Cockroaches: the short answer
Roaches need food, water and hiding places, so control starts with cutting those off, then using gel baits and bait stations where roaches travel. Small brown roaches in the kitchen usually mean an indoor infestation that needs prompt treatment. Roach droppings and skins can also trigger asthma. Call (334) 555-0147 to speak with a local pest control company in the Prattville area.
Which roach is it?
- Small, light brown roaches in kitchens and bathrooms, often seen at night, usually mean German cockroaches breeding indoors.
- Large reddish-brown roaches that wander in from outside, crawl spaces or drains are often American cockroaches or related species.
- Signs: pepper-like droppings, egg cases, shed skins and a musty odor.
For other pests, see our page on pest control in Prattville.
How urgent is it?
Indoor breeding roaches get worse fast.
Penn State Extension notes that cockroach skins, droppings and bodies can trigger asthma attacks, and that cockroach allergens can stay active in a home for up to six months. Act quickly if anyone in the home has asthma or allergies.
What actually works
- store food in tight-lidded containers and use a lidded trash can
- don't leave dishes in the sink overnight, and clean under the stove and refrigerator
- fix leaks and wipe up spills, since roaches need water
- caulk cracks and seal gaps where pipes enter walls
- use sticky traps to see where roaches are active
Penn State Extension recommends tamper-resistant bait stations and gel baits over aerosols, liquid sprays and bug bombs, which increase chemical exposure. See cockroaches, allergies and asthma.
What happens during treatment
Inspection
Kitchen, bathrooms, appliances and plumbing gaps are checked, often with sticky traps to measure activity.
Targeted baiting
Gel baits and stations go where roaches hide and travel.
Sealing and sanitation advice
Gaps, leaks and food sources that keep the population going.
Follow-up visits
German roach infestations usually need more than one visit.
What affects the cost
- Species and severity: an established German roach infestation takes more work.
- Number of visits needed to clear it.
- Home type: apartments and townhomes may need neighbors treated too.
See the cost guide.
Questions to ask before you hire
- Which roach is this, and is it breeding inside?
- Will you use gel baits and stations rather than spraying the whole house?
- How many follow-up visits are included?
Roaches around Prattville
Calls come from older homes near Downtown Prattville, family homes in Glennbrooke and Silver Hills, and from Wetumpka.
What to have ready when you call
- the size and color of the roaches, and where you see them
- whether you see them during the day, which often means a larger infestation
- whether anyone in the home has asthma