Cockroach Extermination
| Scientific Name: | Blattella germanica |
|---|---|
| Color: | Light Brown with Dark Brown lines |
| Shape | Flattened Oval |
| Life Span | 200-300 eggs in lifespan, takes 3-4 months to be mature |
| Treatments | Spraying, Dusting , Applying Gel and Bait Station |
Cockroaches are eliminated with gel bait placed where they harbour — inside cabinet voids, behind and beneath appliances, and around plumbing penetrations — not by spraying open surfaces. German cockroaches spend almost their whole life in cracks and cross open floor only briefly, so surface sprays miss the population and can scatter it into neighbouring rooms or units.
Seeing one in daylight generally means the harbourage is already crowded, since they are nocturnal and stay hidden while space allows. An egg case holds roughly 30 to 40 eggs and is resistant to most treatments, so a second visit after the eggs hatch is normally required.
We can get rid of cockroaches by applying government approved chemicals.
For more details about cockroaches please visit Health Canada on cockroaches and UC IPM's cockroach guide.
Cockroach Extermination
German cockroaches are the species behind most infestations in Ontario homes and apartments. They are small — roughly 13 to 16 mm — light brown, with two dark stripes running down the shield behind the head. Unlike the larger species that occasionally wander in from outdoors, they live and breed inside year-round.
They spread between units through shared walls, plumbing chases and electrical voids, which is why treating one apartment in a multi-unit building often fails while the neighbouring units stay untreated. They also arrive in cardboard, second-hand appliances and grocery packaging.
Why Cockroaches Are Hard to Remove
A female German cockroach carries her egg case until shortly before it hatches, and the case shields the eggs from most treatments. That is the main reason a single visit rarely finishes the job: the eggs that survive hatch after the residual has degraded.
They also breed quickly and can survive weeks without food. Populations build resistance to actives that get used repeatedly, so rotating the mode of action matters more than the strength of any one product.
What Treatment Involves
Treatment targets harbourage rather than covering open surfaces:
- Inspection with a torch — hinge voids, the motor housings of fridges and dishwashers, under sinks, and around pipe penetrations.
- Gel bait placed into and beside those harbourages, as many small placements rather than a few large ones.
- Monitors, so activity can be measured between visits instead of guessed at.
- A follow-up visit timed for after the surviving eggs hatch.
Over-the-counter foggers and surface sprays usually make things worse. They are repellent, so they push cockroaches deeper into wall voids and out into neighbouring rooms without ever reaching the harbourage.
Preparation for Cockroach's Treatment By The Homeowner
1- Empty kitchen cupboards, washroom cupboards beneath the sink and the place where they are seen.
2- Kitchen counter top should be clean and clear. No dirty dishes.
3- Remove food, dishes, pots and cutlery from the kitchen and clear the cupboards and drawers.
4- Base boards in the kitchen and bath rooms should be accessible for spray.
5- Pull away stove and fridge from the wall and clean out behind stove and fridge.
6- Any person or pet will not stay inside the house during treatment. If you have fish aquarium, turn off the air pump and cover the top, after treatment leave the house vacant at least for 4 hours.
7- Alder Pest Control Inc. is not responsible for any pest damage to the structure and property before, during or after pest inspection or treatment or any contents within.
8- People and pets can only enter the treated indoors areas after the restricted-entry interval of 4 hours or advised by the pest control technician. Ventilate treated areas either by opening windows and doors or through use of air exchange/ventilation systems confirmed to be operational. Use fans where required to aid in the circulation of air. If you experience respiratory effects after additional ventilation, contact your health care professional.
9- Please do not leave your valuables unattended, Alder Pest Control Inc. is not responsible for any loss or damage.
