Identify cockroaches
German cockroaches
About half an inch long and tan, with two dark stripes behind the head. They live close to food and water in kitchens and bathrooms and reproduce quickly.
American cockroaches
Large, reddish-brown, and up to two inches long. They favor basements, drains, and boiler rooms, and they wander indoors from sewers and mulch.
Oriental cockroaches
Dark brown to black and shiny, sometimes called water bugs. They like cool, damp spots such as crawl spaces and floor drains.
Signs you have cockroaches
- Droppings that look like coffee grounds or black pepper
- Brown, bean-shaped egg cases
- A musty odor in a cabinet or closet
- Roaches out in daylight, which can mean a crowded hideout
Why they come inside
Warmth, water, and food are all they need, and they ride in on grocery bags, boxes, and used appliances. A messy kitchen is not required for an infestation.
How Go Go treats them
Inspection comes first to find the hiding places and the moisture feeding them. Treatment is targeted at those spots, with recommendations on sealing gaps around pipes and cutting off water sources.
Covered by a protection plan?
Yes. Cockroaches are on the plan, so regular visits keep a stray from becoming a population. See how plans work →
FAQ
Cockroaches: common questions
Does seeing a cockroach mean my home is dirty?
No. They hitchhike in packages and travel through shared walls and pipes. Clean homes get them too.
Why do I see them in the daytime?
Roaches avoid light, so daytime sightings often mean the hiding places are full and some are being pushed out.
Will store-bought sprays work?
Sprays can scatter roaches into new hiding places, which spreads the problem. A targeted approach after an inspection is more reliable.