To many people, the way cockroaches pop out of what seems to be nowhere is offputting and annoying.  

Much like ants, cockroaches have important ecological purposes. Because they tend to feed on decaying organic matter, that means their feces is chock full of nitrogen. That nitrogen is eventually used by soil and plants in a beneficiary manner. In other words, the environment definitely benefits from cockroach poop. They’ve also been known to clean up dead organisms, which helps the environment as well.

However, that does not mean that you should call for cockroach extermination if you see one too many in or around your home.

Allow Stomp Pest Control to Rid Your Home of Cockroaches

Regardless of your stance on cockroaches, it is safe to say that cockroaches and any other pests intruding into your home are an issue. Unless you don’t mind feeling anxiety each time you walk into your kitchen or grab some wood from your woodpile, it is safe to say that intruding cockroaches need to be dealt with by a professional. The more information our customers have about cockroach extermination in Raleigh and surrounding areas, the safer and better off we are.

Stomp Pest Control provides comprehensive cockroach control and extermination services in Raleigh and surrounding areas as part of our standard pest control packages. Contact us today at (919) 231-3292 to rid your home or business of cockroaches and other invasive insects.

Let’s take a look at a few of the roaches that inhabit North Carolina and how they can be prevented and treated.

  • American Cockroaches

    Cockroach Pest Control in raleigh

    • How big is an American cockroach? generally 1 1/4 – 2 1/8 inches long
    • What is the scientific name of American Cockroaches? Periplaneta americana (L.)
    • Commonly referred to as a water bug, Bombay canary, or palmetto bug
    • Is a palmetto bug the same as a cockroach? Yes.
    • Largest species of cockroach
    • Equipped with 6 legs, and no antenna
    • Oval-shaped
    • Found worldwide
    • Known to live up to one year or more
    • Reddish brown in color with a yellow band outlining their head area
    • Males and females are each equipped with wings and are able to fly short distances
    • Have been known to bite, but rarely do
    • Fast-moving and considered tough to catch
    • Leave behind distinct droppings that are blunt on the ends with side ridges, often mistaken for mouse droppings
    • Notorious for leaving egg capsules behind, often near their sources of food
    • Produce a pheromone that is often described as a ‘musty’ smell
    • Known to live primarily outdoors, they are commonly found near sewers and drains
    • During a food shortage or significant change in climate, these cockroaches have been known to move indoors
    • Females lay at least one egg capsule per week, consisting of approximately 16 eggs
    • Egg capsules are dark brown in color
    • Females lay anywhere from 10-90 egg capsules throughout their lifetime
    • Eggs hatch around 55 days after they’re laid
    •  Commonly used treatments include gel, granular bait, residual insecticides, and growth regulators

    American cockroaches are controlled by executing the following:

    • Removing leaf clutter, brush piles, and other landscaping materials from close vicinity of your home or building
    • Vacuuming as often as possible to lessen the chances of eggs hatching
    • Ensuring all gaps, crack, and openings are sealed around doors and windows
    • Ensuring all moisture-damaged wooden areas of your home or building are appropriately repaired
    • Maintaining clean gutters, downspouts of debris, and garbage cans  (it is recommended to keep your garbage can(s) at least 30 feet from your home or building
    • Ensuring  human and pets’ food areas are well-maintained
  • Oriental Cockroaches

    • How big is an Oriental cockroach? typically 1 inch long
    • What is the scientific name of Oriental Cockroaches? Blatta orientalis
    • Often referred to as waterbugs or black beetle cockroaches
    • Very dark brown or black in color
    • Equipped with 6 legs and 2 antennas
    • Females are slightly larger than males when grown
    • Both male and females have functionless wings
    • Oval-shaped
    • Glossy black in color
    • Commonly encountered in the Northern regions of the United States
    • Fast-moving and considered tough to catch
    • Resilient enough to survive outdoors during freezing temperatures for weeks at a time
    • Notorious for feeding on dirty and unsanitary food, such as decaying organic matter, which means they’re easily able to transport germs
    • Commonly found in sewage areas, in firewood piles, and in landscaped areas such as mulch and stone
    • Known to enter structures under glass sliding doors, along with utility pipes, and through floor drains
    • After entering homes or buildings, these cockroaches are almost always found in basements and crawl spaces
    • By practicing good sanitation, you’re likely able to avoid Oriental cockroaches altogether
  • Brownbanded Cockroaches

    • How big is a Brownbanded cockroach? typically 1/2 inch long
    • What is the scientific name of Brownbanded Cockroaches? Supella longipalpa
    • Equipped with two light brown bands across their bodies, which is where their name originates from
    • Vary in color from dark brown to tan
    • Equipped with 6 legs and 2 antennas
    • Oval-shaped
    • Have lifespans of roughly 200 days, give or take
    • Can be found throughout the United States
    • Males are equipped with wings that reach beyond their abdomen, and females have underdeveloped wings that prohibit them from flying
    • Tend to prefer dry locations and environments with temperatures over 80 degrees
    • Known to hide their egg cases in or around furniture
    • Tend to prefer higher areas when compared to other species of cockroaches, such as kitchen cabinets
    • Known to spread dozens of kinds of bacteria, as well as numerous parasitic worms and human pathogens
    • Known to trigger asthma attacks in children
  • German Cockroaches

    • Pest Control RaleighHow big is a German cockroach? typically 1/2-5/8″ long
    • What is the scientific name of German Cockroaches? Blattella germanica (Linnaeus)
    • Light brown to tan with two dark stripes located behind their heads
    • Equipped with 6 legs and 2 antennas
    • Considered prolific breeders, which can quickly become an issue for some people
    • Narrow-bodied with some of the longest antennas of all cockroach species
    • Oval-shaped
    • Known to fit through openings as small as 3/8″ wide
    • Can be found throughout the United States
    • Known to feed on household items such as hand soap, toothpaste, glue, and other household items
    • Known to travel in grocery bags, cardboard boxes, hats, etc.
    • Prefer humid and warm climates
    • In the household, most commonly found in kitchen environments and bathrooms
    • Known to implicate allergic outbreaks, cause allergic reactions, and worsen already-existing asthma attacks
    • Fast-moving and considered tough to catch
    • Notorious for picking up germs on the spines of their legs and bodies
  • Wood Cockroaches

    • Exterminator Raleigh How big is a wood roach? typically 3/4″-1.25″ long
    • What is the scientific name of Wood Cockroaches? Parcoblatta pensylvanica
    • Chesnut brown to dark brown in color, depending on their specific location
    • Males appear to be tan due to their wings being a lighter shade of brown compared to their bodies
    • Often referred to as ‘accidental invaders’
    • Oval-shaped
    • Equipped with 6 legs and 2 long antennas
    • Males have wings but rarely utilize them, while females are wingless and not commonly encountered
    • Insensitive to light and can often be seen during the day
    • Less skittish and unlikely to scurry away when approached
    • Known to wander around an entire house, as opposed to congregating in 1 or 2 areas like most other roach species
    • Native to North America
    • Typically live outside in moist woodland areas such as in mulch, woodpiles, decaying logs, and brush piles
    • Require a consistently moist environment, and will not survive long indoors or be able to breed indoors
    • Females have been known to deposit their egg capsules in fallen logs, near hard-to-reach brush piles, in the bark of fallen trees, and even inside tree stumps
    • Not known to infest homes, but have in rare occasions
    • Most commonly encountered inside homes during the spring season
    • Known to eat decaying organic matter such as leaf litter and rotting trees
    • By ensuring any firewood piles are regularly examined and well-maintained, you can lessen the chances of having to deal with Wood Cockroaches

The Stomp Difference

Many people assume that all Raleigh area roach pest control companies are the same.  This is not true.  Stomp Pest Control was created with the customer in mind. Find out more about what makes us different.

Top 5 Signs You Have a Cockroach Infestation

Besides visibly seeing cockroaches in your home, some warning signs could signal you have pests lurking around before you actually see one.

Here are the top 5 signs to look out for:

  1. Smear Marks

Check your walls for dark, irregular smears because cockroaches tend to leave streaks behind. You’ll find these in spots where they are most active.

  1. Droppings

A huge red flag that you have cockroaches is the droppings they leave behind. They tend to leave behind droppings that look like coffee grounds or pepper. These are very small, usually less than 1mm wide, so they can be difficult to spot.

  1. Egg Capsules

If you have a cockroach infestation, you’re bound to find egg capsules. Just one capsule can hold up to 30 nymphs. So imagine how many cockroaches can be lurking when you find multiple egg capsules!

  1. Shed Skin

Cockroaches shed between 5-8 times before they become adults. So, if there are cockroaches around, you’re bound to find shed skin around as they go through their lifecycle stages.

  1. Property Damage

Cockroaches aren’t shy about nibbling on anything around your house. This can lead to visible damage. Look around for chew marks on food packaging as well as damage to other materials around your home.

What Causes Cockroach Problems

Several issues can lead to cockroach problems around your home. These include:

Clutter

Cockroaches like to hide out, so the more cluttered your home is, the more space they have to hide without being found. Piles of newspapers or clothes are places where cockroaches can hide. 

Leftover Food and Grime

Crumbs, spills, and food can lure cockroaches into your home. After cooking or making a snack, clean up any spills or crumbs. Also, sweep and mop regularly to keep cockroaches away. You should also keep up with dishes so there is no dirt and food left behind.

Trash

Take your trash out regularly to avoid a roach problem. Cockroaches like to visit trash cans. If you can keep them clean and wipe them down with a disinfectant, there will be less of an attraction.

Get a Free Quote on Cockroach Control in Raleigh

Cockroaches reproduce quickly and subtly, making it difficult to completely eradicate them. If you want to prevent cockroach reproduction, reduce the adult cockroach population, form a protective barrier around your property, and gain greater enjoyment from your outdoor living spaces, call Stomp Pest Control for roach extermination today at (919) 231-3292 or fill out the form below.