Homeowners can handle the fact that they have occasional insects crawling around their basements, but heaven forbid it that insect turns out to be a cockroach. Well, here's some disheartening news. That ugly black bug scampering out of your floor drains may be a water bug or waterbug to you, but they are Oriental cockroaches to pest control professionals and you most definitely qualify as having a roach problem.
The Oriental cockroach is most commonly found in damp areas feeding on decaying organic matter or worse, garbage. None of us wants cockroaches in our home, but the Oriental roach is the filthiest of the house-infesting roaches often found hiding in crawl spaces, near leaky water pipes and under appliances that have water sources like refrigerators and washing machines.
When cooler weather comes around, existing nests of Oriental cockroaches can migrate into nearby structures from their where they've been hiding in piles of leaves or other decaying debris. To prevent this from happening seal cracks in foundation walls, fix damaged door thresholds, cracks in windows, floors, ceilings, around plumbing fixtures.
If you discover that roaches have gained entry make sure you clean up spilled foods and liquids. Clean like you've never cleaned before areas beneath cabinets, sinks, stoves and refrigerators, as cupboards, pantry shelves and food storage bins. Take away possible food sources by keeping food locked in tightly sealed containers. Rinse bottles and cans before tossing them in the trash and take your garbage outside. Don't let it sit overnight in your kitchen.
Good housekeeping is the solution. A little elbow grease will solve your waterbug problem.
Comments
MikeyZ
22 Jul 2009, 12:55
I'm sure it had MaxForce on the label. I'll check when I get home from
work tonight and post the correct name tomorrow.
renter
22 Jul 2009, 15:37
Thank you Mr. Exterminator. I'm going to try the gel baits and will keep
my eyes open for MikeyZ's solution as well.
Also, the dehumidifier runs all day, every day, but I'll also plug in the
new a/c unit they've bought for me - hopefully that will help with the
moisture problem.
I'm going to share your article and posts with my landlords - thank you
(and MikeyZ) so very much for your help!
MikeyZ
22 Jul 2009, 17:06
Its called:
MAXFORCE Professional Insect Control Fine Granule Insect Bait.
Its manufactured by Bayer Environmental Science (yes the Bayer Aspirin
people).
It comes in a silver container with a yellow lid. I paid $20 for a 10 oz
bottle but again remember I brought it from a pest control company.
It's a local place in Philadelphia called Steves Bug off and they are also
an insectarium.
Folks, this is the only thing that worked. I tried liquids and traps but
they didnt do the job.
Sheesh I sound like Billy Mays LOL! RIP Billy.
Ask the Exterminator
23 Jul 2009, 09:59
The Maxforce granule insect bait contains hydramethylnon. It's an old
product formulation. Most pest control pros no longer use it, but it still
does a pretty good job. It's primarily a retail product sold to the public.
Shawn
26 Jul 2009, 13:09
I lived in a APT, and i notice one of them hiding in my dirty clothes in
the bathroom, then this morning one was just sitting in the sink, scared
the hell out of me. My question, do they bite or they harmful?
Also is possible they can come from the living room all the way to the
bathroom, because in my living room under the air conditioner, for some
reason it drops water from it, meaning i have to put paper down there to
catch the water dripping, and the paper can get really wet, so maybe they
come from there, and travel to the bathroom or maybe they come from the
bathroom somewhere?
Ask the Exterminator
27 Jul 2009, 09:10
Cockroaches have no teeth, so they don't bite in the traditional sense.
They are only harmful in that they carry bacteria and can contaminate
surfaces they touch. They like a cool, damp environment. If your tub has a
leak the area under the tub would be a perfect home for them.
Joe
29 Jul 2009, 18:07
It seems this year iam gettin more oriental waters bugs. My question is
what do the babies look like so can make sure i only have 1 type of bug in
my house?
Ask the Exterminator
29 Jul 2009, 18:18
Here's a link that shows all stages of the Oriental roach:
http://www.targetpest.co.nz/images/orientalroach.jpg
Joe
29 Jul 2009, 18:23
Thanks! i believe that they are baby oriental roachs. i have had the
exterminator come out a couple times and make sure the house is clean. i
have a crawl space that gets flooded due to lots of rain any solutions on
how i can fix this problem? maybe keep them down there and not in the
house.
Ask the Exterminator
30 Jul 2009, 10:48
Fixing a flooding crawl space probably requires two things. You need a tile
drainage ditch installed on the side of the house where the water runs
towards the house foundation. An excavation company will create a swale to
divert the water. At the bottom of the swale they will install an in-ground
drain line to carry the water away from the house foundation.
You may also need a sump pump installed inside the crawl space.
Paula
02 Aug 2009, 11:00
I just bought a 4 year-old house. When I had viewed the house it was
perfect for a growing family. When I took possession last week, we when in
to clean. The place was in great shape. The next day, we found 1 "water
bug" in the bathroom that is located right by the attached garage. Found
another one, he was dead floating in the toilet. From my research and
reading your website, I checked the house for water leaks. There were
none. The construction and tightness on this house are great. So I was
looking to confirm 2 things and ask advice before we move in the family.
First, I think the previous owners probably kept their garbage in the
garage, which may have attracted some critters. Second, it appears that the
water bugs like to be outside in the summer and can easily relocate from a
neighbor's house. I was wondering if I need to get the yard treated?
Also, all the water traps in the house work, so can the water bugs move
through sewer pipes and "swim" through water traps? I am hoping that what
I found is a few wondering water bugs vs a full blown infestation. What
are your thoughts and suggestions? Thanks, Paula.
Ask the Exterminator
03 Aug 2009, 10:49
You are doing your homework. That's good! However, my guess would be that
conditions for Oriental cockroaches are good under the garage slab.
I cannot comment on your neighbor's, but my guess is that your roaches have
found a spot on your property. Put out some glue boards to continue
monitoring to see if the activity continues. If it does you can purchase
Maxforce Magnum cockroach gel bait and put out some bait to kill off the
nest.
Paula
03 Aug 2009, 13:42
Under the garage slab? What about the 40 foot concrete driveway?
Ask the Exterminator
03 Aug 2009, 15:16
Driveway is too exposed to the sun. It needs to remain cool and damp.
Paula
03 Aug 2009, 16:38
Thank you.
Julia
05 Aug 2009, 10:40
I need help identifying this bud I found at work. It's about an inch long
with many legs on both sides (too many to count), three antennas and
stripes on legs, antennas, and it's slender body. Light brown in color,
stripes are dark brown or black and where the body has 3 long vertical dark
stripes with maybe silver or white going across. Could you please help and
let me know if these are harmful to humans, mammals or cats. I didn't want
to kill it but I was afraid it might bite me if I let him go free.
Ask the Exterminator
05 Aug 2009, 13:48
It sounds like you are describing a centipede.
Norma
05 Aug 2009, 15:32
Will Borax kill these water bug/roaches? I purchased some Borax to kill
roaches..... if it does kill them, should I put some in the areas where the
rubber moulding is coming off the walls? I live in a basement apt with
block walls, and some of the moulding is coming off, has gaps in it. Do
the bugs like to eat the old glue? I had an exterminator in to spray, and
he will be in approx every 6 weeks..... will this take care of the bugs?
Ask the Exterminator
05 Aug 2009, 15:59
Borax contains properties that dry out the waxy coating on the roach,
eventually killing it. Put a light dusting of Borax behind the rubber
molding. Be sure to tell you exterminator about the Borax. His liquid
sprays will render the Borax useless if he treats it.
Marie
06 Aug 2009, 01:16
Please help!! In my bathroom I have these small dark black bugs I think
they might be an Water Beetles Bug but not sure. These bugs come only out
when there is water on the bathroom floor. I seen them come out of the
corners of the wall, underneath my carpet, and tub. I bought some type of
spray for Ants and Roaches but it doesn't help.
Please Help!!!!
Ask the Exterminator
06 Aug 2009, 17:22
If you want to control an insect infestation you must know the identity of
the insect. Collect a few and take them to a local exterminator for an
identification. Then you will know where they are nesting and how to
control them.
ben santana
18 Aug 2009, 22:35
Can waterbugs come out of a toilet that is full of water,my friend has a
house and he finds all kinds of stains on his toilet and he was told that
it is waterbug poop,what can he do about this problem,I went over to his
house while he was on vacation to make sure everything was ok,and found the
toilet smeared with stains,it looked as if someone with diarreah had gone
all over his toilet bowl,then i saw a waterbug come running out and up
along the tank
Priscilla
30 Aug 2009, 15:35
I just moved into this apartment and you know it's funny, I've seen
cockroaches before and they bother the heck out of me but not the oriental
kind. I think when someone told me 'waterbug' and made me let my bug
ickiness level drop. Thank you very much for clearing that up for me and I
think I've seen them come from the refrigerator more than anywhere else, I
moved it but I can't check the bottom of it. Will a bug fogger be
effective? Should I be concerned that my bed is floor level? Any other
suggestions?
I'm calling the apartment people tomorrow to inform them again using the
correct term 'cockroach' because it may be an infestation. I've seen too
many babies but they die mostly - the bigger ones are exploring and the
thought of them being in my boxes, my things... computer, clothes!
*shivers* eek! Thank you again.
Priscilla
30 Aug 2009, 15:38
Geez! I'm sorry i immediately started reading the information when I
clicked the link that brought me here so .. yea, sorry for not following
the instructions. :/
Tanya
03 Sep 2009, 00:48
i live in a condo that's never had roaches UNTIL.... (dum ti dummmm) the
next door neighbors moved out and their apartment was cleaned by a pro
cleaning company. this MAY have been the reason, maybe not, but still... i
put down borax detergent + flour + sugar on the counters and every nook and
cranny in the kitchen (emptied all but the upper cabinets where the food
is...probly a dumb mistake) and all along the walls and the bathroom and
swept it into the carpet and i STILL see them walking through the borax
solution like "hahahaha, ya dork". i would leave it down 2-3 days, sweep
it up from the floors and outta the cabinets enough to get the critters i
could see and do it again. it's been 2 weeks and i STILL see them ! now
i'm having a hella time getting the borax solution up, it's gotten wet and
dried in certain areas, i'm about to vacuum the carpet, and mop the
hardwood floors and madacide the inside of the cabinets after emptying
them. i'm so friggin' tired, i'm almost ready to let'm move in and
name'em. WHAT do i do now? do i pull the fridge and stove out, washer and
dryer, and start over again or pull out my .357 and start shootin'?
i leave my window in my bedroom open about 30 minutes a day just to let
fresh air in and it's never been a problem and i super boraxed that area (i
also did all around the condo on the outside and put peppermint sticks at
the entrance of the newly empty condo cuz i'm mean) and now i feel like my
house is a mess, i've moved everything everywhere...
i'm surprised they don't leave just cuz i TALK TOO MUCH !!!!!!!!!
(help)
~tanya <smile>
Tanya
03 Sep 2009, 00:55
oh yeah, i don't have EVERYTHING out of my closets, it's soooooo much
stuff. is that something i should do? get EVERYTHING off the carpet and
sprinkle it into the carpet even in the closets?
i yell and scream and cuss at 'em and talk bad about their mamas like a
crazy lunatic, and that seems to work better than anything at this point.
(i think i'm gonna cry)
...i'm gonna go make sure every dish is washed and my sponge is microwaved
first and clean the kitchen again first.
(i look like crap when i cry.)
~tanya
Sal
08 Oct 2009, 08:09
I work in a firehouse in Brooklyn, NY, We have "waterbugs" I.E. roaches.
They're mostly in the kitchen, and we understand why they're there, with
all the food and garbage around. But alarmingly (no pun intended) we are
seeing them upstairs in the bunkrooms and office, where there is no food or
garbage source. Why are they up there? and what should we do about it.
(Dept. exterminators seem to only half-heartedly spray in the kitchen
only.)
Steve
24 Oct 2009, 22:03
While cleaning a house that had been empty for over 6 months, we noticed
thin lines of tarry, dark brown to black, material at the back of the
counter, in a drawer, and at the corner edge of the cabinet under the sink.
My brother thought it was indicative or roaches, but I can not verify this
with an online image. What critter or insect leaves these thin nasty
lines? They appear much like a think small line of caulk might.
Leroy
04 Nov 2009, 13:46
My girlfriend flooded the basement about 3 weeks ago. It came from the
washer machine. The flood was cleaned up and no water bugs were noticed.
They never spotted a water bug before in the house and they have resided
there for 30 years. Last week a family member moved in and now there are
water bugs around the washer maching and one in the bath tub. In the family
members old apt there were water bugs. Is it possible they came from the
flood or from the family members clothing. Also they are noticing more and
more water bugs. What should be used to controll this problem
Michael
23 Dec 2009, 15:04
Most of the stuff you can buy at the store is GARBAGE. READ the
ingredients. If it doesn't say Permethrin, don't buy it. If you can find
one that has permethrin and pirethrin that's even better. The RAID
FUMIGATOR not the foggers, contain a VERY high concentration of permethrin,
over 12%. Most exterminators use a concentration of only a couple percent
tops.