Of all the cockroach species that invade Arizona homes, the German cockroach (Blattella germanica) is the one pest control professionals dread most. Not because it is the largest — it is actually one of the smallest at about half an inch — but because of its reproductive capacity. A single female German cockroach produces an egg case (ootheca) containing 30 to 40 eggs every three to four weeks. Those eggs hatch in about a month, and the nymphs reach reproductive maturity in six to twelve weeks. Under ideal conditions, a single female and her offspring can produce over 30,000 cockroaches in a year. This is why a German cockroach infestation that starts in a kitchen cabinet can spread to every room in a home within months.

German cockroaches are identified by their small size, tan to light brown color, and two dark parallel stripes running from the back of the head to the base of the wings. Despite having wings, they rarely fly — they prefer to run. They are almost exclusively indoor pests, unlike American cockroaches which move between outdoor and indoor environments. They enter homes in cardboard boxes, grocery bags, used appliances, and luggage — not typically through gaps in the foundation. Once inside, they concentrate in warm, humid areas near food and water: behind the refrigerator, under the stove, inside cabinet hinges, and in the motor compartment of dishwashers. They are nocturnal, so seeing them during the day is a sign of a severe infestation.

Eliminating German cockroaches requires a combination of gel bait placed precisely in cracks and voids where they hide, insect growth regulators to prevent nymphs from reaching reproductive maturity, and thorough sanitation to remove competing food sources. Contact sprays are largely ineffective because they do not reach the harborage areas where roaches spend 80 percent of their time, and they can cause bait aversion. This is a job for a professional. Pest Control Bros provides German cockroach treatment across Maricopa, Chandler, Casa Grande, Tempe, Gilbert, and Mesa. Free inspections, no contracts, and follow-up visits until the infestation is eliminated.