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Got Roaches? Eliminate Roaches with IPM

There are three types of cockroaches commonly found in the U.S., American, Oriental and German.

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Updated:

August 5, 2024

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What Is IPM?

Integrated pest management (IPM) uses information about the pest to choose methods of control that are safest and most effective. IPM methods include pest prevention, exclusion, and nonchemical tools first. If chemical pesticides are needed, products are chosen that pose the least risk to human health. With IPM, you start by asking, "Why is this pest here?" and try to remove the conditions allowing the pest to enter and live. This approach solves pest problems rather than just treating the symptoms. It also reduces the need to use pesticides repeatedly.

Why Use IPM for Roaches?

More likely to give long-term control
Less hazardous to human health
Less toxic to non-target organisms
More cost-effective
More site-specific

Steps to Managing Roaches

Step 1: Pest Identification

Three kinds of roaches are commonly found in homes (red bar indicates actual size):

Photos of the three types of cockroaches (American, Oriental, and German) and relative size comparison — American, oriental, and german cockroaches

American roaches often come up floor drains and sewer pipes. They are found in hot, damp areas of the home. Oriental roaches like cool, damp conditions and inhabit wet basements. German roaches may come into homes in cardboard boxes or from adjacent units. They like dry conditions and are most commonly found in kitchens.

Step 2: Prevention

The next step in preventing problems with roaches is eliminating what they need to survive: food, water, and shelter. By eliminating these necessities, you can get long-term control and avoid the need to repeatedly apply pesticides, which generally provide only short-term results. Here are some suggestions:

Store all food in the refrigerator or in containers with tight-fitting lids.
Clean up all spills and crumbs, and don't leave snacks or pet food out. Vacuum regularly, paying special attention to cracks and crevices.
Wash dishes promptly and remove garbage.
Eliminate grease residues on range hoods, under the stove top, and on the sides of stoves and refrigerators.
Eliminate sources of water. Pick up pets' water at night and repair water leaks. Don't leave dishes in the sink overnight.
Clean up potential hiding spaces such as stacks of old newspapers or magazines, bags, boxes, and piles of clothing.
Prevent roaches from reentering your home by sealing off all cracks and crevices around cabinets, backsplashes, windows, doors, crawl spaces, pipes, wires, and cables with silicone caulking, screening, and/or copper mesh.
Use rubber drain covers or metal drain screens to cover drains. Keep drains clean and debris free.

Step 3: Controlling Roaches Safely

Try a combination of nonchemical methods first. Place sticky traps under stoves and refrigerators, along walls, and near potential sources of heat, water, or food. Traps will tell you where "hot spots" are. Use a hair dryer to flush roaches out of hiding and vacuum them up with the hose attachment. Put the vacuum bag inside a plastic bag, seal, and dispose. If anyone in your home has asthma, be sure to use a vacuum with a HEPA filter.

Using Pesticides on Roaches

Pesticides are chemicals designed to kill pests. They come in many forms such as bug sprays, "bombs" or foggers, liquid concentrates, dusts, and baits. Because pesticides are poisons, they should be used sparingly and carefully. Products that control roaches while reducing risks of human exposure include:

Tamper-resistant bait stations with the pesticide contained inside
Gel baits distributed in small dabs along cupboard and wall edges and in cracks and crevices
Boric acid in wall voids, behind switches, and along wall edges and cracks
Cockroaches have become increasingly resistant to pesticides, including baits and gels. Baits can take a week or more to take effect, but if baits have not eliminated cockroach infestations within 30 days, throw them out and replace them with a different brand. Each brand used a unique bait recipe, and probably a different active ingredient (the actual pesticide). Changing brands will address both resistance and aversion (the roaches not liking the flavor of the bait).
Avoid using foggers and sprays. You can't control where the chemicals go, and the risk of exposure is high. Sprays and foggers may also irritate lungs. Also, sprays cause only some roaches to die, with survivors only to return later.
Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs) prevent juvenile insects from maturing and reproducing, causing the colony to collapse. They also can cause these roaches to become deformed as they continue to grow in a shell (exoskeleton) too small for them. IGRs are effective, and non-toxic to mammals, birds, and fish, but they are toxic to crustaceans and should be kept out of streams and ponds. They are available as liquids, in sprays (particularly for fleas), and as slow-dispensing disks. They are a valuable addition to an IPM program against cockroaches.

IPM Pyramid — Pyramid of IPM Tactics for Roaches

The pyramid explains some of the different tactics used in an IPM approach. Think of each level as a labeled drawer full of different types of tools. For example, tools used against pests in "design/maintenance" focus on prevention of pests. They are also low in risk of human chemical exposures. Try to use tactics on the lowest levels if possible.

If using pesticides, always

Read the entire label and all warnings before use!
Follow the label directions exactly.
Keep pesticides up high, locked in a cabinet, and out of reach of children and pets.
Dispose of unused or unwanted pesticides and empty containers at household hazardous waste events scheduled in your area.

Call your city or county for more information on pesticide disposal. Empty pesticide containers contain pesticide residues and should not be put in the regular recycling, nor should they be reused.

Follow Up

Use a flashlight to inspect dark hiding places and repeat all cleaning and exclusion recommendations. Continue monitoring for roaches with sticky traps placed in dark places under appliances and potential entrance routes such as where pipes go through walls. If cockroaches continue to be detected, consider hiring a certified, licensed, pest control service. When choosing a pest control company, make sure the company meets all the legal requirements that qualify them to service your home, including a Pennsylvania Pesticide Applicator Certification or Registered Technician card, a business license, and general liability insurance coverage. Also, ask for a list of local references so you can learn about their past performance in treating pest infestations.