What Types of Cockroaches Live in Seattle?

Author: Kurt Treftz, Cascade Pest Control

While not as overtly prevalent as in warmer, more humid regions, cockroaches are still a pest that plagues the Seattle-Puget Sound area. While they don’t cause structural damage to your home or business, they are a significant bio-hazard that can contaminate food sources and leave a mess. Because of this, roach control should be incorporated into your regular pest and rodent control routine.

Luckily, Cascade is here to help. We believe in providing you quality care and keeping our clientele up-to-date on the pests and rodents that are in their area. Read on to find out which types of roaches your home might be susceptible to, and how to keep them at bay!

Common Cockroaches in Washington

American Cockroach

This roach is the largest of its kind, as it can get up to one and a half inches in length. Usually reddish-brown, they are capable of flying and do regularly. American cockroaches also have a light-colored band behind their heads.

They typically stick to cluttered areas and feed off paper goods, garbage, and other waste materials. This variety is more likely to infest a home or residential setting than a commercial space, and will take to any space they can find once inside.

Brown-Banded Cockroach

The name really implies with this roach. The titular brown bands run under their wings, and they are very active. They prefer higher elevations of warm, residential spaces. So be sure to check your attics and wiring spots within your upper floors.

German Cockroach

Capable of producing the most eggs of any other cockroach species, the German cockroach is the most common one found in the Washington area. These roaches have two identifiable brown stripes behind their heads and rarely flies, despite having wings.

This variety of cockroach usually sticks to the kitchen area, but they can also venture into the bathroom or adjacent areas if they share a wall with the kitchen.

Oriental Cockroach

This is the second largest of the roaches (length is usually around an inch and a quarter). They are black or very dark brown in color, and thrive in outdoor warm, moist conditions. While this may not seem well-suited to Seattle’s colder seasons, you’re right—they will migrate indoors after the summer, so watch out for this mass-flight. Your basement is a vulnerable spot, and they tend to enter through vents or plumbing pipes.

Roach Control Strategies

While roaches do not cause any structural damage to your home, their presence and waste is a health hazard. From stowing away in moving boxes or hiding in floor boards, they can nest and create a much larger issue than anticipated.

Bug bombs are a common go-to roach control strategy when dealing with this type of pest, but for roaches this is less effective, since the bomb won’t affect the roaches hiding away in secluded spots, which is where they usually stay. Smaller baits placed in these secluded spots are a better roach control strategy for a small-scale problem.

If you suspect (or find evidence of) a large-scale roach infestation, it is best to call in the pros for the best roach control strategy. Cascade Pest Control offers incomparable, top-notch service guaranteed to eliminate and prevent future infestations.

Call us today to get started 888-989-8979 or Request A Quote!