Cockroaches are one of the oldest and most common pests found living in our homes, schools, restaurants, grocery stores, and other indoor spaces. They also are considered one of the most dangerous to human health. Cockroaches contaminate food, transmit disease and bacteria, and cause allergic reactions including asthma attacks. Spray pesticides used to kill cockroaches also cause serious health problems and more importantly, don't work. You can get rid of cockroaches using a safe and effective plan called Integrated Pest Management, or IPM. You will find below the main steps of an IPM plan for cockroaches.
Before: What you need to Know
- Cockroaches need food, water, and shelter to survive. Once they find these things, they leave "scent trails" to attract others.
- In Illinois, the three most common cockroaches are the American, German and Oriental (a.k.a. water bug). While treatment is generally the same for all cockroaches, it is necessary to know which type you have in order to be more effective.
- Cockroaches are common in basements, bathrooms, and kitchens. They prefer warm, humid areas and tight spaces (like cracks).
- Cockroaches are strong and tough to get rid of. They reproduce fast and are very good at hiding. Often you don’t know there is a problem until it’s a big problem!
- Cockroaches usually come out to eat or drink at night; this is when you are most likely to see them.