Cockroaches

What are cockroaches?

Cockroaches are one of the most common urban pests and they have been around since prehistoric times.  There are thousands of species of cockroaches throughout the world, but the 5 most commonly found in our region are the German, the American (also called the Palmetto bug), the Brownbanded, the Oriental and the Smokey brown cockroach.   Cockroaches are brown to black and sometimes reddish in color and have flat, oval bodies with spiny legs, stubby appendages at the base of the abdomen called cerci.  They also have long, filamentous antennae.  They range in size from the 5/8th of an inch German cockroach, the most common roach to be found in American homes, to the 1 ½ inch American roach.  Some cockroaches have wings and may jump and glide, but they usually prefer to run.

Why do I have them?

Cockroaches can be carried into homes inside luggage, bags or boxes.  Prolific breeders, they can spread quickly through multi-family dwellings via plumbing and electrical conduits and heating vents.  Cockroaches are attracted by food, clutter, garbage, yard debris, overgrown shrubbery, woodpiles and moist conditions.  Nocturnal, roaches like dark, warm, moist, protected environments and often harbor near drains or leaky pipes, in the motor compartments of refrigerators or dryers, under upholstered furniture or in bookcases, behind loose wallpaper or baseboards, in closets and in any other crack or crevice.  They are typically found in kitchens, bathrooms, basements and crawl spaces and will feed on nearly anything including, food, beer, potted plant shoots, wallpaper paste, glue, cosmetics, soap, postage stamps, fermenting fruit, clothing and books.

Are they dangerous?

Yes, cockroaches can be dangerous.  They carry disease organisms on their bodies and in fecal matter.  They often harbor in kitchens where they can contaminate food supplies with sailva and feces, spreading food-borne illnesses such as Salmonella, food poisoning and dysentery.  Cockroach infestations are a leading cause of allergies, asthma and bronchial disorders in humans, particularly children and the elderly.

How do I get rid of cockroaches?

Cockroaches can be extremely difficult to get rid of because of their ability to adapt to a variety of different environments.  Also if all harborages are not accurately identified, complete elimination will not occur and the cockroach population will rebound.  A ChemTec pest professional will design a customized cockroach control program that fits the specific needs of your property, with the goal of eliminating all of these disease-carrying insects.

Can I do it myself?

An important first step in eliminating cockroaches is proper sanitation, such as cleaning spills and crumbs immediately and removing trash daily, however, this is a pest many people do not have much success in elimination on their own.  Many do-it-yourself remedies to rid your property of cockroaches simply do not work as the materials they use are not effective and can actually make your cockroach problem worse.  Remember – if misused or mixed improperly, do-it-yourself pesticides can be very dangerous to people, pets or plants.

Is the treatment safe?

The pest professionals at ChemTec Pest Control will first correctly identify a cockroach problem in your home or business, and then create a treatment plan that will eliminate your pest problem quickly and in an environmentally responsible manner.  In most cases we utilize bait as the primary means of control.  Before any treatments begin, our inspectors will consult with you regarding your children, pets, and gardens and then based on your current situation; they will then customize a treatment plan specifically for you.

How soon can you get here?

ChemTec Pest Control is committed to helping you as soon as possible.  In most cases, we can respond the same or very next day.

What is the guarantee?

Our guarantee is simple: if you are not completely satisfied, we will give you your money back.  If you have a problem with the pest after our services, just call us and we will come back to retreat for the pest at no additional charge within the warrantee period.  We want all of our customers to be completely satisfied with our services and we will always work towards that goal.   Please visit Our Guarantee page for more information. 

How can I prevent this in the future?

Many pest problems can be difficult to prevent so many of our customers chose a continuous Protection Program to help guard against future cockroach infestations.

Where does ChemTec Pest Control service?

ChemTec provides service throughout Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex and Union Counties in New Jersey.  We also provide service to Rockland and Orange Counties in New York