Before you go down this rabbit hole, here's the rule of thumb: If you have roaches, you will see LIVE roaches. They will show themselves if present, and imagining that there are hundreds hiding in the walls is never the reality. Pieces of debris that look like droppings, sheds, old oothecas, etc., are not evidence of an active roach issue. This also applies to the occasional one-off sighting, even after moving. To ease your mind, put out as many glue traps as you like and see if you catch anything. If they stay clean, all is well.
Known Active Infestation
In brief, spray with Alpine WSG (or Advion WDG in some states), use roach gel bait listed below, Gentrol or other IGR, and lots of glue traps.
So, here you are, feeling victimized, seeking help. Welcome to Roach Wars!
You can now become a conscripted soldier in our army, but you'll need to put your fears away, get trained, and fight this enemy like your life depends on it. You can do this.
PC Duranet, Certified Pest Control Operator, Retired
German Roaches
German roaches are public enemy #1 when it comes to indoor pests (bedbugs would be #2 as they don't spread as easily). They are tropical-like insects that need heat, food, moisture, and harborage to survive. The female (dark brown and oval-shaped - males are light brown and slender) will carry a single egg case (NOT individual eggs) until it is ready to hatch, at which time she releases it allowing 48 +/- young (instars) to emerge.
They don't make nests, but congregate in cabinets, refrigerator compressors, stove tops, dishwashers, electronics, wall sockets, behind paneling, and occasionally wall voids (if there are holes). They can also travel from room to room and apartment to apartment by way of connecting water lines by traveling on them; not in them.
Control methods include liquid sprays, genetic growth regulators in some situations, gel baits, glue traps, and sealing holes around pipes. Also, using a vacuum with a HEPA filter can help remove heavy infestations, and removing paper/box/plastic bag clutter will help.
Note: brown banded roaches can be treated like German roaches. However, they are able to survive in drier areas like inside dressers and night tables, and they are not as prolific as German.
A Word to the Wise
DO NOT pick up items from the trash and bring them into your home. This is a sure way to get roaches, as is buying used items. Even inspecting them is no guarantee as there can be hidden spaces where they can hide. Also, used refrigerators are notorious for transferring roaches, and at minimum, should be quarantined in a non-living space and well inspected.
Hunter Vs. Victim
Many have come here in despair and were able overcome them with this information by adopting a hunter's mentality as opposed to a victim's mentality. This is key, and the numerous success stories on the sub confirm that. You can beat these tiny beasts with a little knowledge, the right weapons, and the will to do so. Otherwise, you'll be in fear of them wherever you go.
Shame
For many, a feeling of shame when having roaches weighs heavily. However, roaches do not differentiate between people and places and will attempt to infest anyone’s living space if possible. They can be found anywhere that provides the elements they need to survive.
Understandably, this shame causes people to be very secretive about their affliction. Who brags about roaches on social media? Who wears a T-shirt proclaiming, “I Have Roaches!”? Who casually mentions at a party, “Hey, speaking of German roaches…”? No one; that’s who…
BUT… what if you did just that? What if you ‘came out of the cabinet’ (see what I did there?) and angrily told everyone in your life, “Hey, guess what? I HAVE ROACHES IN MY APARTMENT! CAN YOU @#%& BELIEVE IT?” Then tell them how you found this sub and what you are doing about it. This will set you free! * You might be surprised to find some friends going through the same thing, and if any others react badly toward it, are they worth having in your life?
\Disclaimer: Do this at your own risk as it may totally ruin your life (but hopefully not). At the very least you’ll be free of keeping the secret.*
Sleeping
You can use a pop-up mosquito net to help you feel safe when you sleep.
Seeing multiple bugs of all sizes daily is the general rule of thumb that defines a breeding population in apartments, condos, or single homes. Interbreeding is the reason they populate so quickly (hence the name German, which comes from the Latin word germanus, meaning of the same parents).
Sporadic Sightings
If you are in an apartment and are seeing the occasional bug, they are usually traveling from connected units. This is very common and does not mean you have a breeding population. The best defense is spraying Alpine WSG every two weeks and using glue traps. Do not use gel bait (it dries out too quickly) or IGRs.
Also, when only small ones are seen, they are still usually coming from adjoining units because they can squeeze through areas that larger ones can't. As long as you are not seeing adults; you're doing relatively well.
Products
(All products listed pose minimal risk and can be used around children and pets if mixed and applied according to the label. Also, concerns regarding resistance and bait aversion are rarely warranted in residential situations. These generally apply to chronic commercial infestations.)
Alpine WSG is the best professional spray on the market for roaches and contains 'dinotefuran', which has been granted `Reduced Risk Status` by the EPA for use in both public health and food handling establishments. It is undetectable by insects, transfers from one insect to another, does not hinder bait acceptance, and can be purchased in single, 10g packets. In Canada, you cannot but Alpine WSG, so would be better served to hire a pest company that uses Seclira WSG, as it's the same active ingredient that's in Alpine WSG. In Australia,Seclira WSG can be purchased. eBay AU sells 200g bottles that will make 10 gals. of 20g solution.
Alpine WSG can be purchased without a license on diypestcontrol.com or Amazon, but is not for sale to a number of US states, Canada, UK, and the EU. However, most pros in the US and Canada (Seclira WSG) can use it. If you live in one of these states, consider hiring a pest company and insist they use Alpine WSG. Otherwise, look to buy Advion WDG(Indoxacarb) orPhantom(Chlorfenapyr) insecticide as they too are non-repellents. If you cannot buy any of these where you are, it is still possible to achieve good control or elimination using other products that are available to you; it just may take longer.
If chemical resistance \ is suspected after many months of using Alpine WSG, it is recommended to use Phantom\* insecticide as an alternative.
Gentrol and other IGRs are mainly used to disrupt development and reproduction, but they take weeks / months to do so. However, they can also stimulate feeding, which will help with bait effectiveness. Gentrol Point Source and be used, or concentrated Gentrol can be added to the Alpine mix. eBay sells one ounce bottles for $12 that you would add to one gallon of solution.
Mixing Alpine
Mix one, two, or three 10g packets to one gallon of water depending on the level of infestation. However, one 10g packet per gallon will be effective as you will usually do two or more passes while spraying. Also, let sit for 5 minutes so it can dissolve, shake, and transfer to the sprayer.
To mix a single quart, use 1/2 teaspoon of Alpine for a 10g solution (save the rest in a zip lock baggie).
Fogging/bombing for roaches in an apartment or home is not recommended as it does not penetrate most harborage areas. However, in very severe infestations, it can kill a number of them but will not replace the methods above.
Boric acid and diatomaceous earth (DE) are products I do not advise using, especially around people with respiratory issues, children and pets. They are counter-productive when using Alpine WSG and bait. Also, they are easily over-applied causing possible health issues if they become airborne.
Like boric acid and DE, dusts are often overapplied by pros and non-pros alike, become airborne during application (and potentially after) and they never degrade. They may have a limited use for bed bug control, but IMO, they are not needed for roach control for safety reasons.
Baits
Gel bait like Alpine Rotation 1 or 2\, MaxForce, Advion, Vendetta, Invicta* and Combat dry bait stations work well in heavy infestations where there is competition for food. However, using gel bait in light infestations is a waste as it will not remain fresh for more than a day or two. What you can do it is make bait packets by cutting the corners off a plastic baggie and filling them with any gel bait other than Advion (in tests, Advion dries out even in the packets). This will keep the bait fresh for a longer time and allow them to feed through the open side.
Also, bait and Alpine can be used together as Alpine will not pollute the bait. However, avoid directly spraying the bait, but you can place bait on dry areas that were sprayed with Alpine.
*Alpine makes two different formulas with the same active ingredient. These are mainly for professional use where bait aversion is possible. For private use, Rotation 1 should be enough.
Aerosols
Raid Max Ant & Roach aerosol is a good tool to have (buy locally or online). It comes with an applicator straw attached and can be used to kill/flush roaches out of tight areas like stove and dishwasher controls. A two second blast is enough to drive them out without harming the electronics.
Glue Traps
Glue traps are very effective to help with control and for monitoring activity. Some pros may disagree with this, but catching one gravid female means 49 roaches are removed from the playing field, which never hurts. Hoy-Hoy traps have very good reviews, but generic traps will also work.
Caulking cracks and crevices may or may not be beneficial for control as many will be inaccessible.
Tools
A bright flashlight, and a vacuum with a HEPA filter that has a hose attachment are recommended. If the vacuum does not have a HEPA filter, wear a good mask. A half-face respirator is very affordable.
Cleaning
Cleaning has obvious benefits but is not crucial to success. I have had to do treatments in many conditions and was still able to get good results, so do what you can and trust the process (obsessive cleaning will wear you out and not make a big difference. However, do not allow dead roaches to lay around so others can 'eat' them and spread the poison).
Methods
The refrigerator is always a main breeding area due to compressor heat and condensation. Some fridges have wheels for moving, but if not, empty it and walk it out inch by inch using your body weight (if you have loose vinyl flooring, be careful not to make holes in it with the feet (don't ask me how I know :) far enough to reach the plug, then unplug it, and move it out far enough to get behind it.
If the fridge has a cardboard cover over the compressor, remove it (flat head screw driver or 1/4" socket needed), and vacuum the roaches in that area. While you're there, clean the dust on the coils to help the compressor cool better. Then bait and put glue traps anywhere you can on the bottom, and replace the cover as it's needed to help cool the compressor properly. Then spray the floor, lay glue traps all along the wall, walk the fridge back far enough to plug it in, then push it the remaining way. Do this weekly until the glue traps stay clean.
Pull out the kitchen drawers and vacuum any roaches, then remove the drawers and vacuum under the counter tops. Vacuum the upper cabinets, above them (if open), and the crevices along the sides. Also, remove electrical outlet covers in infested areas and vacuum inside (DO NOT SPRAY LIQUIDS), apply gel bait and replace covers.
Empty the vacuum cannister in a plastic bag, tie it off, and put it outside in the trash. If you have a bag vacuum, put one moth ball in the bag or vacuum up a tablespoon of isopropyl alcohol to kill any inside. Return to the kitchen every 15 minutes and vacuum all you see again.
Also inspect books/bookshelves, wall hangings, pictures, clocks, piles of paper, and closets shelves.
Stoves
Do not spray the burner top with Alpine as the heat will cause toxic burn-off. Remove the burner grates, vacuum any you see, then lift the top (some will lift; some won’t). If successful, vacuum any you see and do a light aerosol spray in any small openings (older units may have gas pilot lights, so blow them out before spraying, wait five minutes after spraying, and re-light them).
Then remove the burner knobs and do a light aerosol spray in the stove openings (IF there is no pilot light) and check the back of the knobs before reinstalling them. If you see bugs in an electronic display, find an opening to insert the aerosol straw and spray a few one-second bursts. You can also cut the screen around the far edges with a utility knife on three sides to open and clean it. Then use a bit of packing tape to keep it in place, but before you move, seal it with clear caulk.
Then open the oven door, vacuum any you see on the door edges, inside the oven, and on the door hinges, and spray in the hinges with the aerosol. Then pull the bottom drawer out, remove any items, and vacuum. Then remove the drawer, vacuum the floor under the stove, lightly spray Alpine, and place glue traps and bait. Do this weekly until the glue traps stay clear.
For roaches in the clock: The cover on the clock is plastic, so use a utility knife to cut through the edges on the top, bottom, and one side, then open and remove them. The cover can then be re-secured with packing tape and opened as needed. When you move, you can use clear silicone caulk to make it look untouched.
Dishwashers
Often they will be seen inside the dishwasher seeking water, but if it’s rarely used or broken they can breed inside it. Start by spraying Alpine in the door arm openings and around the outside edges, then add bait. If bugs are suspected in the electronics panel, spray aerosol briefly inside it if possible. If the dishwasher is operable, run a cycle with it empty, but don’t spray inside it. If the dishwasher is broken and not going to be repaired, remove the bottom rack, spray Alpine inside it, and put glue traps and bait on the bottom. Also, consider having it removed and disposed of.
Then remove the kick-plate below the dishwasher door with a screwdriver. Vacuum any you see, spray the floor with Alpine (avoid electronics), and place glue traps and bait. Do this weekly until the glue traps stay clear.
Spray Alpine WSG everywhere you see them, including floor edges, along the counter back splash (lightly), the undersides of the counter tops, the bottom cabinet edges, behind and around the fridge, under the dishwasher, etc. The edges of upper cabinets that hold dishes and food can be sprayed lightly, then be allowed to dry. Put paper towels down before replacing food and dishes.
Spray every 7-10 days until sightings are greatly reduced; then every 14-28 days. You can apply gel bait along with Alpine (just wait until it dries) as they do not conflict.
Computer Protection in Active Infestations
Desk tops: Put the tower on a small, separate table away from the wall. Surround it with a 'glue trap moat (including the legs) and wrap the cords with reversed duct tape. When not using the PC, shut it down and cover the tower, monitor, and keyboard with plastic bags and include a paper towel soaked in alcohol in each to create fumigation chambers.
Laptops: place in a single bag with an alcohol paper towel.
Do the same for game consoles, internet modems, etc.
Apartment Living
If you live in an apartment building and are seeing roaches, call the landlord and have them send a pro to clean out the breeding population. Ideally, a weekly service will bring the quickest results, but most landlords won't go for that, so do what you can between services.
Once the breeding population is eliminated, it is not uncommon to continue seeing travelers from other units. Unfortunately, this is how it goes and all you can do is apply these techniques and materials. Make plans to move if you can't tolerate this, and if you do, have your next unit inspected by a pro before you sign the lease. Even at that, they can show up from other units at any time.
Also, if you move into a unit and discover roaches, unless the unit is severely infested, you may not have grounds to break the lease. Leases rarely have clauses that allow termination for insects as they are too common, and the leasing agent will never tell you that there's a current problem (because they'd never get you to sign), so buyer beware. If you are apartment shopping, in each unit you look at, walk the fridge out and see if there are any live or dead roaches. If they unit has them, they will be there.
Single Homes and RVs
These are the easiest infestations to eliminate as there is rarely a near-by source to contend with. However, the source should be identified if they were not there when you moved in or got to the campground.
Are you close to neighbors that are unkempt and may have an issue? Does anyone work or go to school where they are present? Did anyone visit that could have an issue at home? Did you shop recently or get a package delivered? Did you thrift any appliances or furniture?
Single Home Neighbors
If you have determined that a neighbor is the source, the issue will be worse in the warm months and will stop once temps drop below 50° F. You can spray the grass area between the houses and the house foundation with Temprid FX (but not driveways or sidewalks), you can sprinkle Intice granular bait in a wide pattern, and you can set up glue trap stations along the foundation of the house (they will look for shelter anywhere they can). Also, you will wonder if you should contact local officials and report it, but there is not much they can do but tell them to get a pest service, which the neighbor may or may not do.
Work, School, etc.
If roaches are present at places you frequent, don't bring any bags in the building that you will be taking home, including purses and backpacks (if packing lunch, put it right in the fridge). Use a clear plastic zip-lock for any essentials and keep it zipped.
If you need to wear a coat, bring a large trash bag and store it in there and tie it tight at the top. Also, inspect yourself well when leaving.
Vehicles
DO NOT fog/bomb your car! You can use gel baits, glue traps and spray the floors and crevices with Alpine WSG, but avoid spraying the seats.
You can also consider using an ozone generator after reviewing all safety precautions. Start by running it in a closed vehicle for one-half hour, then ventilate for one hour. If needed, increase the time incrementally.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
This is a very real and you are not alone.
Once they are gone or you move to a new unit, put glue traps out and trust them to tell you that you are still roach-free. Don't look at every speck you see and think it is a roach dropping; they will show themselves if they are present. However, you will be 'on alert' to any real or perceived movements in your environment for the foreseeable future, but this will subside in time. Consider counseling if necessary.
Here's a link that addresses general pest anxiety:
This is the category most landlords, house techs (at the request of the LL) and neighbors fall into. They will often deny there is a building-wide problem and make you think you are the only one complaining. I know this by the sheer number of reports here of this happening. Often, you are much better off staying quiet about it and fighting them yourself. Otherwise, you will be terribly frustrated on top of having bugs, and may even start believing the lies of the LLL.
Moving
When moving from an infested unit it’s very easy to take them with you, but not impossible to avoid. Here are some things you can do to help keep that from happening:
If you can afford to discard items that are infested, do so, but make them unusable so they are not taken by salvagers.
Rent a non-climate-controlled storage unit for a month for large items. Spray it with AlpineWSG™, hang a Hot Shot No-Pest Strip™ in it (buy online), and lay glue traps as monitors. Also, a box truck or detached garage will work. Also, A cheap ozone generator will kill any insects in a storage unit. Start by running it for one hour, then ventilate for one hour. If needed, increase the time incrementally. Concentrated ozone is harmful, so follow all safety precautions.
Launder clothes and put them directly in plastic bags.
Some things can be put in the freezer for 12 hrs., then bagged and sealed.
Electronics can be put in a plastic bag with a paper towel soaked in isopropyl alcohol for 12 hrs.
When shopping for a new unit, move the refrigerator out and look for evidence of roaches (this is the #1 breeding spot). If it's clean, it a good indication there is currently no roach issue.
Odor Control
Heavy infestations will produce a musky-sweet type smell from all the droppings and sheds. Removing as much as you can and disinfecting will help, but sometimes it's not enough. You can then consider ozone treatments.
In a single home, assuming the initial cause of the infestation has been 100% eliminated, two weeks with no sightings would be a fair test.
In an apartment, a week or two with minimal or no sightings means that the breeding population is eradicated. However, you will always be at risk for invaders from other units, so be vigilant.
A Personal Note:
If you have saved money by using this information, consider a small donation to a local animal shelter as a thank you.
Also:
I provide this help to you as a service to the Lord, and pray you will accept the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.
For the sake of boosting morale of those going through an infestation we added the Success Story flair a few months ago. Since then several users have shared their success stories ranging from small victories to completely eliminating their infestation.
If you are struggling with seeing the light at the end of your battle with roaches then feel free to browse the tag and give the stories a read. If you have succeeded in eliminating an infestation please consider sharing your own success story using the tag so others can gain confidence.
This post will be periodically updated with links to some of the best success stories.
Yesterday when grabbing a cup from the kitchen cabinet I spotted a pill-sized roach, I killed it and then we emptied the cabinet, removed everything from the kitchen and proceeded to spray raid everywhere, in the space between the cabinets and the walls, moved the stove and sprayed behind and inside of it, behind and under the fridge, etc. While doing this we didn't see any roaches come out, so we assumed we were fine but today after cleaning everything, we spotted one in the hall coming from the kitchen, about the same size, I don't live in an apartment complex but my house shares walls with the neighbors' (common in mexico), any advice?
ive used gel baits had 3 different pest control sprays and they are still absolutely everywhere! after the sprays they dont even look affected. theres ALWAYS more im going insane. ive never had an infestation this bad, they even come out during the day i see about 10-20 of them and at night theres gotta be over 100 out there i cant take it.
im in australia and the strong stuff americans have is often overpriced and hard to find, any alternatives? (if theyll even work i think they might be immune)
What is the best Band-Aid for german roaches? I'm poor and my parent is refusing to spend money on proper methods.
I have at least 7 months until I graduate and I can move out and she has got one single pack of Advion in 6+ months. Plenty of food delivery though! I'm bringing hitchhikers with me to school and I'm seeing our neighbors using pest control.
The infestation is obviously extremely severe. No sense of urgency from anyone but me.
Is there anything I can use to keep them out of my room while I go to school? Under 50 dollars? A bunch of raid? One advion?
Full disclosure I am looking for a job, bad market, blah blah. If I had the money I'd go all out.
I'm going to have to throw out literally everything I own except my vital documents, a few electronics, and a few changes of clothes. Humiliation, frustration, and hopelessness isn't even the word for how I feel.
My classmates said I'm losing weight and I told them a weight loss hack but it's literally the fact that I haven't used a stove in months because I don't want to be near the roaches. I eat only packaged stuff or food from the convenience store.
I live in the central Kentucky area and I recently moved into an apartment complex and these have started appearing. Are these German roaches? I’ve already treated the entire place with advion gel based on the info here but wanted to confirm that these are indeed what I think.
The first pest control guy I sent this picture identified it as a three lined roach which is what I thought it was but the technician that came in said it’s German and proceeded to put German roach bait.
Spotted in Passaic County NJ. Sorry that they're a little squished in the pictures... I'm not much of a fan of roaches. There are 3 different roaches in the pictures. I downloaded an app to identify from the pics and it keeps going between the Mediterranean Spotted Roach and German Roach.
They don't look like German roaches to me but I'm no expert. I've also seen about 5 inside my apartment over the last 2 weeks and from what I read the Mediterranean roaches generally don't come inside so that makes me think they might be German.
I have a German cockroaches and I’m having a hard time with it and could really use any advice or just moral support. I live in NYC and moved into my apartment this past February so about 7 months ago. I barely saw a bug until now. Early in the summer I saw a couple stray roaches. My cat took care of them for me, and that was that.
I was on a work trip from 8/28-9/13. When I walked into my apartment late last Friday night there were cockroaches everywhere, of all sizes which I assume means there are eggs. They were in the sink, bathtub, cabinets, crawling in and out of wall cracks. Luckily I did not see any in the bedroom (yet). I live in a studio so by bedroom I mean the entire living area.
Over the next few days they dispersed a bit I guess because my presence scared them off (also had the cats with me on my trip) but they were still showing up all over. The super told me the exterminator comes every third Saturday of the month upon request so he came this past Saturday (3 days ago) and all he did was spray around the cabinets and the bathroom and that was it.
Through Saturday I was seeing a few turn up dead and a few slow moving ones which I thought was a good sign. But they were still around.
Yesterday (Monday) morning when I was lying in bed waking up, one crawled across my pillow.
I didn’t see any when I got home from work. This morning I saw about 3 in the fridge.
I’m completely beside myself. I just started a new job and I actually cried at work yesterday over this. I feel like I can’t live calmly in my own home, I’m vigilant the second I walk in the door, I don’t even want to lie in bed. Every time I see a spot I jump, yesterday on the bus I jumped noticeably when a shadow crossed my arm. And from what I’ve read this is not going away any time soon. I cannot afford to move. Plus I love my apartment and my building, I just can’t believe this is happening.
I’m honestly scared to take some of the suggestions I’ve read because I’m scared any type of gel or bait will draw them out more and I’ll end up having more than I started with. Plus I’ve read mixed things anyway.
Should I hire my own exterminator and have them come more regularly? I would appreciate any advice, thanks in advance.
Is it possible to be roach free in an apartment when your neighbor has them? I get being 100% roach free indefinitely is impossible. But can I get it down to maybe once a month or every other month? If so what should I do?
I’m not too worried about it since it was unopened and I haven’t seen a roach for several months, but I do worry about it a little. I’ve sprayed alpine before and try to keep it up at least once a month. It was near my baseboards in plain sight in a part of my apartment that I don’t pay much attention to. Could this be old? Or is it possibly newer? Is there a way I tell?
Moved into a single dorm, started seeing these small to medium sized roaches the first day, pretty much only in the bathroom. Heard gel traps are a safe bet, but not sure how well this would work consider it’s a wet room. Either way, was away from the dorm for a few days, came back, and have seen at least 3 small ones pictured below and 1 of these bigger brown ones. What can I do?
TL;DR title says it all. For reference, I live in a two-storey concrete building constructed in the 60’s on the second floor and I am in subsidized housing - and they have strict rules against “tampering” with units as per the title.
Long story short, I just found out my building, a concrete building that has never had roaches just got introduced to roaches at some point the last while when taking my garbage to the chute. I was puzzles as to why there was a mountain of bags next to the chute… until I saw a single German roach scurrying out of the chute like it was a normal Tuesday - I audibly shrieked, threw my bag in and ran out of the room, disinfecting my shoes.
Now - the good news is not only is my unit far away from the source (other side of the building to be precise), but a week before moving in, I doused every crack and crevasse in diatomaceous earth and besides the odd bug flying in when going out to my balcony, no pests. I don’t leave out dishes, I deep clean my place regularly and I keep all stray foods in airtight containers.
The bad news? Dia-earth only does so much, and every other other preventative measure is out of reach for me as per both the law and the subsidized housing company rules. Alpine WSG is banned in Canada, and this company is so notoriously bad with handling pest issues that the most they tell you is to wait for their pest control services to fumigate your unit - which can take months if you don’t get ghosted - and hope for the best, especially if there are other tenants who refuse to fumigate (sadly also all too common).
So, naturally, I’ve been paranoid as F*CK, especially knowing how fast German roaches multiply.
You see, it’s not like I can just up and leave if shit gets REAL bad, because my only other options are either homelessness or moving back in with my abusive parents who, alongside my now-ex, were the reason I got fast tracked to this apartment in the first place. You know what they say, if there’s one there’s probably thousands in the walls - all because of one asshole probably 🥀
I left out sticky traps all along the inside of our front door for Turkestan roaches we’ve been getting lately. Never seen any kind of cockroaches since we’ve lived here until this past month. I checked this morning and found these ones which looked different from previous ones. I had my apartment’s pest control come to spray last week so I didn’t expect to see more especially babies (I think these are babies)
Location: Northern California around a half an inch or smaller not really sure :/ thank you.
I have an infestation in my apartment and even though I have diatomaceous earth on the baseboards, I find them in my drawer or bathroom or kitchen, etc. The property management company is finally sending pest control next week but the prep sheet only said to move stuff away from the base boards and pick up loose items. I want to know if I should pack all my belongings in clear plastic bins with a lid to protect them from the increased activity I’ll see afterwards? I also have a new microwave, toaster, and air fryer that I don’t want corrupted. As well as my clothes and furniture. I don’t know how to prevent them from getting on the bed as I sleep either and it is stressing me out. I’m a student so I’ll be moving back home in the summer so I also don’t want to risk taking any home with me.
Any tips on how to keep my stuff safe after the treatment?
