Keep roaches out of your business by not attracting them in the first place. By denying them the foods they like, water to drink and access to dark, quiet areas where they can lay their eggs, you can limit their ability to flourish in your workplace.
If you’ve spotted an uninvited six-legged coworker scuttling across your office floor, we can help. Getting rid of roaches requires a mix of prevention and treatment. While roaches have a reputation for being indestructible – and it’s true they can live without their head for a week – a good pest control plan can keep cockroaches from taking over your workplace.
What Attracts Roaches?
If you are seeing cockroaches in your workplace, chances are something beyond the 401K plan attracted them there. Here are the main incentives they have for punching in:
- Food. Everyone loves it when the boss brings in donuts. And we mean everyone. While cockroaches do favor sweet and starchy foods, they
aren’t particularly fussy. What do roaches eat? Almost anything. From leftover crumbs off dirty dishes to those last few drops of soda in the bottom of the recycling bin, cockroaches are opportunist eaters.
- Moisture. Like every living thing, cockroaches need water. Areas like damp basements or between walls where pipes are
leaking provide them with the perfect environment.
- Shelter. Cockroaches are capable if crawling through tiny cracks to find shelter from harsh New York weather. They love warmth and will especially seek out humid areas to lay their eggs. This makes them more active in the summer months.
- Dark. Roaches are nocturnal creatures. They prefer quiet dark crawlspaces or unused storerooms where they won’t be disturbed during the day.
Signs of New York Roaches in Your Workplace
Spotting a live roach is the clearest confirmation that you have new recruits moving in. Beyond that, there are other signs to watch out for. If you notice any of these signs, you may be looking at a roach infestation:
- Roach poop. Yep, gross, rude and inconsiderate – but that sums up cockroaches. Their poop looks like small peppery flakes or coffee grounds.
- Egg casings. Roaches deposit 20-40 eggs in casings called ootheca. Some varieties carry their eggs with them. Others will adhere their casings in a quiet safe
place to hatch. They are small, brown oval-shaped pellets with indentations along the surface. Nymphs remain inside until they are developed enough to leave.
- Skin sheds. Baby cockroach nymphs molt several times to become adults. Sheds are light brown in color and look like a small cockroach.
- Odor. Cockroaches are often associated with a musty odor. If you’ve noticed a change in the way your business smells, it could be the roaches moving in.
How to Keep Roaches Out
A clean workplace is your biggest weapon against roaches. By cleaning regularly and maintaining 
a healthy space, you will discourage roaches from settling in.
- Empty wastebaskets frequently.
- Clean up dirty dishes.
- Seal food in pest-proof containers.
- Repair plumbing leaks.
- Seal cracks and gaps.
- Repair windows and screens.
- Replace worn weatherstripping.
We are sometimes asked: “Does bleach kill cockroaches?” The answer is yes, but only if you soak them in it. Cleaning your office with bleach is still a good idea to kill germs and bacteria that invite pests and other problems.
A little caulk and a few hours of dedicated pest-proofing on your business can make a difference. If you’re not sure where roaches are getting in, a trained pest control specialist can help identify areas where your business may be vulnerable.
How to Get Rid of Roaches
There are many sprays, powders and baits you can use to eliminate cockroaches.
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Sprays are best targeted to areas where you know roaches are hiding. A roach will need to remain in a treated area long enough to absorb a lethal dose of the spray.
- Powders can be strategically placed in areas where you see roach signs. Boric acid is the most common version of roach killer. As roaches walk through the powder, they pick up granules on their body. When they preen themselves later, they end up ingesting it.
- Traps. These are sticky surfaces, usually with a pesticide, that ensnare and kill roaches. They are effective but require you to monitor them and change them out when they get full.
- Baits are poisons disguised as food. A roach will ingest it and then return to its nest to die. Other roaches may indirectly ingest the poison as well through their body or feces.
Expert Cockroach Control for Your New York Business
We’ve been dealing with pesky roaches for a long time. We know what a detriment they can be to your business if left untreated. Call Assured Environments or contact us online and put one of our pest control specialists to work on your roach problem today.