German Cockroaches

The German cockroach is the most commonly-found cockroach species worldwide, making their homes out of restaurants, hotels, residential houses, and just about wherever else they can find food. They prefer warmer, humid environments and are found in kitchens and bathrooms. German roaches are usually introduced into a building by traveling in boxes, old appliances, and furniture. Once indoors, they survive on tiny portions of food, crumbs, grease, or dirty dishes left in the sink.

How to Identify the German Cockroach

A German cockroach can be easily recognized by its light-brown or tan coloring and two horizontal stripes behind its head. These roaches grow to lengths ranging from about 2/5 inch to 2/3 inch. Although they have wings, they rarely fly and prefer to run.

Some visible signs of a German cockroach infestation include:

empty egg cases
“pepper-like” cockroach droppings left on countertops or inside drawers
fecal staining, which may appear as dark spots or smears in the corners of rooms or along the tops of doors

How to Prevent German Cockroaches Indoors

If in a multi-unit building, these cockroaches can take advantage of the connected plumbing system and use it to travel between rooms and floors, creating a very complex roach infestation. They are scavengers and will feed on almost anything—including soap, toothpaste, and glue!

The best prevention tactic against German cockroaches is to practice proper sanitation habits. Maintain the cleanliness of your home or business by:

Wiping up spills as they happen
Picking up crumbs in the kitchen or other eating areas
Avoiding dirty dish pileups in the sink or on counters
Vacuuming often

The Dangers of German Cockroach Infestations

Infestations of German cockroaches are especially troublesome for sanitation reasons; they have been known to spread outbreaks of illness and cause allergic reactions. As they crawl through sewage and decaying matter, roaches pick up germs and bacteria on the spines of their legs and bodies, then carry them onto food or surfaces with which they come into contact. The German cockroach can carry and spread more than 30 kinds of bacteria as well as several types of parasitic worms and human pathogens. In addition, they have been studied for their effects on allergic reactions, specifically as it relates to asthma attacks in children.

Due to their unsanitary nature, the presence of cockroaches poses a particular threat to those in the food service industry or hospitality business. A German cockroach infestation means health code violations for your establishment and, in the worst case scenario, could force you to shut down until it’s resolved. That’s not to mention the lasting negative impression pests can leave on customers and, in turn, your entire brand reputation.

Schedule Your Free Inspection for German Roaches in Arizona

Whether in your home or workplace, pest infestations are invasive and concerning. Burns Pest Elimination is proud to serve the Peoria, Phoenix, Tucson, and Las Vegas metro areas, providing quality insect control services for multiple types of cockroaches and other pests. No matter if you are seeking preventive treatments or need a pest gone ASAP, Burns is here for you. Request your free pest control quote for German roaches today.

We offer roach control for German cockroaches in the following areas:

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