In Quebec, July is moving season, and for the pest control and extermination industry, it is the season for cockroaches and bed bugs.
Are you moving? Do you live in an apartment building? Here is what to do to avoid problems.
What do cockroaches look like?
The species most commonly found in kitchens is the German cockroach. It is active at night, brown, and about half an inch long when fully grown.
They love heat and water. They are also found in bathrooms.
For more information, visit our page: German Cockroach.
Act quickly
Because cockroaches hide during the day, they often go unnoticed for a long time.
Active at night and brown, measuring about half an inch when fully grown, the female lays a sac containing around 30 eggs every month, and the offspring begin reproducing after 60 days. If they go undetected or are ignored for three months, the population explodes, becoming much harder to exterminate, and the risk of them infesting adjacent apartments becomes high.
Inspection
Place sticky traps in key locations throughout your home: at the base of the fridge, under the oven, near the coffee maker, and by sinks and toilets. Check the traps after 7–14 days.
Inspection areas: cabinet hinges, under the sink, and beneath the refrigerator and oven.
Prevention
The best prevention methods involve inspecting key areas with a flashlight, maintaining cleanliness, and using monitoring traps in those key spots that are checked regularly.
Key areas:
- Behind and under the refrigerator
- In the cabinet near the sink (check under the counter)
- Under the oven
- Under the coffee maker
- Near the bathroom sink (check under the sink)
Cockroaches: What to do?
What should you do if you spot one? Contact a professional immediately, or—if you are a tenant—contact the building manager or landlord. Infestations can spread quickly in a building, so it is important that neighboring apartments are thoroughly inspected.
Beware of DIY treatments
Be cautious with over-the-counter products. They are often ineffective against cockroaches and bed bugs, and when used by non-professionals, they can frequently make the situation worse.
The AQGP (Quebec Pest Management Association) advises residents of infested homes to hire a professional rather than using mass-market products, which often prove inadequate due to cockroach resistance.
The challenge of rental apartment buildings
Cockroaches in multi-unit buildings are among the most difficult pests to eliminate completely.
In addition to the challenge of exterminating cockroaches in a kitchen, the insects often move from one unit to another. If not managed properly, they can go undetected just long enough to reappear elsewhere after treatment in the initial source unit has been completed. It is important to inspect other units, set traps, and return to check them after a certain period.
Call on an experienced professional like MARANDA Gestion Parasitaire. We know everything there is to know about cockroaches and we have years of experience in some of the toughest rental buildings infestation. All our work is 100% guaranteed.
Cockroaches are our specialty. Guaranteed.
At Maranda Pest Management, we favor a methodical approach aimed at identifying and treating all active nesting sites, rather than simply eliminating visible insects. We take the time to treat the nooks and crannies where cockroaches nest using safe and effective products.
Need help with a German cockroach problem?
Whether you are in Gatineau, Val-des-Monts, Cantley, Chelsea, L’Ange-Gardien, or anywhere in the Outaouais region, our team has the expertise to quickly assess the extent of the infestation and implement an effective elimination strategy.
Contact Maranda Pest Control as soon as you notice the first signs of activity. The sooner a German cockroach infestation is addressed, the easier it is to control.
