German Cockroaches These small roaches (adults grow to between ½ and 5/8^th of an inch in length) are light brown or tan in color, and although mature German roaches don’t have stripes, you may identify them by the two dark parallel lines that run from the back of their head to their wings. Like American roaches, these pests have fully developed wings but do not fly.

Oriental CockroachesGrowing to about an inch in length, Oriental cockroaches have smooth bodies that have a “greasy” sheen to them.  Females of this species have wide bodies and do not have fully developed wings. Males have narrower bodies and have wings that cover ¾ of their abdomens. Neither are capable of flight. Though not a physical description, it should be noted that Oriental roaches emit a very powerful, musty, foul smelling odor. They are typically an outdoor roach associated with moisture.  Don’t usually set up inside houses.

 

 

Cockroach Prevention Tips

• Trash management plays a big role in cockroach prevention. Before those cockroaches come into your restaurant, they come up close to your exterior walls. If you have open trash cans or a dumpster near your business, it should be moved away from your perimeter. It is also important to remove trash from inside the restaurant every day before closing and remove trash from your property each week. The smell of trash can lure cockroaches from quite a distance. And, when cockroaches come near your walls, they’re going to search for a way to get in.
• Reducing attractants is the first step in roach prevention.
• While the removal of trash is key, it is also important to keep trash receptacles clean. Routine cleaning can make a big difference in cockroach populations.
• Make sure all food is stored and protected before closing.
• Make sure everything is clean before closing. Cockroaches prefer bacteria-laden environments.
• Inspect exterior walls and fill any potential entry points. It won’t matter how much you do to exterminate cockroaches that get in if they continue to get in.
• Partner with a commercial pest control company for assistance with Integrated Pest Management. Cockroach control is extremely difficult, or impossible, without an education in pest control protocols.

Cockroach Control

Good cleanup and sanitation practices are essential to effective cockroach control. When food or water is scarce, cockroaches must search farther each night to survive. Good sanitation puts stress on cockroach populations and increases the effectiveness of baits and other insecticides.

Vacuums. Vacuum cleaners can be useful in removing both cockroaches and their food sources under stoves and behind refrigerators.

Baits. A food mixed with an insecticide, baits are among the most effective insecticides for controlling cockroaches in homes. Cockroaches feed on the bait and return to their hiding places to die.

Dusts. Some insecticides are available in a dust form that can be applied into wall voids that are difficult to treat with other forms of insecticides. Dusts also can be transferred easily from one treated insect to another during contact in harborage areas