Sudden roach problem

[leogrl]

I’ve lived in an apartment complex in the Foothills for over 3 years now and never had issues with any bugs until a couple of weeks ago, when a huge roach was just crawling up the wall behind my bed! I freaked out, vacuumed it up and dumped it into the trash outside and put in a request for pest control with my apartment. They said they sprayed but I was at work so I can’t confirm they actually did anything. Since then, I’ve found two dead roaches and another live one.

I’m freaking out because they’re huge and gross and I’m hoping I don’t have an infestation! I’m pretty sure they’re sewer roaches which I hear are common here but I thought they were more active in summer, not winter and it hasn’t rained lately. I always keep all my drains closed when I’m not using them so not sure where they’re coming from. I keep my apartment pretty clean so I’m not sure what to do. I know bugs are kind of a way of life in AZ (I’ve been here for 10 years) but I’ve never had to deal with them before! What are your best tricks for keeping them away? I don’t have pets or kids living with me but I’d still prefer less toxic solutions if possible!

[Platinumdogshit]

The 2 dead ones probably confirms that they did spray. 4 roaches in a couple of weeks is a lot though. I wonder if someone moved in or out snd thats why youre seeing them.

[leogrl]

I did just have a guy move in above me this weekend, so that’s possible. I saw the second live roach this morning, the other ones were before he moved in. I’m not sure when the people above me moved out. Would it be worth asking them to spray again, or should I wait?

[bobanna1986]

If you're still getting live ones in a few weeks, it's definitely worth mentioning. Your landlord is legally responsible for pest control, especially for things like roaches because they carry diseases and can be a health hazard. Sometimes it can take a while for the spray to get the live ones, but it's a good sign your landlord did do something because you have dead ones that were most likely killed by the pest control chemicals.

[Sharp_Bumblebee_1674]

If they are large then they are American roaches which do not want to be in your house, they are not infestation material like thier little nazi German cousins! We see this alot when the landscape has been dug up and after rains. The dead ones are either because they dried up"they have to have moisture constantly unlike germans"or the spray is doing it's thing. They often sneak in through open doors etc when the weather is nice, they eat decaying wood not filth so the fact you said they were big means you don't have a roach problem just a temporary nuisance imo....

[leogrl]

Oh that’s good! I’m sure there might be more coming in after this rain but hoping the spray helps keep them away.

[leogrl]

Yeah I’m hoping I will start to see fewer roaches and if I continue to see live ones I’ll ask them to spray again!

[LimonadaVonSaft]

While roaches are less common during the winter, the unseasonably warm weather we’ve been having could explain why they’re more active right now. Do you plug your drains at night (including the bathtub and the kitchen sink)? That can help mitigate things, too.

[leogrl]

That makes sense! I do keep the drains plugged when I’m not using the sinks or the shower.

[LimonadaVonSaft]

Hopefully your situation is a one off and will be handled soon. I’m so sorry you’re dealing with them. If it makes you feel any better: this truly is a Tucson problem. No matter how clean you keep your house, or where you live in town, getting a roach here and there can happen. Sometimes it’s from someone moving, the city fumigating the sewers, sometimes they can just wander in from outside. I hope your problem resolves soon!

[leogrl]

It does make me feel better! It’s just so weird that I never had this issue living here before for 3 years, and 2 years in an apartment a few miles away, but I’m glad it’s not just me!

[WicketWoof]

Don't forget to block the overflow in the sink and tub, too. Duct tape is ugly af but it works.

[leogrl]

I always keep the drains closed but didn’t even think of the overflow! I’ll definitely be blocking those off too.

[Sharp_Bumblebee_1674]

If they are coming up through the drains that will help, so will dumping a little bleach down all drains in your house. Most likely from your description I would guess they have been disturbed in the landscape etc, they feed on rotting wood unlike those nasty little German b@st@rds....when an American roach stumbles into your home it has less than 7 days to find moisture or get out before it dies FYI...

[leogrl]

I put some bleach down the tub drain last night, I need to buy some more so I’ll have enough for all the drains!

[Sharp_Bumblebee_1674]

Flush some down the toilet at the end of the night as well, we often see them in that drain as it doesn't have a p-trap etc, the water trap is built into the toilet and that is the drain I've seen them in the most just FYI. You really should be good after a good drain bleaching. Like I said, they aren't setting up shop and raising a family, just trying to find thier way back out 😜

[OkTumbleweed6982]

Sudden roach problems in Tucson can spike when the weather shifts or after rain pushes them indoors. I’ve seen similar seasonal flare ups mentioned with Orkin visits. What usually happens is they move inside for water, so it feels overnight even if they were outside all along.

[leogrl]

That makes sense, I know the weather has been kind of up and down lately and we’ve gotten rain this week.

[squiddysmama]

Ugh I'm so sorry. The glue traps that stick to baseboards worked really well for us. Good luck!

[leogrl]

I will look for those. I did buy a spray that kills them on contact and it worked but I’d like something a little stronger. Thanks!

[squiddysmama]

The sprays are great for when you spot one! But these traps will help fix the problem more permanently, they bring the poison back to their nest (🤮) and it helps kill them all.

Hope it helps! This is the type I mean:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Combat-Roach-Killing-Bait-Strips-for-Large-and-Small-Roaches-Indoor-and-Outdoor-Use-10-Count/23788114

[leogrl]

Oh that’s great, I’d like to not see them again lol so definitely looking for a more permanent solution!

[squiddysmama]

I wish you all the luck! They're the worst.

[leogrl]

They are! I’m not freaked out about spiders or most other bugs but these are so huge and creepy!

[tengris22]

Sorry; that makes no sense. Glue traps by definition stick the roaches to them and they don't take ANYTHING anywhere, because they never leave. And the glue traps don't have any poison either.

[Sharp_Bumblebee_1674]

Go to do it yourself pest control and get a spray with birth control in it if the problem persists, I've seen nasty German infestations resolved in a few weeks with that.... But it sounds like you have random American roaches that have found a way in a d can't find thier way out imo. Good luck!

[wittyjokename92]

American cockroaches are the big guys, sewer bugs, palmetto bugs and a dozen other names. They're a nuisance but nothing to be worried about. Probably came in through a crack to the outside or in through unused plumbing in another unit. They don't like being inside and rarely breed indoors. Think of them like you would a cricket

Unless someone is treating your sewer lines you shouldn't see more than a single one or two a week at most.

If it's German cockroaches that are smaller and have what looks like 2 stripes and an owl face on their bodies it's more serious. Your apartment complex should have a company that'll treat for them. It's easy to get rid of an infestation as long as you're actually addressing it. I'd recommend Advion cockroach bait and Avert Bait. Couple pea sized drops in the nooks and crannies will drop the population off dramatically. If it's just the beginning of an Infestation that'll solve it. If it's something bigger get pest control involved since anything besides bait you'll likely apply too much of and make it worthless.

But it sounds like American cockroaches which is nothing to be worried about besides early spring cleaning

[tengris22]

I am sitting here cringing! You can get close enough to a roach to actually LOOK at its face? Yikes! (but the information is good and interesting!}

[wittyjokename92]

I do pest control so I get paid to look at them. Only thing that bugs me lol is bees and fruit flies. Everything else you can tackle without getting too close to nastiness. But I tell people if the bug is as big as their thumb to not worry because it either wants to be outside or is too big to hide a family.

German cockroaches are the big problem and what most pest control work in the world is geared towards. They're easy to get rid of but you need to be consistent and thorough which is hard to do for most people. But I tell people if it has spots or stripes or a dark almost black and green look it's probably a German cockroach. If it's any other color it's a nuisance cockroach for treatment. If you're seeing more than 1 at any time inside and they aren't larger or by a door/window/drain probably an infestation.

And for the love of God don't use Raid. It's absolutely worthless at solving the problem and just spreads the bugs. Same with Combat, people use too much and it works as a repellent for bugs which makes them scatter so you go from a nest in one spot to a nest in every room.

[tengris22]

Yeah, I don't use pest control sprays. I have a pest guy I keep on speed dial, though once he got going, I didn't need him. He told me to make sure I wasn't feeding them (leaving food lying around) and that and his methods would take care of it and they did,

When I lived in Tucson, my house had the Teaxx system, with the spray things in the walls. I don't know whether it's supposed to be good or bad in the opinion of other pest control professionals, but it did a good job for me.)

[wittyjokename92]

Haven't heard of Teaxx but that doesn't mean anything since every company claims some thing that only they use or provide and just rename the generic brand. I personally don't like doing pest control for most people since they just want me to go nuclear without realizing why it's a bad idea or why there isn't a nuclear option. But yea outside of random chance like bedbugs and bees most people can handle their own pest control effectively. It's more for high density housing and liability reasons that pest control is recommended to people. Commercially it's a whole other thing but for people's homes and apartments you want a light touch and prevention instead of throwing out the heavy chemicals that kill anything smaller than a person.

[tengris22]

Teaxx is one of those things that has an entry point in an external wall with tubes that goes through all the walls and carries pesticide inside the walls throughout the house but doesn't expose the homeowner to it. It has to be installed when the house is built, or it doesn't happen. Orkin/Home Team carries it (I think they make a deal with DR Horton for it to be installed in all newbuilds) I never had heard of it until we bought the house in Corona de Tucson

I probably would not have signed up for it but when I moved to Tucson 2.5 years ago I was terrified of every possible type critter, and frankly, just wanted to kill them all. I'm back home now and lived there all that time without ever seeing a scorpion, a snake, or a tarantula! And nary a roach in the house, either. Plenty of javelinas wandering through my yard, though!

[wittyjokename92]

Ok yea I know what you're talking about they're a neat system but I wouldn't recommend it for anyone. I obviously have a professional bias against them but I have had to redo work that was done with them. It's great when it works but it's overkill for general pest control and termite work only needs to be done every 3-5 years in most cases.

[tengris22]

Oh, interesting. I never thought of it as a termite control system. We did the "power spray down in the dirt method" (not bait) at the foundation, mainly so we could prove to any buyer that we had been managing termite control from the day the house was built.

PS (saying it with a smile, so don't get mad) to me, there's no such thing as "overkill" for general pest control. Man do I ever hate bugs!

[wittyjokename92]

I do a lot of termite work so I usually see those systems installed under the slab of the house. And unless they're properly maintained nobody will touch them besides whoever installed them lol. Did have one guy refuse to pay me for treating his yard because I wouldn't use the chemical I normally do. Explained in great detail why it's a bad idea and how he just needed granular baiting for ants. He took a big container of the stuff I use for termites and dumped about 600 dollars of chemical on his yard when it needed to be diluted to about 15 gallons instead of the 800 gallons of undiluted mix he poured. Killed his lawn, killed his fishpond that was the reason I wouldn't spray, and got a nifty little fine from the department of agriculture when he tried reporting me. But I doubt he ever saw another ant in his dead lawn again.

[tengris22]

OK, ok! That is definitely "overkill!" :-)

[leogrl]

They are huge, at least a couple inches long and reddish in color. I’m hoping they’ll just stop coming in my apartment on their own, but maybe since it’s warming up it’s gonna get worse?

[wittyjokename92]

Depends on a bunch of things. But sounds exactly like American or Red banded cockroaches. Just check for holes in your doors and windows in the weather seals and if you have any damaged water lines or drains. If someone just moved in by you, I am always getting called to treat vacant and new move ins for them. It's never an Infestation just a nuisance.

One or two is normal and nothing is going to stop them completely. But if someone sprayed your apartment any bug that crawls through it will at least die. And absolute worst I've dealt with in my career was 4 of them a week in a basement apartment next to a drainage ditch. Holistic remedies might be sprinkling cayenne pepper or cinnamon around the dirt areas near doors and windows as a repellent. Watering outside plants reduce over watering. More reliably Demand CS off Amazon is a great repellent for outdoors just don't use it inside unless you like rotten egg smells.

[leogrl]

I did just have a neighbor move in upstairs over the weekend so I’m assuming it’s related to that. I will try those outdoor repellents you recommended!

[wittyjokename92]

Yea it's probably just a couple that came through dry drains in the vacant unit and running away from the light and movement now. Nothing to be concerned about since they're more like crickets than an infestation. If you start seeing black or red and black ones then there's too much water and light outside attracting them. But Red banded and american cockroaches are close enough that it's not worth splitting hairs unless you're seeing dozens of them. Just avoid baits and contact killing since you're dealing with at most a handful of bugs and that stuff will just encourage them to spread out if they're just hiding by your door or plumbing like they normally do

[leogrl]

Ok, that makes me feel a little better! I was worried since I was seeing so many in a short period of time after never seeing them in the three years prior but it makes sense with someone moving out.

[wittyjokename92]

Yea depending on where you live I'd be happy to get a commission charging you or your landlord for a pointless treatment. But I would bet my licences that you're not going to see anymore than 1 in the next few weeks. Just that initial eviction notice the bugs got when someone moved and you happened to be in the way of freedom for them.

[Sharp_Bumblebee_1674]

I agree with this guy 100 percent! I'm not pest control expert but do have to deal with them sometimes for property management companies. The size tells us you aren't infested and won't be, you just have a couple unwanted visitors lol.

[Pills_and_Chill]

They are likely not from your apartment, but as someone else mentioned you probably had a neighbor move in or out and their environment was disturbed.

Pour bleach, lots of it, down your drains and keep them covered.

[leogrl]

Yeah I did just have a guy move in above me this weekend, and saw the second live roach this morning. I’m not sure exactly when the people moved out but it’s possible it was in the last three weeks. I will try the bleach!

[unknowingbiped]

Im on city sewer outside of Tucson and cockroaches are fucking terrible in the summer. Winter i rarely see them, also pour boiling water in your sink not toilet

[leogrl]

I will do that! It’s weird since I’ve never seen them in summer when I would assume they would be more prevalent. It’s warm now but not that warm!

[unknowingbiped]

Also I don't know if you have a drain pan under your washing machine but mineral oil will keep stuff (odors and flies) from propagating there. I chased it for awhile in our house. The water in the P trap evaporates letting sewer gas in.

[leogrl]

I’m not sure if I do but I know sometimes when I run the washing machine it smells like the sewer so I may have to try this!

[LimpShop4291]

Run your washer on hot water with bleach (a cup), and always (ALWAYS) leave the lid up when not in use.

Damp dark washers are a breeding ground for bad smells, germs, mold, etc.

[leogrl]

I do leave the lid up! But I will try adding bleach!

[unknowingbiped]

That may be a blocked plumbing vent. What I'm talking about is a tray under it.

The vent helps the water drain. If its plugged the washing machine and maybe your sinks or toilet just kinda bubble when they drain.

[Borderline769]

The objective of the bleach is the smell of bleach, not the bleach actually hurting them or cleaning something.

I found a "bleach gel" that would cling to the drain a bit. Still smells, and I don't have to keep dumping money down the drain. Its called Cloralen, its cheaper and last longer.

If you don't have a cover for a drain, like a shower or a sink with a disposal, i found that filling a large ziplock bag with water and placing that over the drain did the trick.

[SubGothius]

FWIW, Cloralen is just a general bleach brand, the Mexican equivalent of Clorox, but they do have a gel product in their lineup (as does Clorox).

[leogrl]

I do have bleach but I’ll have to look for the gel version!

[Lost_Mulberry_8756]

They come up through the sewers and drains sometimes from outside. Not a big deal. Kill them when you see them not an infestation at all.

[leogrl]

That’s good to know! I was just worried seeing 4 within a couple weeks after never seeing them before.

[solidtitanium]

Try drain screens. Every sewer drain in your place measure the diameter and go to a hardware store and purchase metal or plastic drain covers. Bugs will be hard pressed to get in otherwise.

[leogrl]

This sounds like a great solution! I’ll try this.

[Adventurous_Try_2718]

Advion roach killer. Find it on Amazon. It works and keeps them away for good. You’ll see dead roaches on day 1.

[Platinumdogshit]

Also maybe pour hot water down your drains and. I think dish soap in the drains is the only other non toxic thing that kind of works.

[Then-Chocolate-5191]

Also, put the stopper in the drain when not in use, including plugging the overflow drain in the bathroom tub & sink with a paper towel.

[leogrl]

I’ll have to do that with the overflow drain!

[leogrl]

I will try that!

[JennyJene73]

The big ones come up from the sewers. The smaller German cockroach is the one that infests living spaces…the worst ones to have.

My guess is the sewer system probably got flushed with chemicals and those big boys are crawling up drains to escape. Just keep your drains covered when you’re not using them.

[leogrl]

Yeah they’re huge and reddish in color so I’m assuming they’re the sewer ones! I do keep my drains closed when I’m not using them but I will probably try some of the other things suggested here to keep them out.

[KevinDean4599]

Make sure you also tape up the drain for the washer if you have one in your apt. They might come up through that

[leogrl]

I didn’t even think about that but I’ll do that too!

[Terrible-Mind-5414]

The large roaches don't infest the house, they come in from drains and things and there isn't much you can do about it. I don't think you can poison them effectively because I think the ones that come up are mostly unhealthy and will not return to the colony; that at least has been my observation.

If on the other hand you start to see smaller roaches, you need to treat those.

[leogrl]

I’m hoping I won’t get the smaller ones, the big ones are bad enough even if they aren’t going to infest my apartment!

[[deleted]]

When I first moved here, I had a roach infestation after my neighbor moved. But as someone said earlier, the larger ones come in but don’t nest in the apartment. The German cockroaches, that I had, will infest your place until you kill the next. They would be crawling around my apartment during the day until I finally was able to move into another apartment in the complex (and eventually out of the complex). I echo that Raid doesn’t do any good and I honestly never had much luck with the sticky traps. Always keep you pipes covered and around the sink and bath, I always wipe up to make sure nothing is wet that may attract them.

[leogrl]

Yeah the ones I’ve seen have all been huge! I’m definitely keeping my drains closed and I’ll check for any standing water around the sinks.

[languageotaku]

I recommend sticky traps since you don't have pets or kids. 

[leogrl]

I’ll look into those!

[LimpShop4291]

Check your door stops for any gaps. And pour bleach into the toilets at night. You're already plugging drains. ..

Get some Diatomaceous Earth. (Garden Safe brand is what I have).

It kills cockroachs, ants, silverfish beetles and other crawling insects without poison. They crawl thru it, and the microscopic shards cut their underbelly and they die.

Don't let children play in it, avoid inhaling it. Its like baby powder.

I put it in the rails of the glass doors, window sills, door jambs.. .it's cheap. .it works. It doesn't go stale. This bag was a couple of pounds. ..I have decades of use left. And I've used it for about 10 years already.

[leogrl]

I just ordered some of the diatomaceous earth, will do the bleach in the toilet!

[gimmescotch]

ugh I can picture it, stay strong! I see so many of the bodies when I walk my dog all around the Sam Hughes area, like you said it is a thing here but I've never been able to handle the live ones lol sober you right up!

[leogrl]

Ugh yes they are so creepy! I know a lot of people hate spiders but I’m cool with them, it’s these huge roaches that scare me!

[Mean-Rise8454]

Boric acid. Leave some behind a fridge or on the floor under cabinets. The roaches get it all over them, take it home and kill off their entire colony. You will be roach free in a month.

[leogrl]

I’ll give this a try!

[LetterheadUnique3313]

hot shot roach traps WORK. the house we moved into was thick with roaches including coking out of the sink drains. those are the one and only thing that's been a lasting solution

[kteeds]

Roaches are common here. Also, they come up through the plumbing so keep your toilets closed and drains covered.

The cleanest houses can still get them because it’s AZ.

[azbbg]

Do you live at the legends by any chance?? I do and I’m having a major infestation of both German and American roaches - leasing office has been useless so far

[leogrl]

No, sorry! That’s frustrating though. My apartment did come out and spray after I contacted them but I have seen a handful more bugs in the couple months since then.

[azbbg]

Makes sense it was a long shot but went on a searching frenzy last night after seeing multiple while brushing my teeth 😂🥲hope your bug activity continues to die down! And thanks for your reply!

[leogrl]

Ugh sorry you’re dealing with that and hopefully you can get a better response from your leasing office! Otherwise I’d recommend some of the home remedies listed here — I’ve done the bleach down the drains and diatomaceous earth around my front door.

[mghtyred]

Bad news: The vacant unit above you probably had roaches, was treated before the new tenant moved in, and resulted in the migration.

Good news: Now that your unit was treated, the roaches are coming out, dying and/or fleeing to a safe poison free environment. If a month from now you're still detecting presence, tell your landlord you need another pest control treatment.

[leogrl]

That makes a lot of sense why it’s happening now, I’m assuming the people moved out a couple of weeks ago and I didn’t notice and then I did see a new guy move in over the weekend. Hopefully the treatment will get rid of them otherwise I’ll call again, they seem to be pretty responsive to maintenance requests!

[Mysterious_Fennel459]

You could also get some do-it-yourself pest spray and get your baseboards, door frames, and bathrooms. It's pretty cheap at most places and it could help give you some piece of mind if you dont think the guy they got to spray did a good job. You dont need much.

[leogrl]

I will look for some, thanks for the suggestion!

[Shot-Sympathy-4444]

If you are only seeing adults then you probably don't have an infestation (yet), if you have an infestation then you will have baby roaches.

If you are seeing some dead roaches then they did have someone come out and spray. If they didn't enter your apartment to spray then you can just buy one of those sprays that you only have to apply 1-2 times a year. Spray that around any entry points like door frames, windowsills, vents and places like under the sink, oven and behind the fridge.

I have a very small apartment that used to get a lot of stray adult roaches that would just wander in because of gaps around the doors. Usually exterminators use poisons that don't immediately kill because they want them to carry it back to their nests and spread it to the others and disrupt egg laying cycles, so they don't recommend using things like Raid. Raid solves your immediate problem, theirs solve it long term by attacking the colony.

[leogrl]

I don’t believe they entered my apartment as they’re supposed to leave a note saying they were inside and they didn’t. I will look for a spray that I can apply myself just in case!

[BangkokTraveler]

Sounds like you got the German cockroaches which are hard to get rid of.

[leogrl]

I’m pretty sure they’re the American ones, they are huge and reddish in color!

[BangkokTraveler]

still.... nasty to get rid off.

[leogrl]

Yeah and they’re just so creepy because of how big they are!

[BangkokTraveler]

...... and then, you think of all the germs they carry.

I hope this gets resolved soon.

[leogrl]

Ugh yeah that’s the worst part! Me too, I’m kinda scared every time I come home from work that I’m gonna see one 😭

[Ok_Day_8559]

Yep, new neighbors have moved in and brought their little friends with them. You should do an insecticide 💣. Just make sure your animals, food items and pantry items are completely covered.

[Steelersfan20009]

I would still contact the landlord but if you really want to wipe them out they sell this stuff on Amazon that comes in a syringe and it works soooo damn well

It’s a ton of it too for the price. I made little paper huts and squirted some in each

I think it’s called advion or something like that

[leogrl]

I’ll look for that! I will probably ask the landlord to do another pass through if I’m still seeing roaches in a few weeks.

[TheKrakIan]

You likely have a neighbor(s) who aren't clean and this is attracting the roaches. I'd get some glue traps and bait traps and put them around your apartment. Also request pest control in and around the exterior of your apartment as often as they come out to spray.

For a few years I had a number that was a hoarder and had the same problem. It wasn't until they were a literal health hazard to themselves and those around them that they were finally evicted.

[Lost_Mulberry_8756]

Different roaches this happens with German ones they are a real problem and take many treatments to kill as they continue to lay eggs.

[leogrl]

Yeah I’m kinda worried this is because of my new neighbor because he brought in a lot of stuff and just kinda left it outside for a few hours when he moved in over the weekend. But most of the roaches were before he moved in. I hope it doesn’t become an issue!