How to Get Rid of German Cockroaches in Fort Lauderdale
German cockroaches are the most common cockroach species in the world. Most of the time when we see customers with a cockroach infestation, it’s German cockroaches.
But when you think of a cockroach, you probably don’t think of a German cockroach, you most likely think of an American cockroach. This is because the disgust factor of American cockroaches makes them stick in your brain more. American roaches, which you might know as “palmetto bugs” are much bigger than their sibling, the German cockroach.
German cockroaches are about ½ an inch to an inch long. They’re light brownish or tannish in color and have 2 stripes on their backs.
German cockroaches can be tricky infestations to deal with, and professional help is typically necessary to get rid of them.
Keep reading to learn all about how to get rid of German cockroaches, and when to call a cockroach exterminator in Fort Lauderdale.
How Fast Do German Cockroaches Spread?
German cockroaches are the fastest reproducing cockroach species. 2 of these roaches and their babies can produce over 300,000 roaches in their lifetimes.
One adult female averages about 4 to 8 egg cases in their lifetime, each containing about 16 eggs.
So there’s no doubt that if you find a German cockroach infestation in your home, it’s better to act sooner than later. One roach is never just one roach—there is most likely a huge nest where you can’t even find it.
Why Are German Cockroaches in My House?
Like most pests, German cockroaches like it in your home and in homes all over Fort Lauderdale because it’s warm and humid. They’re also indoor pests, unlike American cockroaches.
This is why German cockroaches cause more severe infestations than American cockroaches. An American cockroach ends up in your home because it wandered inside, not because they’re reproducing in your home.
We often find that German cockroach infestations are related to plumbing. These roaches commonly live in drains, which we know can be a bit frightening to hear. We also find that leaky pipes can bring German cockroaches in your home since they’re attracted to water.
While all cockroaches can go a long time without food, they need moisture to survive. This is why an infestation is most likely in the moist areas of your home, such as the basement, kitchen, or bathroom.
This means you may live in a very clean house and still find a cockroach infestation because of a leak or moist area.
Another reason German cockroaches often end up in homes is because of packaging. You might wanna check out anything that goes through the mail before you take it inside your home because you could be unknowingly bringing a German cockroach infestation into your home.
Do German Cockroaches Bite?
German cockroaches can bite, but they’re probably not going to–they’re much more afraid of us than we’re afraid of them. But still, it’s possible.
If a German cockroach bites you, it will most likely be at night. This is because these roaches are mainly nocturnal.
They typically bite around the mouth and hands, so that’s a good reason to consider washing your hands before you go to sleep.
Usually, a cockroach bite is bigger than a bed bug bite. It’s also red, itchy, and will swell.
If you find a cockroach bite, you should first wash the area with soap and water and ice the area if it begins to swell.
Overall, you shouldn’t worry about German cockroaches biting you. But if they do, it’s a big sign that your home may have a large infestation. In that case, it’s a good idea to hire professional cockroach control as soon as you can.
Can German Cockroaches Fly?
Since German roaches do in fact have wings, you’re probably wondering, “Do these little demons fly?”
The answer to this question is once again, rarely. German cockroaches prefer to run across surfaces rather than to fly. This makes sense once you understand how fast they are.
Cockroaches run at an average pace of three miles per hour. German roaches can run about 5 feet per second, which is much faster than most insects.
Are German Cockroaches Dangerous?
If I had to describe German cockroaches, I probably wouldn’t use the word “dangerous” (so you can take a breath). They don’t have wings and they don’t usually bite people.
But yes, they are gross and they do have some health risks:
German roaches can contaminate food to spread various forms of gastroenteritis like food poisoning. They can carry salmonella and E. coli just to name a few.
These tiny cockroaches also have exoskeletons they’ll shed, and they can end up all around your home. These exoskeletons release particles that, when inhaled, can cause respiratory problems like wheezing and other asthma-related symptoms.
They can even cause rashes. If you wake up one day with rashes, this could mean a cockroach ran across your skin while you were sleeping.
If any of these health issues occur, don’t wait or risk more time by trying DIY methods. The best thing to do at that point is to call a cockroach exterminator in Fort Lauderdale.
How to Get Rid of German Cockroaches
The biggest reason you clicked on this post is to find out how to get rid of German cockroaches. And while it’s not easy, there’s always a way.
The first step to getting rid of these cockroaches is sanitizing your home. While it’s not definitive that the roaches are attracted to any grease or grime in your home, they will eat anything and everything so deep cleaning is a good first step.
Next, we recommend using gel bait instead of foggers. This is partially because baits are more pet friendly and eco-friendly, and they’re also more effective.
It’s important to know where the roaches congregate so you know where to place the bait, so let’s go over that first.
I once had an incident with roaches. We must have spent six months with an infestation. They got into everything. They would move into every roll of toilet paper. They infested my keyboard, which I used every day, and every time I would type, they would come scurrying out and crawl across my fingers. DIY products didn't work; these roaches resisted every product we used. We had to call an exterminator. It took two days, but then we were roach-free!
— Wilson McCabe, Writer
Common German Cockroach Hiding Spots:
- In cabinets
- Under or behind sinks
- Under or behind refrigerators
- Counter backsplashes
- In your dishwasher
- In, under, or on furniture
- Behind picture frames
German cockroaches will hide in just about any nook and cranny, so don’t limit yourself to this list. Any cracks and crevices can be the home of dozens of tiny roaches.
You can also find them by looking for evidence, such as their pellets which may look like coffee grounds and their exoskeletons, an oily musty odor, or even exoskeleton fragments.
When you figure out where to place the bait, use tiny pea-sized droplets along each spot.
Another good product to use is an insect growth regulator (IGR). These are especially helpful for German cockroaches because they disrupt their reproductive cycles. Just don’t apply any of the IGR spray to the gel bait because it will no longer be appealing to them.
After the extermination part, the next step is exclusion, aka prevention. You can keep German cockroaches out of your home removing what’s attracting them.
While cleaning is a big part of that, there are other sources drawing the roaches inside.
As you probably can understand after reading this post, water is one of the biggest attractors of German roaches to your home.
If you know you have a leaky pipe or a similar plumbing issue, call a handyman that can make the repair. If you don’t know, you should still call someone to take a look at it and make absolutely sure there’s nothing that needs to be fixed.
If you have a general moisture issue in your home, you should work on the ventilation. To ventilate your home for cockroach control, you can try purchasing a dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers work by sucking in warm air and keeping the condensation inside.
You can also consider installing fans around your home and turning on your bathroom fan when you take a shower or bath.
What Should I Do If I Find a German Roach in My House?
If you find a German cockroach in your home, don’t panic. It doesn’t automatically mean you have a severe infestation to worry about.
As I mentioned previously, you can try sanitation, extermination, and exclusion to get the cockroaches out of your home, but this can be difficult for someone who doesn’t specialize in pest control.
Prevention is especially tricky because cockroaches, specifically German cockroaches, are small enough that they can fit in any crack and crevice in your home.
If you’re really brave you can try vacuuming the little suckers up. It may be gross, but it works. But if you want a method of control where you can guarantee your time and money won’t be wasted, professional cockroach control is the way to go.
German Cockroach Exterminator in Fort Lauderdale
It’s no secret that German cockroach infestations can be chaotic–and we want to make it as smooth and easy as possible for you and your family.
Native Pest Management is the home of experts when it comes to getting rid of German cockroaches in Fort Lauderdale. With our expertise, it’s our job to give you your peace of mind back that the German cockroaches took from you.
And these cockroaches reproduce so fast, sometimes trying to do everything by yourself to get rid of them isn’t worth it. You could risk the infestation growing bigger, or even contamination.
If you live in Fort Lauderdale and are seeing German cockroaches or any other cockroach in your home, we can guarantee they’ll all be gone with our help. Our technicians use the kind of products I mentioned in this post including gel baits and Insect Growth Regulators.
If you’re not sure the cockroach in your home is a German one, we service all cockroaches in Fort Lauderdale, including American cockroaches, Australian cockroaches, and brown-banded cockroaches.
In 2020 when I bought my condo, I was warned about German cockroaches in the residence. Every morning I would kill a few of them in the kitchen. I tried using a product recommended to me by a friend called Viper but that didn’t do anything. I called a local exterminator company, thinking it probably wouldn’t do much, but after their first treatment, our problem was over!
— Stuart Cotton, Courier
The best parts about our professional cockroach extermination:
- We’re a local Fort Lauderdale company.
- We focus on long term cockroach prevention.
- We specialize in eco-friendly and pet friendly cockroach control.
- We have over 2,000 reviews across Google, Yelp, Facebook, Angie’s List and Nextdoor.
And if you’re outside the Fort Lauderdale area, we service all of Broward, Martin, Indian River, Palm Beach, St. Lucie, Miami Dade, and Leon counties.
Do you want to protect your home from cockroaches and other pests year-round? Our home pest control plan is designed for just that. We can get rid of German cockroaches as well as ants, spiders, millipedes, pantry pests, silverfish, and earwigs.
But the overall point to this post is that we’re here for you when it comes to cockroaches, and it’s our job to make Fort Lauderdale pest free and healthy.
Are you ready for your home to be cockroach free again? Call Native Pest Management today!