Cockroaches · Blattella germanica
German cockroaches
German cockroaches are small, tan roaches with two dark stripes behind the head that live almost entirely indoors, mostly in kitchens and bathrooms. They contaminate food and their droppings and shed skins trigger allergies and asthma. They're common in homes, apartments and restaurants across Southeast Tennessee and North Georgia.
Seasonal activity
When they're active in Southeast Tennessee
German roaches breed indoors year-round, so a few sightings can become many fast.
- January: Moderate
- February: Moderate
- March: Moderate
- April: Moderate
- May: Peak
- June: Peak
- July: Peak
- August: Peak
- September: Moderate
- October: Moderate
- November: Moderate
- December: Moderate
Signs
How to tell you have them
- Small tan roaches darting away when you turn on the kitchen or bathroom light at night
- Roaches out in the daytime, which usually means a large population
- Pepper-like droppings and brown smear marks in cabinet corners, hinges and drawer tracks
- Shed skins and empty egg cases behind appliances and under sinks
- Females carrying a light brown egg case on the tip of the abdomen
- A musty, oily odor in heavy infestations
Why they're so hard to get rid of
German cockroaches reproduce faster than any other roach you'll find in a home. A female carries her egg case until it's almost ready to hatch, so the eggs are protected, and each case holds around 30 to 40 eggs. Nymphs can reach adulthood in a couple of months, so a few roaches carried in on a grocery box or used appliance can turn into a full infestation in one season.
They also live only around people. Unlike the big roaches that wander in from the woodpile, German roaches don't come from outside. They arrive in bags, boxes, furniture and appliances, or travel between units in apartments and duplexes. Over decades they've developed resistance to many insecticides, and some populations even avoid the sugars in certain baits, which is why store-bought sprays and foggers so often fail.
How we treat them
Lasting control comes from a plan, not a single spray.
- 01
Inspect and monitor
We find where roaches are living using a flashlight and sticky monitors placed in kitchens and bathrooms, so treatment goes where they actually are.
- 02
Bait the hiding spots
Gel baits go in small amounts into cracks, hinges and voids near harborage. Roaches eat it, go back to hiding and pass it along to others, including young nymphs that rarely come out.
- 03
Add growth regulators and dusts
Insect growth regulators interrupt development so nymphs can't mature and breed. Labeled dusts in wall voids and behind appliances reach places sprays can't.
- 04
Follow up and rotate
Return visits check monitors, replace bait and switch product types when needed to stay ahead of resistance and bait aversion.
Prevention
What you can do today
- Wipe up crumbs and spills right away and don't leave dirty dishes in the sink overnight
- Store food, including pet food, in sealed containers
- Use a trash can with a tight lid and take garbage out often
- Fix dripping faucets and leaky drains, and empty standing water from sinks and pet bowls at night
- Inspect grocery bags, cardboard boxes and secondhand appliances before bringing them in
- Cut down on clutter like stacks of paper bags and boxes where roaches hide
- Skip foggers. They don't reach roach hiding spots and can scatter them deeper into walls
When to call us
Pest control
Inspection-first treatment for the everyday pests that get into Tennessee and North Georgia homes.
How we treat itQuestions
German cockroaches FAQ
Where do German cockroaches come from?
They hitchhike in. Common routes are grocery boxes, secondhand furniture and appliances, moving boxes, and shared walls and plumbing in apartments. They're rarely found living outdoors, so a German roach problem almost always started inside.
Are German cockroaches dangerous to my health?
Their biggest health effect is allergies. Proteins in their droppings, saliva and shed skins are a known asthma trigger, especially for children. They can also pick up germs like Salmonella and spread them across counters and food.
Do bug bombs work on German roaches?
No. Total-release foggers don't reach the cracks and voids where roaches hide and breed, and they can scatter them into new areas. Extension specialists recommend targeted baits and good sanitation instead.
How long does it take to get rid of German cockroaches?
Most homes see a big drop within a couple of weeks of baiting, but full control usually takes several visits over a month or more because eggs keep hatching. Heavy infestations and multi-unit buildings take longer.
Do German cockroaches mean my house is dirty?
Not necessarily. Clean homes get them too, usually from something carried in. Clutter and available food and water do make an infestation grow faster and make baits less effective.
Think you have german cockroaches?
Tell us what you're seeing and where. We'll call you back to schedule.