When you have a cockroach infestation, they can’t be gone soon enough. Cockroaches are a resilient and persistent pest that carries and transmits a number of diseases.

Cockroaches found in New Jersey are brown to black and sometimes reddish in color and have flat, oval bodies with spiny legs, stubby appendages at the base of the abdomen. They also have long, filamentous antennae.  They range in size from the 5/8th of an inch to 1 ½ inches.

Cockroaches can be carried into homes inside luggage, bags, boxes, furniture – really anything.  Prolific breeders, they can spread very quickly through multi-family dwellings via plumbing and electrical conduits and heating vents.  Cockroaches are attracted by food, clutter, garbage, yard debris, overgrown shrubbery, woodpiles and moist conditions.

General preventive measures against cockroach infestation include keeping all water and food stored away in sealed containers, using garbage cans with tight lids, frequent cleaning in the kitchen, and regular vacuuming. Any water leaks, such as dripping taps, should also be repaired. It is also helpful to seal off any entry points, such as holes around baseboards, between kitchen cabinets, pipes, doors, and windows with some steel wool or copper mesh and some cement, putty or silicone caulk. Because cockroaches typically are nocturnal, if you’ve seen one, you probably haven’t seen them all. The few cockroaches you see by day could mean they were likely forced out by overcrowding; a possible sign of severe infestation.

Cockroaches are better at hiding than you are at finding them, and their eggs are naturally protected from many over-the-counter insecticides. Without special equipment, materials and know-how, cockroach control can be a losing battle. If you believe that you have a cockroach infestation within your home, contact Buggin’ Us Pest Control to discuss inspection and extermination options.