Cockroach Control & Exterminator in Dumfries VA

Cockroach Control Services in

Dumfries VA

Environmental Pest Control is a professional cockroach exterminator serving

Dumfries VA

. Our highly trained technicians know how to treat and remove cockroaches for homes and businesses. It is very important to call a pest control company as soon as you see a cockroach. Where you see a couple cockroaches, means there are always many more. As one of the most common, and fastest breeding, household pests in the world you are not the first to ask. And roaches have adapted to happily co-habituate with humans. They’re notorious for carrying harmful bacteria like E. coli and salmonella thought-out your home and business onto your countertops, sinks and floors. They can trigger asthma attacks in many people, and they stink!

How to Get Rid of Cockroaches in

Dumfries VA

A cockroach infestation will almost always require a treatment program because cockroaches are very resilient and are hard to kill. Treatments must be performed by a pest control exterminator because cockroaches require special chemicals and treatment methods to be effective. Monthly treatment plans are very common until the problem is brought under control; thereafter, a quarterly treatment plan is recommended to ensure that cockroaches do not return. Again, The best, and least costly, methods of roach control services involve prevention through our quarterly pest control plan. However once cockroaches have infested your home, they can be tough to eliminate on your own. Not to worry, our team of professional cockroach exterminators can help you eradicate even the most entrenched roach infestations.

Types of Cockroaches in

Dumfries VA

1) American Cockroach - American cockroaches are reddish-brown in color with a yellow band that outlines the area behind their head. Both males and females have wings and can fly short distances.
2) Brown-Banded Cockroach - Adult brown banded cockroaches only grow to about ½” long. Male brown-banded cockroaches have full wings that reach beyond the tip of their pointed abdomens, while females have underdeveloped wings that prohibit them from flying. These roaches are oval in shape with six legs and two long antennae.
3) German Cockroach - Adult German cockroaches are recognized by their light brown to tan coloring with two dark, almost parallel stripes, located on their backs. Female German cockroaches tend to be darker than males. German cockroach nymphs are dark brown to black in color with the same dark stripes located on their backs.
4) Oriental Cockroach - The oriental cockroach is approximately 1 inch long (22 to 27mm) and dark brown to black. Males have wings covering 3/4 of their body, and the female has very short (rudimentary) wings. The inner wing folds like a fan and is membranous. The outer part of the wing is narrow, leathery and thick.

Do Cockroaches Bite?

Cockroaches do not bite as a natural attack or as a defense mechanism, as it is for other insects. Their mouth parts aren't even strong enough to pierce through human skin. At most, cockroaches might seem like they're biting a person when in fact they're just trying to pick at food remnants or dead skin.

How Long do Cockroaches Live?

The average cockroach lifespan is about twenty to thirty weeks given that the roach has ready access to food and water. The first stage in the life of cockroach females and males alike is the egg stage. Eggs are produced in what are called egg capsules.

Cockroach Treatment and Control FAQ's

What are cockroach infestation signs?

Look for droppings especially on corners, under refrigerators and sinks. Cockroaches eat a lot and as such leave a lot of dark droppings that resemble ground coffee or black pepper. Always use caution in cleaning them up since they are toxic. Look for egg sacs called oothecae. They resemble oblong brown pouches. Detection of foul smell can indicate especially German cockroaches. Roaches are nocturnal, if you see a roach in the day time you have a problem, or soon will.

How did cockroaches get into my home or building?

Roaches are industrious hitch hikers. You may inadvertently bring them in hidden in corrugated boxes (a favorite hiding spot), luggage, bags, backpacks, etc. They may enter themselves through plumbing pipes, along sewer lines, cracks in foundations, floors, walls and crawl spaces, and under door or window jambs.

What should I do if I see a cockroach, or their signs?

Note of the location and contact a pest management professional to schedule a professional roach inspection as soon as possible. Treatment outcomes are better when caught early.

What options do I have for cockroach elimination and control?

Our best advice is to institute an integrated pest management (IPM) program by a certified pest management professional. Environmental Pest’s IPM includes inspection, monitoring, and eradication using approved, safe measures. Homeowner DIY treatments and bait stations may have some effectiveness for low level infestation and the occasional problem. But they may be very temporary. German cockroaches have developed resistance to some of the most commonly-used insecticides. This makes exclusionary measures more important. We work with homeowners on sealing common entry points to help prevent re-infestation.

What sanitation measures can I take to prevent cockroaches?

Sanitation and cleaning practices are the top preventative measures for homeowners. Start with the kitchen. Roaches need food, shelter and especially water and you can help to limit them all. Don’t leave out food, crumbs, spills, dirty dishes, pet food dishes or open trash cans. Don’t leave out pet liter boxes since roaches are attracted to poop. Clean countertops nighty and vacuum kitchen floors if possible. Pay special attention to dark areas under and around appliances. Look for areas of high moisture or water like over-watered plants, condensation from pipes, pet water bowls, leaky faucets. Roaches will eat carboard boxes and paper from magazines so don’t hoard them especially in your cellar. Too, cardboard boxes make excellent roach hiding spots. They will gnaw through paper and plastic packaging to consume the edible contents inside. Seal kitchen edibles in tight glass contains.