Cockroach Exterminator

Charlotte Cockroach Exterminator

Roaches can contaminate food, trigger allergies and asthma, and even help to transmit disease. If you need to have cockroaches removed from your Charlotte home or business—stat—then it’s time to contact Noosa Pest Management for fast and effective cockroach extermination services.

Types of Cockroaches in North Carolina

The extermination approach used to get rid of these pests can vary, based upon the species of the cockroach. There are about 50 species of this critter found around the world, with five of them calling North Carolina their home. Here’s information about each of those five.

American Cockroach

This is the largest species of the common cockroach, as well as one of the most likely to be found inside your Charlotte home or business. This species has a semi-rectangular shape with a stripe at the back of its head in a yellow-ish hue. This species is sometimes called the waterbug and it’s known for its voracious appetite. If something edible exists, the American cockroach will likely eat it.

German Cockroach

dead roach on floor

This species is widespread across the country and, because they don’t like being cold, they tend to find their way indoors. Once they get inside, they can be hard to get rid of and, because they breed prolifically, a small number of German cockroaches can soon become a significant infestation. They are a long and narrow breed, with long antennae. Hues range from light tan to a color that is nearly black, with parallel stripes running along the wings.

Oriental Cockroach

Like the American cockroach, this is also a large species (one where females outgrow their male counterparts). Nearly black in color (or, sometimes, a dark reddish-brown), both genders of this type of roach have non-functioning wings. These are actually wing pads that cover and shelter parts of their bodies. Also known as the black beetle, they like to settle in cool and damp places, so often seek to enter homes through their foundations.

Brown-Banded Cockroach

This species is one of the smaller types of cockroaches. As the name suggests, you can identify them by the pale brown bands that cross their wings. Because they don’t like light, they find dark hiding spots and can be hard to find. Because they prefer to be warm, they like to be indoors and will find cozy spots to settle into, especially if they’re near sources of food.

Wood Cockroach

Out of the five species that live in North Carolina, this orange/brown type is the least likely to be inside your Charlotte home. The wood cockroach prefers to live outdoors in woody areas but can be carried into your home, perhaps when bringing in firewood. Although they would prefer to go back outdoors, if they find a cool and comfortable place in your home where they can find food, they will breed indoors.

cockroach infestation

Cockroaches and Disease

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), roaches can contribute to the transmission of disease, as they “spread filth and ruin food . . . disgorge portions of their partially digested food at intervals and drop feces. They also discharge a nauseous secretion.”

We’ll stop there, while also adding that they can play a role in spreading e.coli, dysentery, cholera, leprosy, plague, typhoid fever, poliomyelitis, and more. They carry eggs from parasitic worms and can also trigger allergies and asthma. More specifically, allergies and asthma can be triggered through particles from cockroach feces, saliva, shed body parts, and so forth. They can play a significant role in asthma in children.

Signs of a Charlotte Roach Infestation

Cockroaches like to live in the dark and often hide under floor drains, behind kitchen appliances, under sinks, inside appliance motors, and so forth. This includes stoves, refrigerators, microwaves, toasters, coffee makers, and more. Their ability to flatten their bodies means they can also slink in cracks in the walls, beneath mats, under loose wallpaper, and so forth. They might also be having a snack in kitchen cupboards and pantries. 

Roaches have been found in electronics, even on computer keyboards. They might settle in upholstered furniture and they can really love areas around pipes.

If you see them in the daytime, this is a sign that there may be large numbers of them in your Charlotte home, because this isn’t a time when they typically like to be out and about.

Other signs can include scurrying sounds, perhaps at night, and the presence of cockroach droppings. The number of feces that can be found may help you determine how large the infestation is, and their size can indicate the size of the roaches. Smaller ones may have droppings the size of black pepper or coffee grounds, while larger ones have cylinder-shaped feces that are more significant in size.

Sometimes, roach eggs can be found, usually in hidden places, or you may spot shed skins. Plus, depending upon the species, the odor of the cockroaches can be significant, perhaps musty or oily.

As one more sign, check along the baseboards of your Charlotte home. Do you see dark oily smears? Cockroaches may be walking along them at night, navigating their way through your house.

Charlotte Roach Control Strategies

If it seems likely that you have a roach infestation, what’s next? Like any other creature, cockroaches need food, water, and shelter to survive. So, the more that you can deprive them of one or more of these, the less comfortable your home will be for them. Seal all food in tightly closed containers, wipe up crumbs and spills, wash dishes as soon as it’s practical, put away pet food after they’re done eating, and so forth. Take indoor trash to a sealed outdoor container as soon as possible. Fix leaks and otherwise prevent the roaches from getting easy access to water. Get rid of clutter, such as stacks of old magazines and newspapers, to give them fewer places to hide.

Also, do what you can to prevent any more of them from getting inside your home. That way, you’ll only need to deal with the ones already inside, plus their offspring. For example, look for entry points, such as those around windows and doors. Caulk and patch what you can, close gaps around pipes coming into your home, and more.

Although spraying for roaches and other DIY treatments exist, for effective cockroach extermination, it’s typically best to call in the professionals.

Professional Roach Exterminators at Noosa

“Noosa Pest is top-notch in the service they provide. The owner Fred and his staff are always focused on providing the best customer experience. I love the fact that they are a locally owned family business because I am essentially doing business with a neighbor and not some large corporation that doesn’t care about you. They are always helpful and attentive if I need anything or have any questions about pest control.” (Faith Fitness)

This is just one of the many testimonials we have from satisfied customers.

As soon as you recognize that cockroaches are in your Charlotte area home or business, don’t delay. By the time you suspect an infestation, the roaches are probably already merrily reproducing. So, contact Noosa Pest Management to schedule an appointment. We’ll conduct a thorough inspection and recommend the right cockroach extermination plan for your situation.

Our technicians are trained in the use of the latest treatments and application methods. If there is a new pest in our area, Noosa technicians are trained in the specifics and have full-sized trucks packed with all they need to serve you well and tackle your pest control challenges. Our team takes a conservative approach when it comes to exposing people and the environment to insecticides, and we’re a proud member of the EPA’s Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program (PESP).

Our company was founded in 2006 to provide home and business owners with comprehensive pest control services in the Greater Charlotte metro area, treating everyone like we’d like to be treated ourselves. During business hours, we guarantee an immediate response and we will spend as much time as needed to take care of your needs, including cockroach extermination services. In short, Noosa Pest Management is the smart choice when you need a roach exterminator, because we’re experienced and really care about our customers.

As a locally owned and operated family business, we care about our entire community and are focused on volunteering and otherwise serving the people who live here. 

Cities we serve in North Carolina and South Carolina include:

If you don’t see your city listed, contact us, anyhow! We continue to grow our service area while still providing personalized attention to each of our customers. In fact, if you want to talk directly to the owner—Fred Wingate, who is also known as “Chief Bugman”—just ask! It’s really that simple. 

For your cockroach extermination services, call 704-499-9922 to speak to one of our educated specialists. We’re here to help and ready to get started!

Cockroach Control FAQs

Seeing just one cockroach doesn’t prove that the home has an infestation. It could simply be a fluke that a single roach got inside. Having said that, cockroaches are social critters and they typically don’t live alone. Plus, they breed and reproduce quickly. For example, German cockroaches—a species of the pest that lives in North and South Carolina—will lay 40 eggs at one time, per female. It takes about two months for them to mature, with each of the females in the infestation continuing to reproduce. Once in someone’s home, the German cockroach won’t be around many natural predators and so their population can continue to grow and thrive. If you have an infestation, we invite you to contact us for our highly effective cockroach control services.

We believe in a two-pronged approach for effective roach control. The first includes removing their food sources and entry points. And the second is calling your local bug gurus at Noosa Pest for professional cockroach control treatments.

The first strategy includes:

  • Keeping the home tidy! Sanitation. Sanitation. Sanitation.
  • Clean those gutters every month during leaf season
  • Eliminating the roaches’ water supply
  • Make sure food is in sealed containers
  • Try to cut access to their hiding spots
  • Use glue strips or baits
  • Remove brush and other yard debris
  • Seal cracks and gaps in doors, windows, and foundations

If you’re continuing to see roaches in your home, call Noosa immediately to exterminate any cockroaches before the problem worsens. We’ll happily come to your home (or business) and introduce you to our extensive range of roach extermination tactics. If anything else is needed, we’ll handle that, too.

At its simplest, you’ll need to do two things: first, get rid of your current roach population and, second, use techniques to keep them away. We offer highly effective cockroach pest control services in our service areas in North and South Carolina. Once the infestation has been addressed, you can use the techniques listed on this page under the “Charlotte Roach Control Strategies” subheading plus these additional tips. 

Keep your yard free from debris and trim bushes and plants around your home. This can help to eliminate hiding spots for the critters and reduce entry points to your house. If you use mulch, keep it at least six inches away from your foundation and, if you stack firewood, keep it at least a foot away from the outside of your home. If you suspect that roaches are trying to get back into your home, contact us ASAP for cockroach fumigation. The more proactive you are, the less opportunity they’ll have to settle back into your home.

It might be possible to exterminate cockroaches yourself. If you’ve done your best at removing their food source and blocking entry points into your home, try using aromatic oils such as peppermint. Diatomaceous earth (silica) kills roaches by abrading their exoskeletons and dehydrating them until they die. However, this product must be applied with a dusting tool to keep it extremely light. If you can see it, that’s too much dust!

When used correctly, boric acid is a highly effective roach killer. Mix boric acid with powdered sugar to lure these unpleasant insects into a “trap” that lets them crawl through the boric acid until it finally kills them.

While DIY remedies and clean homes help, professional pest control measures are usually necessary for infestations. Cockroaches hide in out-of-the-way places, preferring dark, secluded areas near food, warmth, and moisture. Cockroach exterminators must find and treat these locations instead of randomly spraying baseboards, countertops, and other surfaces.

While there are several types of insecticides available for controlling cockroaches, here at Noosa, we focus on using low-impact pest control treatments first. We are proud members of the EPA’s Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program, and our team always takes a conservative approach when it comes to exposing people and the environment to insecticides.

That can be frustrating, no doubt. Many times, this indicates that pipes or faucets are leaking somewhere in your home, providing roaches with the moisture they need to survive. So, check your bathrooms, kitchen, and other places where you may have leaks and see what needs fixed. If you have pets, think about what food and drink you’re putting out for them, either inside or in your yard, that could attract cockroaches. If that doesn’t solve the problem, consider how you can seal up your food supplies even more effectively, putting all food away as soon as you’re done with a meal. 

When you contact our cockroach exterminators to get rid of your infestation, we’ll inspect your home and make any additional recommendations that we would have for your specific situation.

Yes! Not only can they scurry across your floors, they can use their claws to climb up onto tables, countertops, and more. They also have the ability to climb walls and travel across the ceilings, spreading their presence in your home. Contact our roach exterminators!

Cockroaches are hearty creatures. So, although they are sensitive to temperature changes, they don’t go away or die in winter. Instead, they seek shelter. Cockroaches prefer warm environments with plenty of food and moisture and like being near water and food sources. So, they’re likely to settle near kitchens, bathrooms and attics.

In colder months, cockroaches will collectively migrate into homes and other buildings. And while they tend to stay outdoors in pleasant weather when it turns chilly, houses, supermarkets, commercial buildings, and hospitals see a dramatic increase in cockroach infestations.

When roach exterminators visit your home, you might expect the roaches to disappear. However, this isn’t always the case, especially if you’ve had a severe infestation. Since proper cockroach control typically occurs slowly, you might need multiple treatments for them to disappear or ongoing pest control service visits 3-4 times a year to keep those pesky insects at bay.

Following extermination, expect to see some lingering roaches. Although our technicians are trained to use the latest treatments and application methods, it’s not unusual to see a few straggling bugs after the initial roach control treatment.