Cockroaches have traditionally been treated as aesthetically displeasing pests that harbor bacteria and annoy people within homes. Eradicating indoor cockroaches professionally is necessary when the insects become too abundant to be managed by homeowners. Although there does not exist many documented cases of human illness caused by bacteria-ridden cockroaches, the fact that roach pest species harbor more than 60 forms of disease-causing bacteria serves as another sensible reason to keep the creatures out of human living spaces. However, just like dust and mites, cockroaches are now considered allergens, making their eradication from homes even more important than ever. In fact, medical researchers in all areas of the world agree that indoor cockroaches, particularly German cockroaches, are responsible for causing asthma and other allergy-related conditions in children. Due to the medical significance of indoor cockroach infestations, professional cockroach control methods have greatly improved over the last two decades.

Up until somewhat recently, indoor cockroach infestations were controlled with nothing more than the application of insecticide to an infested structure. Today, this is not the case, as Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies have become the norm in the pest control industry. This form of pest management consists of a combination of different control methods that aim to both eradicate existing infestations and prevent future infestations as optimally as possible. IPM programs that aim to eradicate and prevent roach infestations see professionals inspecting and continuously monitoring indoor roach populations with sticky traps and more sophisticated devices. Once professionals pinpoint the most significant infestation sources within a home, one or several methods are employed to kill existing roaches and prevent more roaches from accessing the areas in the future. One method may include the use of an insecticide, but IPM programs do not rely solely on insecticides to control insects; instead, insecticides are only used as a last resort once all practical and non-chemical options have been exhausted. Many IPM programs also see the removal of all cockroach feces and other potentially harmful roach byproducts from homes.

Have you ever needed a pest control professional to address a cockroach infestation within your home?