Photo Album: Think Like a Cockroach in Toms River, NJ
Where Were They Hiding
When we arrived, we spoke to the homeowner who was at his wit's end trying to solve his German cockroach issue. He didn't understand why he couldn't get rid of them and where were they hiding.
Think Like a Cockroach
When conducting an inspection, it's critical to think like a cockroach. Where do they like to hide? What are they looking for and why are they there?
Makes Them Feel Safe
Cockroaches like to hide in very tight spaces where they can feel pressure on multiple sides of their body at one time. It makes them feel safe. We inspected all of the cracks and gaps around the kitchen counter as well as the cabinets. We didn't find any signs of cockroaches, so we made our way to any mechanical piece of equipment that has electricity running to it. Those usually create warmth as well as several hiding places for German cockroaches.
The Dishwasher!
After a thorough inspection, we found that the cockroaches were nesting around a leaky dishwasher. Not only was this area dark, which cockroaches love, but it also created a water source and food scraps which is everything a cockroach needs to fulfill its diet. After discussing different treatment options with the homeowner, we placed several glue monitoring traps and applied a gel bait in all of the areas that could be potential harborage areas. Within minutes a cockroach came out and immediately started feeding.
Store-bought Products Aren't Effective
The reason the homeowner had such a hard time eliminating the cockroaches, aside from not locating the main harborage areas, was he was using a store-bought pest applications. These products are a repellant, which means they deter pests to other areas of the home, do not work properly, and only eliminate the pests you see (not the entire colony). The products we use cannot be bought in stores, are a non-repellant, and are guaranteed to eliminate the entire colony. We scheduled a two-week follow-up where we're going to go back and inspect all of our glue trap monitors and apply any additional treatment if needed.