A Threat to Apartment and Condo Housing: The German Cockroach

The German cockroach one of several species that can be found inside homes but it is the species that gives all other cockroaches a bad name. It occurs throughout the world primarily in association with humans and often plagues multifamily dwellings in the United States. Because it does not directly harm people it is considered an aesthetic pest, and the action threshold for this insect depends upon the tolerance of the people living in the infested dwelling. That is why infestations in multifamily dwellings are so common. The building is subject to the lowest common tolerance level. If one apartment remains home to a large infestation, the entire building remains infested regardless of control efforts in other areas.

They require only food, water and a warm place to harbor in between feeding events. They are able to eat whatever food becomes available to them, commonly foraging not only on stored foods, pet foods and table scraps that may be lying around but also in uncleaned dishes or garbage receptacles. They usually only come out at night when no one else is around but their presence can easily confirmed by the mess that they leave after feeding and harboring in an area. Signs are unmistakable and they emit a unique smell if they have been around a while.

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