches like to crowd together, for every cockroach in view in daytime, hundreds can be hidden in sites like these or inside wall and ceiling voids, behind cabinets, inside appliances, and the like. You can pinpoint their favorite group hideouts by the fecal spots that they leave behind on surfaces. Those fecal spots contain pheromones that attract other cockroaches to the site (See Cockroach Fecal Spots Attract Other Roaches).

It’s Time to Serve the Eviction Notice!

So what can we do about our freeloading little friends? To effectively get rid of cockroaches in a home requires a multi-pronged approach, also known as an IPM approach. Integrated Pest Management incorporates nonchemical control methods such as sanitation, pest-proofing (sealing openings), trapping, along with baiting and other insecticides if needed. If you live in multi-unit housing, the IPM program must also incorporate both resident and management education and cooperation.

With help, you can get rid of domestic cockroaches but don’t expect them to go peacefully. You need a pest control company that knows their habits and knows how to eliminate cockroaches with the least amount of disruption for you and your family. If you have a cockroach problem in your home and you’re wondering if they are German cockroaches…they almost certainly are. Call Colonial Pest today.

Photo Credit : Sarah Camp | BY ND