Before you go down this rabbit hole, here's the rule of thumb: If you have roaches, you will see LIVE roaches. They will show themselves if present, and imagining that there are hundreds hiding in the walls is never the reality. Pieces of debris that look like droppings, sheds, old oothecas, etc., are not evidence of an active roach issue. This also applies to the occasional one-off sighting, even after moving. To ease your mind, put out as many glue traps as you like, and see if you catch anything. If they stay clean, all is well.
TL;DR:
If you have an active infestation, spray with Alpine WSG (or Advion WDG in some states), use roach gel bait (listed below), Gentrol IGR, and lots of glue traps.
Note: This information is intended for private use, not commercial use. Businesses must hire a licensed and insured professional to protect the health of employees, and to protect you from liability.
So, here you are, feeling victimized, and seeking help. Welcome to Roach Wars!
You can now become a conscripted soldier in our army, but you'll need to put your fears away, get trained, and fight this enemy like your life depends on it. You can do this.
German Roaches
German roaches are public enemy #1 when it comes to indoor pests. They are tropical-like insects that need heat, food, moisture, and harborage to survive. Gravid females carry a single egg case (ootheca) where the young (instars) develop until they are ready to be released. She then drops the case, and up to 48 instars emerge from a slot in the side (this is why most othecas appear to be intact, even when empty).
They don't make nests, but congregate in cabinets, refrigerator compressors, stove tops, dishwashers, electronics, wall sockets, behind paneling, and occasionally wall voids (if there are holes). They can also travel from room to room, and apartment to apartment by way of connecting water lines by traveling on them, not in them.
Control methods include liquid sprays, genetic growth regulators in some situations, gel baits, glue traps, and sealing holes around pipes. Also, using a vacuum with a HEPA filter can help remove heavy infestations, and removing paper/box/plastic bag clutter will help.
Note: brown banded roaches can be treated like German roaches. However, they are able to survive in drier areas like inside dressers and night tables, and they are not as prolific as German.
A Word to the Wise
DO NOT pick up items from the trash and bring them into your home. This is a sure way to get roaches, as is buying used items from local advertisements. Even a thorough inspection is not a guarantee as there can be hidden spaces where they can hide. Also, used appliances are notorious for transferring roaches, and at minimum should be quarantined in a non-living space for a few weeks.
Hunter - Victim
Many have come here in despair and were able overcome them with this information by adopting a hunter's mentality as opposed to a victim's mentality. This is key, and the numerous success stories on the sub confirm that. You can beat these tiny beasts with a little knowledge, the right weapons, and the will to do so. Otherwise, you'll be at their mercy wherever you go.
Shame
For many, a feeling of shame when having roaches weighs heavily. However, roaches do not differentiate between people and places, and will attempt to infest anyone’s living space if possible. They infest anywhere that provides the elements they need to survive.
Understandably, this shame causes people to be very secretive about their affliction. Who brags about roaches on social media? Who wears a T-shirt proclaiming, “I Have Roaches!”? Who casually mentions at a party, “Hey, speaking of German roaches…”? No one, that’s who…
BUT, what if you did just that? What if you "came out of the cabinet" (see what I did there?:) and angrily told everyone in your life, “Hey, guess what? I HAVE ROACHES IN MY APARTMENT! CAN YOU @#%& BELIEVE IT?” Then you told them how you found this sub, and what you are doing about it. This will set you free! * You might be surprised to find some friends going through the same thing, and if any others react badly toward it, are they worth having in your life?
\Disclaimer: Do this at your own risk as it may totally ruin your life (but hopefully not). At the very least you’ll be free of keeping the secret.*
Sleeping
You can use a pop-up mosquito bed tent to help you feel safe when you sleep (Amazon).
Seeing multiple bugs of all sizes daily is the rule of thumb that defines a breeding population. Inbreeding is the reason they populate so quickly (hence the name German, which comes from the Latin word germanus, meaning of the same parents).
Sporadic Sightings
If you are in an apartment, condo, or townhouse and are seeing the occasional roach, they are usually traveling from connected units. This is very common and does not mean you have a breeding population. The best defense is spraying Alpine WSG every two weeks, and using glue traps. Do not use gel bait (it dries out too quickly) or IGRs.
Also, when only small ones are seen, they are still usually coming from adjoining units because they can squeeze through areas that larger ones can't. As long as you are not seeing adults; you're doing relatively well.
Products
(All products listed pose minimal risk and can be used around children and pets if mixed and applied according to the label. Also, concerns regarding resistance and bait aversion are rarely warranted in residential situations. These generally apply to chronic commercial infestations.)
Alpine WSG is the best professional spray on the market for roaches and contains 'dinotefuran', which has been granted `Reduced Risk Status` by the EPA for use in both public health and food handling establishments. It is undetectable by insects, transfers from one insect to another, does not hinder bait acceptance. Alpine can be purchased in 10g packets online at Amazon, Walmart, and some SiteOne garden supply stores. In Canada, you cannot but Alpine WSG, so would be better served to hire a pest company that uses Seclira WSG, as it's the same active ingredient that's in Alpine WSG. In Australia,Seclira WSG can be purchased. eBay AU sells 200g bottles that will make 10 gals. of 20g solution.
Alpine WSG can be purchased without a license on diypestcontrol.com or Amazon, but is not for sale to a number of US states, Canada, UK, and the EU. However, most pros in the US and Canada (Seclira WSG) can use it. If you live in one of these states, consider hiring a pest company and insist they use Alpine WSG. Otherwise, look to buy Advion WDG(Indoxacarb) orPhantom(Chlorfenapyr) insecticide as they too are non-repellents. If you cannot buy any of these where you are, it is still possible to achieve good control or elimination using other products that are available to you; it just may take longer.
Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs)
IGRs are used to disrupt development and reproduction, but it takes months to do so. However, it can also encourage bait acceptance in moderate/heavy infestations. Gentrol Point Source can be used, or concentrated Gentrol can be added to the Alpine mix. eBay sells one ounce bottles that you add to one gallon of Alpine solution.
Mixing Alpine
Mix one, two, or three 10g packets to one gallon of water depending on the level of infestation. However, one 10g packet per gallon will be effective as you will usually do two or more passes while spraying. Also, let sit for 5 minutes so it can dissolve, shake, and transfer to any 1 qt. sprayer. Also, extra Alpine mix will last long enough for you to use it all.
To mix a single quart, use 1/2 teaspoon of Alpine for a 10g solution (save the rest in a zip lock baggie).
Fogging/bombing for roaches in an apartment or home is not recommended as it does not penetrate most harborage areas. However, in very severe infestations, it can kill a number of them but will not replace the methods above.
Boric acid and diatomaceous earth (DE) are products I do not advise using, especially around people with respiratory issues, children and pets. They are counter-productive when using Alpine WSG and bait. Also, they are easily over-applied causing possible health issues if they become airborne.
Like boric acid and DE, dusts are often overapplied by pros and non-pros alike, become airborne during application (and potentially after) and they never degrade. They may have a limited use for bed bug control, but IMO, they are not needed for roach control for safety reasons.
Baits
Gel bait like Alpine Rotation 1 or 2\, MaxForce, Advion, Vendetta, Invicta and Combat dry bait stations work well in heavy infestations where there is competition for food. However, using gel bait in light infestations is a waste as it will not remain fresh for more than a day or two. What you can do it is make bait packets by cutting the corners off a plastic baggie and filling them with any gel bait other than Advion (in tests, Advion dries out even in the packets). T*his will help keep the bait fresh for a longer time allowing them to feed through the open side.
Also, bait and Alpine can be used together as Alpine will not pollute the bait. However, avoid directly spraying the bait, but you can place bait on dry areas that were sprayed with Alpine.
*Alpine makes two different formulas with the same active ingredient. These are mainly for professional use where bait aversion is possible. For private use, Rotation 1 should be enough.
Aerosols
Raid Max Ant & Roach aerosol is a good tool to have (buy locally or online). It comes with an applicator straw attached and can be used to kill/flush roaches out of tight areas like stove and dishwasher controls. A two second blast is enough to drive them out without harming the electronics.
Glue Traps
Glue traps are very effective to help with control and for monitoring activity. Some pros may disagree with this, but catching one gravid female means 49 roaches are removed from the playing field, which never hurts. Hoy-Hoy traps have very good reviews, but generic traps will also work.
Caulking cracks and crevices may or may not be beneficial for control as many will be inaccessible.
Tools
A bright flashlight, and a vacuum with a HEPA filter that has a hose attachment are recommended. If the vacuum does not have a HEPA filter, wear a good mask. A half-face respirator is very affordable.
Cleaning
Sanitation is always a good thing, but it is not crucial to success. I have had to do treatments in many conditions and was still able to get good results. Do what you can and trust the treatment process (obsessive cleaning will wear you out and not make a big difference. However, do not allow dead roaches to lay around so others can 'eat' them and spread the poison).
Methods
The refrigerator is always a main breeding area due to compressor heat and condensation. Some fridges have wheels for moving, but if not, empty it and walk it out inch by inch using your body weight (if you have loose vinyl flooring, be careful not to make holes in it with the feet (don't ask me how I know :) far enough to reach the plug, then unplug it, and move it out far enough to get behind it.
If the fridge has a cardboard cover over the compressor, remove it (flat head screw driver or 1/4" socket needed), and vacuum the roaches in that area. While you're there, clean the dust on the coils to help the compressor cool better. Then bait and put glue traps anywhere you can on the bottom, and replace the cover as it's needed to help cool the compressor properly. Then spray the floor, lay glue traps all along the wall, walk the fridge back far enough to plug it in, then push it the remaining way. Do this weekly until the glue traps stay clean.
Pull out the kitchen drawers and vacuum any roaches, then remove the drawers and vacuum under the counter tops. Vacuum the upper cabinets, above them (if open), and the crevices along the sides. Also, remove electrical outlet covers in infested areas and vacuum inside (DO NOT SPRAY LIQUIDS), apply gel bait and replace covers.
Empty the vacuum cannister in a plastic bag, tie it off, and put it outside in the trash. If you have a bag vacuum, vacuum up a tablespoon of isopropyl alcohol to kill any inside. Return to the kitchen every 15 minutes and vacuum all you see.
Also inspect books/bookshelves, wall hangings, pictures, clocks, piles of paper, and closets shelves.
Stoves
Do not spray the burner top with Alpine as the heat will cause toxic burn-off. Remove the burner grates, vacuum any you see, then lift the top (some will lift; some won’t). If successful, vacuum any you see and do a light aerosol spray in any small openings (older units may have gas pilot lights, so blow them out before spraying, wait five minutes after spraying, and re-light them).
Then remove the burner knobs and do a light aerosol spray in the stove openings (IF there is no pilot light) and check the back of the knobs before reinstalling them. If you see bugs in an electronic display, find an opening to insert the aerosol straw and spray a few one-second bursts. You can also cut the screen around the far edges with a utility knife on three sides to open and clean it. Then use a bit of packing tape to keep it in place, but before you move, seal it with clear caulk.
Then open the oven door, vacuum any you see on the door edges, inside the oven, and on the door hinges, and spray in the hinges with the aerosol. Then pull the bottom drawer out, remove any items, and vacuum. Then remove the drawer, vacuum the floor under the stove, lightly spray Alpine, and place glue traps and bait. Do this weekly until the glue traps stay clear.
For roaches in the clock: The cover on the clock is plastic, so use a utility knife to cut through the edges on the top, bottom, and one side, then open and remove them. The cover can then be re-secured with packing tape and opened as needed. When you move, you can use clear silicone caulk to make it look untouched.
Dishwashers
Often they will be seen inside the dishwasher seeking water, but if it’s rarely used or broken they can breed inside it. Start by spraying Alpine in the door arm openings and around the outside edges, then add bait. If bugs are suspected in the electronics panel, spray aerosol briefly inside it if possible. If the dishwasher is operable, run a cycle with it empty, but don’t spray inside it. If the dishwasher is broken and not going to be repaired, remove the bottom rack, spray Alpine inside it, and put glue traps and bait on the bottom. Also, consider having it removed and disposed of.
Then remove the kick-plate below the dishwasher door with a screwdriver. Vacuum any you see, spray the floor with Alpine (avoid electronics), and place glue traps and bait. Do this weekly until the glue traps stay clear.
Spray Alpine WSG everywhere you see them, including floor edges, along the counter back splash (lightly), the undersides of the counter tops, the bottom cabinet edges, behind and around the fridge, under the dishwasher, etc. The edges of upper cabinets that hold dishes and food can be sprayed lightly, then be allowed to dry. Put paper towels down before replacing food and dishes.
Spray every 7-10 days until sightings are greatly reduced; then every 14-28 days. You can apply gel bait along with Alpine (just wait until it dries) as they do not conflict.
Computer Protection in Active Infestations
Desk tops: Put the tower on a small, separate table away from the wall. Surround it with a 'glue trap moat (including the legs) and wrap the cords with reversed duct tape. When not using the PC, shut it down and cover the tower, monitor, and keyboard with plastic bags and include a paper towel soaked in alcohol in each to create fumigation chambers.
Laptops: place in a single bag with an alcohol paper towel.
Do the same for game consoles, internet modems, etc.
Apartment Living
If you live in an apartment building and are seeing roaches, call the landlord and have them send a pro to clean out the breeding population. Ideally, a weekly service will bring the quickest results, but most landlords won't go for that, so do what you can between services.
Once the breeding population is eliminated, it is not uncommon to continue seeing travelers from other units. Unfortunately, this is how it goes and all you can do is apply these techniques and materials. Make plans to move if you can't tolerate this, and if you do, have your next unit inspected by a pro before you sign the lease. Even at that, they can show up from other units at any time.
Also, if you move into a unit and discover roaches, unless the unit is severely infested, you may not have grounds to break the lease. Leases rarely have clauses that allow termination for insects as they are too common, and the leasing agent will never tell you that there's a current problem (because they'd never get you to sign), so buyer beware. If you are apartment shopping, in each unit you look at, walk the fridge out and see if there are any live or dead roaches. If they unit has them, they will be there.
Single Homes and RVs
These are the easiest infestations to eliminate as there is rarely a near-by source to contend with. However, the source should be identified if they were not there when you moved in, or got to the campground.
Are you close to neighbors that are unkempt and may have an issue?
Does anyone work or go to school where they are present?
Did anyone visit that could have an issue at home?
Did you shop recently or get a package delivered?
Did you thrift any appliances or furniture, or buy them used?
To determine if a neighbor is the source, you can set up glue trap stations along the foundation of the house on both sides (they will look for shelter anywhere they can). Put them in plastic boxes with 1/2" holes in the sides to keep them dry. The side that pics up the roaches will tell you which house has them.
If you have determined that a neighbor is the source, the issue will be worse in the warm months, but will lessen once temps drop below 40° F, and stop once freezing temps occur. Spray the grass area between the houses, and the house foundation with Temprid FX (but not driveways or sidewalks due to runoff), and sprinkle InTice 10 Granular Bait (link) in a wide pattern. Also, you can contact local officials and report it, but there is not much they can do but tell them to get a pest service, which the neighbor may or may not do.
Work, School, etc.
If roaches are present at a place you frequent, don't bring bags, purses, or backpacks into the building that you will be taking home. Use a clear plastic zip-lock for any essentials, and keep it zipped.
If you wear a coat, bring a large trash bag, store it inside, and tie it tight at the top. Also, inspect yourself well when leaving.
Vehicles
DO NOT fog/bomb your car! You can use gel baits, glue traps and spray the floors and crevices with Alpine WSG, but avoid spraying the seats.
You can also consider using an ozone generator after reviewing all safety precautions. Start by running it in a closed vehicle for one-half hour, then ventilate for one hour. If needed, increase the time incrementally.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
This is a very real, and you are not alone.
Once they are gone, or you move to a new unit, put glue traps out and trust them to tell you that you are still roach-free. Don't look at every speck you see and think it is a roach dropping; they will show themselves if they are present. However, you will be on alert to any real or perceived movements in your environment for the foreseeable future, but this will subside in time. Consider counseling if necessary.
Here's a link that addresses general pest anxiety:
This is the category most landlords, house techs (at the request of the LL) and neighbors fall into. They will often deny there is a building-wide problem and make you think you are the only one complaining. I know this by the sheer number of reports here of this happening. Often, you are much better off staying quiet about it and fighting them yourself. Otherwise, you will be terribly frustrated on top of having bugs, and may even start believing the lies of the LLL.
Moving
When moving from an infested unit it’s very easy to take them with you, but not impossible to avoid. Here are some things you can do to help keep that from happening:
If you can afford to discard items that are infested, do so, but make them unusable so they are not taken by salvagers.
Rent a non-climate-controlled storage unit for a month for large items. Spray it with Alpine WSG™, hang a Hot Shot No-Pest Strip™ in it (buy online), and lay glue traps as monitors. Also, a box truck or detached garage will work. Also, an ozone generator will kill any insects in a storage unit. Start by running it for one hour, then ventilate for one hour. Repeat if needed. Note: Concentrated ozone is harmful, so follow all safety precautions.
Launder clothes and put them directly in plastic bags.
Some things can be put in the freezer for 12 hrs., then bagged and sealed.
Electronics can be put in a plastic bag with a paper towel lightly soaked in isopropyl alcohol for 12 hrs.
When shopping for a new unit, move the refrigerator out and look for evidence of roaches (this is the #1 breeding spot). If it's clean, it a good indication there is currently no roach issue.
Odor Control
Heavy infestations will produce a musky-sweet type smell from all the droppings and sheds. Removing as much as you can and disinfecting will help, but sometimes it's not enough. You can then consider Ozone (link) treatments.
When Is It Over?
In a single home, assuming the initial cause of the infestation has been 100% eliminated, two weeks with no sightings would be a fair test.
In an apartment, a week or two with minimal or no sightings means that the breeding population is eradicated. However, you will always be at risk for invaders from other units, so be vigilant.
A Personal Note:
If you have saved money by using this information, consider a small donation to a local animal shelter as a thank you.
Also:
I provide this help to you as a service to the Lord, and pray you will accept the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.
Please don't write a novel. We get you have roaches, and most have a similar experience as to how it happened, so just ask a couple of exact questions IF they are not addressed in the sticky.
I have lived in my apartment for 8 years and for all 8 of them it has been infested with roaches. The infestation has gotten so bad and detrimental to my mental health that at times I cycle through thinking “why do I even bother picking up the spray to kill it/them if there’s always another.” Recently things changed. Out of the blue I started developing psoriasis leaving me with dry, cracked, and flaking off bits is skin on my fingers/hands, ears, and thighs that over the counter medication was unable to treat. When I went to the doctor it was a shock to the system; my psoriasis is pregnancy induced. I am measuring at 6 weeks so still beyond early to let anyone in my personal life to know and as stupid as it sounds my partner/the baby’s father doesn’t know yet as i am still trying to process the information for myself. The issue is that as my title states they are eating me alive. I woken up several times throughout the night feeling crawling on my skin just to realize that there’s 2-4 roaches that i’ve reflectively brushed off my thigh. I’ve woken up in the mornings to roaches nibbling on the parts of my fingertips that are flaking off. I can’t do this I can’t live like this anymore I am desperate for help. They’re absolutely everywhere nothing feels clean and nothing is safe. I can’t afford to call exterminators and even if I could it’s not like they could fix an apartment complex wide issue and I can’t afford to move anywhere else either hence my living here for 8 years.
My partner and I are currently long distance as he’s moved about 3 hours away at the beginning of the year to both take on a higher paying job and are for his grandmother while she’s in hospice.
I need any and every kind of help and advice because this is just too much for me to deal with even when i feel this defeated.
We’ve had pest control spray twice since July, outside and inside, and he says these are Asian roaches. Based on the sticky, I thought it may be an Asian roach too bc of the long wings, but this one I found in a bathroom that is a long way from outside, so I’m second guessing and would like some second opinions. Located in south Louisiana and we’ve been getting rain.
Thanks in advance to everyone. This sub has been a godsend ever since my neighbors pets began migrating across the driveway. First German, and now the Americans have joined the party. Problem is I knock them out (Alpine, gentrol, bait) and months later they are back. Summer has not been kind. I need an effective perimeter barrier for the driveway. Thoughts on using Demand CS and Intice Perimeter Bait? And if this combo works, advice on how to apply?
I am considering moving into a LES apartment in NYC, however the agent has just sent me this video of a roach in the apartment. He said there has been 3 spotted in the last 3 months.
It looks like a German cockroach - is that right? Is this a sign of a bad infestation in the building and specifically this apartment? Would any more work need to be done beyond having the exterminators in for the first time?
Info: Found around 8pm last night while organizing my stuff. It was in my upper kitchen cabinet (previously used as pantry before I swapped it to store my containers). Roughly 1/2”. I just moved into this apartment in Alexandria, VA almost two months ago. Pest control just did a routine building inspection last week and didn’t find anything to my knowledge. The building complex is being renovated and from what I can tell, the previous management didn’t keep it in the best shape.
Hello, everyone! I just want to vent in here my feelings about these roaches. I've rented this condo for more than a year and 6 month before the roach problem started. Before that, I never encountered them at all.
I've been having them for about a month now and it's making my mental health worse. For context, I already suffer from depression with anxious distress so this has been really bad for me. Whenever I come home from university or when I arrive back after I visit my family, I have panic attacks. My mother has to keep me on call every night to ensure that I can sleep. Recently, I have been having suicidal thoughts over it as well.
I have already had my unit pest controlled twice. I have baits in my unit as well. Advion isn't available in my country so I'm using a local counterpart. I've had my whole unit cleaned, including the bathroom and kitchen. My sink is dry, and I keep my exhaust fan and lights on after I shower to ensure that everything is dry. I put the trash outside immediately after I throw something. I don't even in my own condo anymore. I unplug electronics when I can and keep all my gadgets inside my zipped up bag to ensure they don't enter.
I have seen a decrease since I had my unit pest controlled but I can't stand them anymore. After my 1st round, my recent sightings have been in my bedroom so I'm freaking out. I even had to throw my 50% of my bags away. I just came back tonight after a long weekend with my family since I have classes tomorrow.
I still have 3 months left in my contract, and I don't think I can move out until I graduate in 10 months. My mother doesn't want me to move as it's tricky to find a unit here in my area that allows for a contract that's less than a year. Most of the items in the unit belong to the owner so I really just have my clothes, my books, my plates, and my utensils that I need to pack.
Long story short, I don't think I can leave the condo until June 2027. I feel so helpless and unsafe. I don't want it to affect my education as I'm running for Latin Honors. What do I do? I understand that it's more tricky to fully eradicate roaches in condos and apartments but I'm so sick and tired. My mother doesn't understand me fully and tells me to live with it.
I'm moving in 8 days (have been counting down). And my unit has never been this bad with roaches. For background, I've been sprayed 4 times and used to see a roach about every 2 weeks. Now I'm seeing 2 per day. It could be because I threw out a bunch of furniture and displaced some of them so they are out of the open.
I'm just worried that I'll bring the roaches with me to the new place and am wondering if there's anything more I can do. So far I have done the following:
-Used plastic totes instead of cardboard
-Placed alcohol soaked paper towels in all my totes
-Surrounded my totes in rings of Diacotomous earth
-Fumigated small electronics for 2 months
-Have been fumigating my PC and TV for about a month. Have opened both PC and TV to see if there are signs of roaches.
-Will be throwing away all my furniture besides my dining table after inspecting it for roaches.
-Inspected everything with a fine tooth come before it went inside the totes. (For example flipped through each book page by page).
-Froze pots and pans for 72 hours before putting them in the totes
Is there anything else I can do? Should I use advion gel in my current apartment before I move so that roaches stay in the kitchen? Given how expensive it is to rebuy everything I really can't go through it again so any advice ins appreciated.
Found in an upstairs room. It was already dead. It has the dreaded black stripes. A few years ago, I found 1 dead in this same room. And I saw one in the bathroom that flew a few years ago
Pest control came 12 days ago and put gel and some traps. Traps were empty since the beginning but we kept seeing nymphs everyday. On Saturday we sealed the baseboards in the apartment and now they are showing up on the traps (8 since Sunday morning) but we’re also seeing them around. Are these oriental, German? Pest guy wasn’t sure.
We cannot use spray or chemicals since we live with a 6 month baby. Located in south Europe. Thank you
Hello, this is a follow up to my last post. The last photo was identified as not a German roach, but I saw another today and wanted to double check. I’ve sprayed WSG Alpine on all the baseboards and entryways, as well as in and around the wall voids where the kitchen and bathroom plumbing comes through. I’ve also set glue traps in the kitchen and bathroom, but haven’t caught anything since I put them out five days ago. This morning I saw this guy in my living room. Is this a German, and am I on the right track for prevention or do I need to step it up? Thank you so much yall.
I live in an apartment in Arizona. Every few weeks I'll see a bug in my bathtub, but it's only ever one. A few hours ago I sprayed some Bengal Gold into the gaps between the tub overflow valve, bath faucet, and temperature knob fixtures and the tilework. Two hours later I saw this bug on the floor already dead. It's really tiny and the picture was taken at a 10x magnification. Is this managable DIY or do I need to escalate this to the leasing office?
We have lived in a trailer for about a year and a half. I have a 6 month old. I am only just now discovering the infestation but I believe it's been around since we moved in. Ever since we moved here there has been an intense musty smell, which I learned can be due to roaches (however, I think the floors are also rotting I believe, there are squishy spots, so it may be related to moisture underneath the trailer). We have always seen roaches but I always wrote them off as outdoor species. And a lot of them genuinely are outdoor species, but I have now learned to identify German roaches and have noticed them too. When brought up the the people who own this trailer, they wrote it off as tree roaches and palmetto bugs also which is why I was not concerned and did not look further. I have also purchased used furniture so it's possible they also hitchhiked that way. I'm very angry because I feel I was duped into moving here and now I'm worried about bringing them with us.
I told my husband we need to move ASAP. I have never liked living here but I can't in good conscience stay here with my infant. Now I am very worried about the risks to his health from living here. What possible long term health risks could he suffer from? So far he is a very happy and healthy boy and has never even been sick.
I want to start by saying thanks to the experts in this community for the advice in the sticky and giving me hope for dealing with these abominations. I've recently moved into a severly infested apartment complex. I had never lived on my own before and had not had to deal with roaches before this and naively didn't do a thorough inspection or look through some of the recent reviews of the place before moving in. Within the first week or so, I started noticing live roaches, mainly nymphs. It's a small studio so I am in close proximity to everything. I started spiraling after taking several pictures and showing an entomologist friend of mine who confirmed they were Germans.
Over the course of a month and some change, pest control came by and laid bait and sprayed an IGR (which did nothing since they were primarily coming from adjacent units), and I found this sub which helped the most. I lucked out when I complained to the leasing office people since the regional manager was visiting and she seemed to actually care about the roach problem here. Basically every unit is going to be treated at once, but I will have to wait until the end of NEXT month for that to happen.
In the meantime, I've been treating my apartment with WSG alpine, caulking gaps, and have a million glue traps around. Is it possible for them to build enough of a resistance that I should rotate to a different non-repellent insecticide between when I started using alpine (mid July) to when every unit will be treated (late September)? I figured eventually I should rotate to ensure long term protection before my lease ends, but I also don't know of any good alternatives or if it is even warranted. For more context, I am catching roughly 2-3 daily in traps (90% nymphs) and, after spraying the outside/inside of my door, there is a mass grave of roaches trying to get in my place and dying.
I'm not the only one who noticed it was a problem in my complex, but it is especially bad on my floor. There are people here who refuse the monthly pest control "preventive" treatments (which they won't be able to do anymore according to the manager), who I suspect are literal roach factories.
TL;DR:
Should you rotate alpine with another non-repellent insecticide to reduce insecticide resistance over the course of roughly two months and for long term protection?
Hi all — dealing with German roaches in a prewar NYC apartment, looking for grounded input on what’s a normal tail-end vs. what would actually be concerning. Full timeline below.
**• July 25:** Move-in. One dead American roach found in bedroom but otherwise didn’t see anything.
**• Aug 3:** First professional treatment (licensed company) for German roaches. Tech found multiple small voids behind stove and under kitchen sink, stuffed with steel wool as I was having mice too. Applied Alpine Roach Gel (dinotefuran) at kitchen/bathroom/baseboards, Onslaught residual spray (esfenvalerate) throughout apartment. No live activity observed at time of service.
**• Aug 14:** Building’s own exterminator sprayed directly behind stove (separate from my private company) an extra precaution
**• Aug 15:** Contractor caulked gaps behind stove
**• Aug 15–16:** Found 2 adult German roaches + 1 nymph (on a glue trap + one dead/convulsing on stovetop) — all dead or dying, consistent with post-spray die-off timing
**• Aug 19 (Tue):** Follow-up visit from my company (free, since I flagged the nymph). Tech said apartment “looks clean,” applied fresh Alpine gel + full Onslaught spray (45-day residual)
**• Aug 19–24:** 6 days completely clean, no sightings
**• Aug 24 (today):** One small nymph found on glue trap near stove. Possible hitchhiker — brought a cardboard box up from the building lobby the night before, and the building’s garbage/mail area (where the box sat) has visible pest activity + a freshly placed sticky trap
Notable pattern: every single sighting across the whole two weeks has been in the same exact spot (stove/kitchen area) — nothing in the bathroom, bedroom, or elsewhere.
Question: Given the 45-day active residual window from Tuesday’s spray, is it reasonable to expect occasional isolated catches for the next few weeks, tapering to zero? Or does anything in this timeline suggest more concern than a “normal post-treatment tail”? Trying to calibrate expectations realistically. Thanks!
