Cockroach Treatment and Pest Control in Arizona

Types of Cockroaches in Arizona

There are three main kinds of cockroaches in Arizona: German, sewer, and water. Here are some details you need to know about these creepy-crawlies:

1. German Roaches

This is the smallest cockroach species in the state, which rarely gets bigger than ½ inch in length. They are commonly found inside homes, especially in the kitchen. German cockroaches are light brown and have two black stripes behind their head. While German cockroaches have a set of wings, they rarely use them and prefer to run around.

German roaches come into our homes when we unwittingly bring them in through bags and boxes of food that they have made their way into. The roaches will then make their homes in places where food is prominent. They can feed on a wide variety of food items, including soap, toothpaste, and even glue. They’re able to eat pretty much anything, so, along with their ability to reproduce and multiply quickly, they can be hard to eliminate.

They can even travel through plumbing lines. You’ll be able to tell if you have an infestation in your home once you see their pepper-sized droppings, smell an unpleasant musty odor, and find their egg capsules. When this happens, it’s imperative to rid your home of them since they can carry a wide range of pathogens such as typhus, salmonella, and E. coli.

2. Sewer Roaches

Also known as a sewer roach, the Oriental cockroach is around 1 inch in length and is highly water-dependent. Because of this, they can be found in the wettest areas of the house and will often come out of plumbing lines to get inside homes. They are also known to breed in the sewers, hence their name.

These cockroaches will usually have a dark brown or a shiny black color and aren’t able to fly, even though the males have short wings. The Oriental cockroach will usually feed on decaying things such as trash and other rotting items. Because of this, they are known as the dirtiest cockroaches and will produce a musty smell, much like German roaches.

Sewer roaches feed on rotting and decaying matter, so they can carry viruses and bacteria. The best way to kill them is by using boric acid, which works by attacking the cockroaches’ nervous system and dehydrating their bodies. Be sure to sprinkle small amounts around furniture and appliances to effectively get rid of them.

3. Water Roaches

American cockroaches are often referred to as water bugs; however, water bugs are different insects. The American cockroach is the biggest species of all cockroaches in Arizona and can grow to be more than 2 inches. These can often be distinguished by their reddish-brown color which gets deeper as they get older.

They will usually enter homes by squeezing under house and garage doors. Once inside, they will look for a source of food and water such as the kitchen, where they’ll look for crumbs and scavenge on exposed food, like pet food. They may also seek the bathroom where there are dark and grimy areas.

In these places, they can thrive on moisture, as well as organic decay. These roaches have wings, and when you combine this with their large size, speed, and their tendency to fly, they can be quite scary to confront. While they are more resistant to the desert weather, the American cockroach still prefers moist areas where they can feed and breed.

These cockroaches probably came from outside, so be sure to look for nests, along with entry points into your home. Examine the dark corners of your home that you never visit. Be sure to look for gaps around doors, windows, and pipes that come into your home from the outside.

Once you know where the cockroaches are living, be sure to use pesticides. This will work to expose their natural behavior — even though we see them as filthy and disgusting, they actually groom themselves regularly, which will then lead to their extermination.

Cockroach Pest Control: How to Get Rid of Cockroaches in Arizona

Everyone would probably agree that cockroaches are one of the most hated bugs in the world, particularly because of how hard it can be to get rid of them. Unfortunately, the warm climate in Arizona only encourages them to thrive. Fortunately, there are a few types of treatments that you can try for yourself; here are a few solutions, according to the kind of cockroach you have:

If you have an infestation of German cockroaches, try a combination of these methods:

1. Prevent them from coming into your home: These roaches carry bacteria and viruses, and produce foul-smelling secretions, so it’s important to stop them from ever taking a step into your home. Here are a few things you can do ahead of time:
   • • Create a bug barrier that can kill both existing roaches while preventing new ones from coming in. There are various insect barriers available for this.
     • Store your food and pet food inside air-tight containers or in the fridge.
     • Wash and dry your dishes.
     • Repair leaky pipes, drains, and sinks to get rid of water sources.
     • Make a habit of decluttering your home.
     • Caulk and seal crevices, cracks, and other small openings around your home.
     • Never leave food waste, trash, and other garbage uncovered for too long.
     • Wipe up spills and crumbs from countertops, shelves, cabinets, and floors.
2. Bait them: A carefully crafted mix of water, food, and insecticide is a good way to kill existing roaches in your home.
3. Spray them: A strong insect killer will be able to kill roaches on contact so they won’t be able to run and hide.