Roach Control in the Home

This article was originally published on March 1, 2010 and expired on May 30, 2010. It is provided here for archival purposes and may contain dated information.

Cockroach control is a problem that requires more than one approach. Sanitation, caulking and insecticide use are the important parts of good roach control.

German cockroaches are the most common roaches that are indoor pests. The adults are small, about an inch long, tan, with long antennae and legs. They have two dark stripes on the back between the head and wings. These roaches live primarily in the kitchen, dining room and any other area where food is prepared or served.

Without proper sanitation practices, such as storing food in insect-proof containers, washing dirty dishes, keeping floors and counters clean of crumbs of food and not leaving pet food out overnight, the roaches will have a steady supply of food easily available to them, and their numbers will increase despite insecticide use.

Caulking cracks and crevices, particularly in food preparation areas, removes hiding places for the roaches—making them more likely to crawl into an area that has been sprayed with insecticide. Caulking these cracks and crevices also eliminates places where food might collect in hard-to-clean areas. If you live in an apartment, caulk around water and drain pipes where they come into the apartment in order to reduce the entrance of roaches from other apartments.

Since it is almost impossible to starve a roach to death, monthly use of an insecticide recommended by your local Extension office may also be needed. Spray the insecticide into cracks and crevices along baseboards and around cabinets, appliances and pipes where they enter the apartment. Since the cockroaches are hungry and have few places to hide, thanks to your sanitation and caulking, the insecticide will be much more effective. Make sure to read and follow the directions on the label. Keep insecticide applications away from pets and children.

Improper control of cockroaches is usually due to any or all of the above procedures not being followed. In an apartment building, the refusal of one tenant to fully cooperate in a control program may result in his apartment being a source of re-infestation for the entire building.

Pull date: May 30, 2010