Biology and Habits

American cockroaches, also called waterbugs, produce about 9-10 egg capsules each containing 12-16 eggs. Adults live an average range of 200-440 days and take around 600 days to develop from egg to adult.  American cockroaches are most often found indoors in basements, furnace rooms, or utility rooms, sewers, steam tunnels, or storm drains of multiunit housing or larger buildings including grocery stores, food plants, bakeries, hospitals, restaurants, or other old buildings in cities. They are not commonly found in individual residences. During warmer temperatures, they may be found outdoors. 

Control

In commercial settings, particularly in kitchens and food plants, auditors may require total elimination and an active maintenance plan to prevent reinfestation.  Monitoring is an important asset for prevention. Sticky traps should be used around potential harborage sites, including inside of motor housing, pipe chases, near baseboards, and in basements near sewers and steam tunnels. Wettable powders, soluble concentrates, or microencapsulated insecticide sprays are effective, particularly on concrete in basements and utility rooms.  Treat around drains with appropriately labeled insecticides. Baits are particularly effective when applied according to the label. For voids behind walls, dusts are effective in achieving proper coverage.  Insecticides with an insect growth hormone (IGR) are effective in disrupting the molting or sexual reproduction of cockroaches. Exterior barrier treatments may be necessary for populations originating outdoors. 

While chemical control is usually required for American cockroaches, it should always be used in conjunction with good sanitation practices and exclusion. Cleaning dishes, kitchen surfaces, and regularly disposing of garbage and cleaning garbage bins is an effective way to prevent infestation, but also to eliminate food competition, making baits more effective against current populations. In basements with floor drains, installing a screen will prevent the cockroaches from coming out of the drains.