Does One Cockroach Mean an Infestation?

If you found a cockroach in your home or place of work, you can assume that there are several more nearby. Cockroaches usually come in large numbers, and they reproduce very quickly. These are nocturnal insects that also hide very well, so you may not have noticed them right away. Cockroaches are sneaky, hardy pests that are notoriously difficult to get rid of. If you are currently dealing with a cockroach problem, start pest-proofing your space and reach out to a professional pest remover for help. The longer you wait, the worse the problem will get.

Cockroaches are omnivorous scavengers that feed on all kinds of things. They like sweets, meats, and starches, but also consume things like glue, leather, waste, and decaying matter. They’ll even feed on each other. The most common species in Ontario is the German cockroach, which appears shiny and brown, with two parallel black stripes on its back. German cockroaches measure up to 16mm in length and are usually found in humid areas, such as kitchens, basements, and bathrooms. The average cockroach lives for 7 months. Females reach sexual maturity at roughly 50 days of age and can produce as many as 350 eggs in their lifetime.

If you want to get rid of cockroaches, start by cleaning up the infested room. Reduce as much clutter as you can and clean thoroughly. Cockroaches love having places to hide. Clean the insides of your cupboards and appliances. Get in the habit of vacuuming on a regular basis and take out the garbage every night. Store food in sealed containers and avoid leaving any dirty dishes out. If you can, stop leaving pet food out overnight. Fix leaky faucets to reduce the amount of moisture in the air. Check that your bathroom fan is working properly.

Once you have tidied up and implemented a thorough cleaning regimen, seal up every crack and crevice you find. Get an expanding foam or silicone caulking from the hardware store, then examine the infested area thoroughly. Seal the gaps you find in and around the walls, baseboards, cupboards, power outlets, and window frames. Close the gaps surrounding your plumbing. This will eliminate hiding spots and help stop the movement of cockroaches from one room to the next.

The final step is to hire a cockroach remover. Cockroaches unfortunately require professional intervention because they resist store-bought pesticides. Professionals use high quality, powerful insecticides that are regularly updated to meet cockroach resistances. They can inspect your property, find where the insects are coming from, then get rid of them for good. Professional pesticides reach deep in cockroach hiding spots, drawing them out and eliminating them on the spot. Cockroach problems will quickly get out of hand. Do everything you can now to get rid of them, then call a professional for help.