Do i still have roaches?

Questions about roaches/infestation.?

• We've had roach issues before and we've called pest control and they would be gone for months but come back. We thought it was because we lived in an apartment but now that we have a house, we still have the issue. Earlier today Pest Control came and sprayed the outside and the corner floors on the inside (followed the walls and sprayed the bottom). But 12hours later (a few hours ago) I saw a crap load in the kitchen (where we mostly see them). They are always all over the sink, but recently we've seen a few on the couch arms, which is a good 20ft away, and in the pantry. I've even seen some in our bathroom (rarely) and in the hallways which are both on the other side of the house (small house). I saw a dead roach which I'm guessing died from the pesticides, so I left it there (I heard that other roaches would eat dead roaches, and I wanted to see if it was true). So when I went in the kitchen I saw a roach eating the dead roach, and more roaches all over the sink. I've recently been cleaning everything before I place it in the sink (rinsing the food off at least) in hopes that they would have less to feed on. About 2hours later I went back checked, I saw little to no roaches but several very small ones. I don't know if they are German roaches since they are still alive, but they are very small and black. The pest control didn't look to check the type or anything, but I don't think they are. What attracts roaches? My mom used to say that they formed in dirty places like the garbage, like worms do (right? :)). How long will it take for the pesticides to do their magic? I can't really remember. Also why were the roaches going so far as to the couches? I've only seen about 3 in the last few days but that's just weird. What else can I do to prevent the roaches from coming back? Also will the spray last long enough to kill their eggs when they hatch?

• Answer:

  first off, no on roaches just eating the dead roach then killing them too, if conditions are right (such as yours with apparent high populations) they will eat their own but not just to be eating because they found it... with the numbers you are stating it does sound like German roaches, A reliable company would attack the problem with gel baits rather than spraying, there is a very effective spray to use for them, but most companies don't use it due to cost and the baits are very effective. Most spray that are used will repel roaches along with killing them so that might be why they are away from the kitchen , though they could of been in the couch or other items from when you moved from the apartment.You will have activity for a couple of weeks probably. With German roaches it isn't always what attracts them, they are moved from one structure to another from people, once one is around it can live for a very long time with very little foods so not doing your dishes regularly will not attract roaches to a new home, but once some were brought in they will multiply quickly with the dirty dishes. Using the gel bait makes getting rid of roaches actually rather easy and usually for under $15...the reason the baits are so effective is that it takes a few days for it to kill them, during this time it passes thru the body and is in the fecal matter of adults, for the most part the young roaches stay in these hiding places in turn feeding on the fecal matter of the adults and thus they are now poisoned. If roaches were controlled from other eating poisoned ones then there wouldn't ever be a roach issue, just spray a few and the problem would be gone, unfortunately it doesn't work that way.