Cockroaches tend to hide in dark, confined spaces during the day before emerging at night to feed on scraps of food. In addition to the diseases which they spread, cockroaches frequently trigger allergic reactions and asthma, and they are often accompanied by a foul odor.

Several different kinds of cockroaches are found in Las Vegas. The most common are German cockroaches, which grow to a little over half an inch long and can be many different colors. German roaches most commonly infest restaurants and grocery stores, though they may invade other kinds of businesses and houses as well. Oriental cockroaches are larger and black in color. Sometimes referred to as “water bugs”, these roaches tend to live around damp areas such as sinks and pipes. Perhaps the scariest of all roaches is the American cockroach, which can grow to over two inches long and has the ability to fly. American roaches also tend to have the strongest stench and their secretions are known to alter the flavor of food which they have fed on.

Preventing cockroaches from entering a building can be difficult since they use many different points of entry. Making sure vents are covered, cracks are sealed, and door and window frames are caulked is a good start. However, roaches are also known to enter homes through drain pipes and may even come out of the sink! If you have a garden around the perimeter of your home or business, bay leaves, mint, garlic and catnip have all proven effective in deterring roaches. To kill cockroaches directly, many sprays and bait traps can be purchased at your local hardware store.