Small Roaches
Blattella germanica
General Information
In addition to being unpleasant and unwanted guests in the home, small roaches can spread harmful bacteria and cause allergies and asthma in children. Effective roach control starts with making your home unappetizing for these pesky creatures by removing all available food sources. Learn more about roaches below and find tips to help get rid of small roaches.
- Small cockroaches include different species that are commonly known as German cockroaches, Asian cockroaches, brown-banded cockroaches and the Pennsylvania wood cockroaches.
- Small cockroaches are 1/4” to 1/2” long and generally hide in the daytime.
- After dark, cockroaches come out to mate and forage for food.
- Roaches are notoriously difficult to control because they reproduce so quickly. In fact, one German roach can lay 40 eggs at a time.
Size
Color
Bite or Sting
Wings
Commonly mistaken for
Additional details
- Small roaches often live indoors, usually invading the kitchen, pantry, and bathroom.
- They like to hide in cracks, crevices, or other protected areas that are suitably warm and humid during the daytime hours.
- Small roaches primarily search for food, water, and warmth.
- Small roaches will feed on almost anything, but are especially attracted to foods that have sugar, starch, or grease.
- Some small cockroaches can pick up, carry and spread harmful bacteria, such as Salmonella, to other surfaces that they walk across.
- They deposit their feces in cupboards, sinks, and on countertops.
- Small roaches are a source of allergies and asthma in children. To help decrease this impact, be sure to sweep up and remove dead cockroaches and their feces.
Eliminate things that attract cockroaches
- Remove food spills and exposed food quickly, especially near appliances.
- Store food in sealed, air-tight containers.
- Keep your sink free of dirty dishes.
- Remove garbage regularly and tie the bag tightly.
- Toss out old boxes and newspapers that serve as good hiding places for roaches.
- Clean refrigerators, ovens, microwaves, and toasters regularly. And don’t forget to vacuum under and behind these appliances to remove stray food particles.
- Keep food out of bedrooms and living rooms.
- Keep storage areas dry as these pests are attracted to moisture.
Seal points of access to help keep small roaches out
- Caulk cracks and crevices where small roaches can hide.
- Seal areas where they can enter your home from neighboring units.
Avoid common small roach control mistakes
- Do not place cockroach baits or gels on areas that have been sprayed with an aerosol or liquid insecticide. This is important because roaches traveling over sprayed areas will die before they have a chance to bring the bait back to the nest.
- Do not spray the bait with an aerosol or liquid insecticide or the cockroaches will not eat the bait.
- Be sure to remove competing food and water sources when using roach baits or gels, so the roaches are forced to eat the bait.
- Replace cockroach baits as instructed on the label or when they are completely eaten.
- Optimize small roach control by placing more baits and positioning them closer to where the roaches hide during the day.
Solutions for small Roaches
Easy-to-use and effective for up to 13 weeks*, this ant and roach spray kills problem insects on contact with no lingering chemical odor.
*on Cockroaches and Ants on non-porous surfaces such as ceramic and laminate. (Carpenter Ants for up to 12 weeks. Kills by contact.)
Highlights:
Raid® Ant & Roach Killer 26 kills on contact and keeps killing with residual action for up to 13 weeks*.
- It leaves no lingering chemical odor.
- This easy-to-use spray can be applied to surfaces where ants, roaches and other listed bugs may be infesting.
- Available in 12 oz., 17.5 oz. and 20 oz. sizes.
- Available in Lemon, Lavender, and Outdoor Fresh scents. Also, available in Fragrance Free.
*on Cockroaches and Ants on non-porous surfaces such as ceramic and laminate. (Carpenter Ants for up to 12 weeks. Kills by contact.)
Roaches can hide but they can’t escape this powerful roach bait that kills the entire nest, including the eggs. Simply place indoors and enjoy up to three months of continuous protection.
Highlights:
Raid® Double Control Small Roach Baits kill roaches where they hide and Raid® Plus Egg Stoppers™ stop them from reproducing to break the life cycle.
- Raid® Double Control Small Roach Baits are child-resistant.
- Available in 12 count baits with 3 count egg stoppers.
Raid® Essentials Multi-Insect Killer is safe* to use around people and pets. Made with essential oils and other ingredients, it quickly kills ants and other crawling and flying insects, including house flies and mosquitoes and provides a refreshing scent of Lemongrass. (*when used as directed)
Highlights:
- Raid® Essentials Multi-Insect Killer is safe* to use around people and pets (*when used as directed)
- Provides a refreshing scent of Lemongrass
- At Raid®, we are proud to be America’s most trusted insect control brand* (*Voted most trusted insect control brand by American shoppers, 2024 BrandSpark® American Trust Study)
- Comes with a money-back guarantee*
(*click here for details) - Convenient trigger spray that is easy to use, making it easy to target the bugs, taking care of your bug problem quickly* and safely**
(*ants and house flies through contact; **when used as directed)
Easy-to-use and effective for up to 6 months, this ant and roach spray kills problem insects on contact** with no greasy residue. Spray two ways for those hard to reach places and larger areas.
**kills under 1 minute.
Highlights:
- Keeps killing for up to 6 months.
- Use this product to kill roaches and listed bugs on contact.
- Spray 2 ways. Spray with the wand for precise applications in tight spots, including cracks, crevices, and under appliances. Spray with the wand folded down for larger areas.
- Won't stain carpets & floors
- Clean fresh scent
Raid® Essentials Ant, Spider & Roach Killer is safe* to use around people and pets. Made with essential oils and other ingredients, it quickly kills crawling insects, including Argentine ants and German roaches, and provides a refreshing scent of Rosemary Mint.
*when used as directed
Highlights:
Raid® Essentials Ant, Spider & Roach Killer that is safe* to use around people and pets (*when used as directed)
- Provides a refreshing scent of Rosemary Mint
- Deals with ants, spiders, roaches and other crawling insects
- At Raid®, we are proud to be America’s most trusted insect control brand* (*Voted most trusted insect control brand by American shoppers 2024 BrandSpark® American Trust Study)
- Comes with a money-back guarantee*
(*click here for details) - Convenient and continuous aerosol ant spray and spider spray that is easy to use, taking care of your bug problem quickly* and safely†
(*kills ants and German roaches through contact; †when used as directed)
Kills large roaches and it's nest
Highlights:
Raid® Double Control Large Roach Baits kill the roaches you see as well as the ones you don't see with two types of bait. After roaches feed on the bait, they return to the nest and transfer the bait to the others.
- Population reduction and less activity can be expected within days, with the baits working for up to three months.
- Raid® Double Control Large Roach Baits are child-resistant.
- Available in 8 count.
Relief from severe roach problems.
Highlights:
Raid® Double Control Small Roach Baits kill the roaches you see as well as the ones you don't see with two types of bait. After roaches feed on the bait, they return to the nest and transfer the bait to the others.
- Population reduction and less activity can be expected within days, with the baits working for up to three months.
- Raid® Double Control Small Roach Baits are child-resistant.
- Available in 12 count.
Before you hire an expensive exterminator, turn to our bug barrier. This easy-to-use solution creates a barrier from roaches, ants, ticks, and more — both indoors and outside — with a powerful formula that lasts up to 18 months.*
*American cockroaches and Argentine ants, and applied on non-porous surfaces
Highlights:
Raid Max® Perimeter Protection kills a wide range of bugs and creates a consistent barrier thanks to its effective and reliable formula.
- Large 1 Gallon container provides a long-lasting solution that keeps killing for up to 18 months* (*American cockroaches and Argentine ants, and applied on non-porous surfaces)
- Also available in 1 Gallon Refill, 30 oz Trigger Starter and 30 oz Trigger Refill
- For both indoor and outdoor use – it's a roach killer, ant killer, mosquito killer, tick killer and spider killer that is also kills many other bugs, all in one spray
- Clear formula leaves no stain** or lingering odor (**Test in an inconspicuous area before applying)
- Convenient, precise and easy to use spray
- Save money and reduce plastic waste by keeping the reusable auto trigger, hose, dip tube and holster for use on compatible refills
- Perimeter Protection kills 10x more roaches than the leading competitor* (*Based on 48 hour mortality rates of German and American cockroaches in laboratory testing after five-minute exposure to a one-day aged deposit of product on hardwood plywood panels)
Raid® Max Perimeter Protection helps keep listed bugs out and leaves no odor or oily residue (see label for details).
Highlights:
- Kills ants, fleas, flies, gnats, roaches, spiders, centipedes, stink bugs and more (See label for full list)
- Leaves no odor oily residue
- For indoor and outdoor use
- Spray outdoors, around doors, windows, and along your home's foundations
- Spray indoors along floor boards, door and window frames
- Use in hard-to-reach places where long-term control is needed
- Perimeter Protection kills 10x more roaches than the leading competitor* (*Based on 48 hour mortality rates of German and American cockroaches in laboratory testing after five-minute exposure to a one-day aged deposit of product on hardwood plywood panels)
From scurrying insects on the ground to buzzing insects in the air, Raid® Multi Insect Killer spray controls the most common bug problems — both inside and outdoors.
Highlights:
Raid® Multi Insect Killer is specially formulated to kill both crawling and flying insects.
- Kills common listed household insects.
- Also available in Orange Breeze scent.
- Available in 15 oz. size.
Easy-to-use and effective for up to 13 weeks*, this ant and roach spray kills problem insects on contact with no lingering chemical odor.
Highlights:
Raid® Ant Killer kills ants on contact and keeps killing with residual action for up to 13 weeks* with a Pine Forest Fresh® scent.
- It leaves no lingering chemical odor.
- This easy-to-use spray can be applied to surfaces where ants, roaches, and other listed bugs may be infesting.
- Available in Pine Forest Fresh® scent.
- Available in 17.5 oz. size.
*on Cockroaches and Ants on non-porous surfaces such as ceramic and laminate. (Carpenter Ants for up to 12 weeks. Kills by contact.)
Home pests entrenched in hard-to-reach spaces? Our fogger for bugs reaches deep into crevices and cracks to kills ants, spiders, and more. Even better, this bug bomb keeps working for up to two months from application.
Highlights:
Raid® Concentrated Deep Reach Fogger kills bugs where they hide without a wet, messy residue.
- One 1.5 oz can treat a room up to 25' X 25' with an 8' ceiling, up to 5000 cu. ft.
- Available in 3-pack and 4-pack.
Kill fleas and other pests at the source with this powerful water-based formula. And rest assured, our Raid® Flea Killer Plus Fogger kills fleas and hatching egg s for up to four months.
Highlights:
Raid® Flea Killer Plus Fogger allows you to treat an entire room with a water-based formula that kills fleas and hatching eggs for up to four months.
- Available in 15 oz. size.
Hidden pests causing problems? Put our concentrated fogger to work! This heavy-duty solution penetrates hard-to-reach areas, cracks, and crevices to kill ants, fleas, and plenty more with no wet or messy residue.
Highlights:
Our penetrating, bug-killing fog reaches deep into cracks, crevices, and other pest-preferred hideouts with no messy or wet residue for you to clean up.
- One 2.1 oz can treats up to 7000 cu. ft.
- Available in 3-pack.
Kills bugs without harming your house or garden plants.
Highlights:
Raid® House & Garden Bug Killer is specially formulated to kill crawling, flying and garden insects.
- Kills bugs and won't damage house or garden plants when used as directed.
- Use indoors or outdoors to kill ants, roaches, spiders, flies, and other listed bugs on contact.
- For Outdoor: Use this product on ornamental garden plants
- Also available in Orange Breeze scent.
- Available in 11 oz. size.
Kills on contact
Highlights:
Raid Max® Spider & Scorpion Killer kills spiders, black widow spiders, and scorpions on contact and can be used both indoors and outdoors.
- Available in 12 oz. size.
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