Which roach do you have?
German cockroaches are small, light brown, and live indoors, mostly in kitchens and bathrooms. They breed quickly, and seeing them in daylight usually means a large infestation. They almost always need professional treatment.
American cockroaches, often called palmetto bugs, are large, reddish-brown and can fly short distances. Smokybrown cockroaches are dark and shiny. Both live outside in mulch, trees and drains, and wander in during hot or very wet weather.
How treatment works
For German roaches, technicians use gel baits in cracks and cabinets, insect growth regulators that stop them from breeding, and dusts in wall voids. Expect two or three visits a couple of weeks apart.
For outdoor roaches, the focus is a barrier treatment around the foundation and sealing gaps around doors, pipes and vents. A quarterly general pest plan usually keeps them out.
Helping treatment work
- Do not spray store-bought products while baits are out. Sprays make roaches avoid the bait.
- Keep counters, floors and stovetops free of crumbs and grease
- Fix dripping faucets and leaks under sinks
- Store food in sealed containers and take trash out at night
- Cut down on cardboard boxes, which roaches hide and breed in
How it works
- Call the number on this page. Tell us what pests you are seeing and where you live.
- Get connected. Your call goes straight to a licensed pest control company serving Fayetteville.
- Schedule a visit. Set up an inspection or treatment at a time that works for you.
Common questions
How much does cockroach control cost?
Outdoor roaches are usually covered by a regular pest control plan, commonly about $60 to $150 per quarterly visit in North Carolina. A German roach clean-out usually costs more because it takes several visits.
How long does it take to get rid of German roaches?
Most infestations are under control within two to four weeks if you follow the prep and do not spray over the baits.
I saw one big roach. Should I worry?
One large roach after a storm is usually an outdoor roach that wandered in. Small roaches in the kitchen are a bigger concern.