Cockroaches?

[wildrice]

I need to burn my apartment. I went to use the bathroom around 11pm and my cat was hanging in the toilet. I turned on the light to see what he was doing, and he was watching a HUGE cockroach! OMG. I have never seen one in a home before. 

Since he was in the toilet, I flushed it (6 times, to be exact, so hopefully he ended up somewhere else...). 

I don't see any other signs of an infestation (eggs, poop, dead roaches) and this was a big one - probably 2 inches long, at least.

Does this seem like a 1 off thing or do we likely have an infestation? Poking around online, it sounds like seeing a big one is sometimes just a random thing and it's the little ones you really need to worry about. Please confirm?

I emailed my landlord but it's 1am so I am not expecting a response. Meanwhile I may never sleep again...

Also I am SO thankful for my cat... I normally don't turn on the light when I get up to use the toilet overnight, because it wakes me up more, and I may have actually come in contact with the roach if I had just sat down. I am totally freaked out.

[VillainV]

You don’t live in the South, do you?

Sometimes cockroaches just...:get in. It doesn’t mean you have an infestation or that there’s a problem. Sometimes when weather is bad outside they find a way inside. As long as you’re not overrun, it’s likely not a problem. And your kitty seems on top of it :-). Doesn’t make it any less shocking or icky though.

Signed — person who freaked the fuck out when my cat found a centipede in the closet yesterday, before remembering that this shit happens in Florida (and google tells me they eat roaches).

[wise_rita]

Sept 7, 2018 1:57:57 GMT -5 VillainV said:

You don’t live in the South, do you?

Or the southern hemisphere.

Get a can of fast acting Raid and kill any mo fo you come across.

They're everywhere, and always will be.  It doesn't mean your place is infested or unclean!

[wildrice]

Sept 7, 2018 3:24:01 GMT -5 wise_rita said:

Sept 7, 2018 1:57:57 GMT -5 VillainV said:

You don’t live in the South, do you?

Or the southern hemisphere.

Get a can of fast acting Raid and kill any mo fo you come across.

They're everywhere, and always will be.  It doesn't mean your place is infested or unclean!

No! Baltimore! I know cities are known for roaches though. It has been very hot and humid lately and I guess it's not unusual for them to make it indoors during that kind of weather?

The bugs are one of the reasons I have avoided the South! I know they are super common lots of places though. Just a new one for me!

[keh2oblue]

Sept 7, 2018 3:24:01 GMT -5 wise_rita said:

Sept 7, 2018 1:57:57 GMT -5 VillainV said:

You don’t live in the South, do you?

Or the southern hemisphere.

Get a can of fast acting Raid and kill any mo fo you come across.

They're everywhere, and always will be.  It doesn't mean your place is infested or unclean!

SC piping in...this week I've had to kill a cockroach (though we call them "palmetto bugs , a scorpion, and a mosquito the size of my fist.  We also have our house sprayed quarterly and professionally cleaned every other week.  Bugs happen.

[tacokick]

One huge one might be a one off. Just keep an eye out. I don’t think they are terribly common here. I’ve only had one or two my entire life.

[Deleted]

Roaches like water, so the bathroom is a common place for them.

[Vespasia]

J would tell you that was a water bug, not a cockroach. We have this argument regularly.    

I see them outside somewhat frequently but very, very rarely inside. I wouldn't worry too much unless it happens again. I know that is easier said than done though! 

[klingklang77]

I had this problem when I lived in Australia. The big ones do not mean an infestation. It’s the small ones (the German roaches) you have to worry about. The big ones just look disgusting. Get a can of Raid and kill them.

I remember one night after out with friends and I saw one when I woke up at 4 AM. It was on the wall next to my bed. It was not fun to try and kill it because it started to fly.

[wildrice]

Sept 7, 2018 7:06:43 GMT -5 Vespasia said:

J would tell you that was a water bug, not a cockroach. We have this argument regularly.    

I see them outside somewhat frequently but very, very rarely inside. I wouldn't worry too much unless it happens again. I know that is easier said than done though! 

I think a water bug is a good thing, right? Means no infestation? Lol.

I was reading up on this in the middle of the night last night and I couldn't really figure out what the difference was! I wish I had taken a picture of what I saw. I'm 99% sure it was an American cockroach. The thing was huge.

I am really hoping this was a 1 off thing. I ordered some roach traps on Amazon just be sure. If there are any friends around, hopefully those will take care of them. I really don't think we are "infested" since I can't find any other signs of them (but I haven't looked in the backs of cabinets or anything yet, just the bathrooms). 

[wildrice]

Sept 7, 2018 8:34:12 GMT -5 klingklang77 said:

I had this problem when I lived in Australia. The big ones do not mean an infestation. It’s the small ones (the German roaches) you have to worry about. The big ones just look disgusting. Get a can of Raid and kill them.

I remember one night after out with friends and I saw one when I woke up at 4 AM. It was on the wall next to my bed. It was not fun to try and kill it because it started to fly.

I would die.

This is also why I don't live in Australia! I hear there are tons of scary bugs there. Even though it looks beautiful

[wildrice]

Sept 7, 2018 6:34:58 GMT -5 tacokick said:

One huge one might be a one off. Just keep an eye out. I don’t think they are terribly common here. I’ve only had one or two my entire life.

I hope not! I've seen a couple outside, which is fine, but this is the first indoors. I hope that living in an apartment doesn't screw us over with avoiding bugs...

[tacokick]

Sept 7, 2018 8:46:29 GMT -5 wildrice said:

Sept 7, 2018 6:34:58 GMT -5 tacokick said:

One huge one might be a one off. Just keep an eye out. I don’t think they are terribly common here. I’ve only had one or two my entire life.

I hope not! I've seen a couple outside, which is fine, but this is the first indoors. I hope that living in an apartment doesn't screw us over with avoiding bugs...

I lived in a 700 sq ft rowhouse and didn’t have any. Rats fought in the alley on the regular but no cockroaches!

[wildrice]

Sept 7, 2018 8:57:16 GMT -5 tacokick said:

Sept 7, 2018 8:46:29 GMT -5 wildrice said:

I hope not! I've seen a couple outside, which is fine, but this is the first indoors. I hope that living in an apartment doesn't screw us over with avoiding bugs...

I lived in a 700 sq ft rowhouse and didn’t have any. Rats fought in the alley on the regular but no cockroaches!

That's reassuring! I don't love insects and rats outside, but I understand that they belong there and I can handle it (sort of, lol). Inside my house is another story. Thank goodness for the cat! I hope he stays on top of this issue. 

I was reading somewhere (while not sleeping last night) that it's more common to get a large one in the house when it's really hot and humid outside. This Baltimore weather needs to quit. It's ruining everything!

[tacokick]

Sept 7, 2018 9:05:08 GMT -5 wildrice said:

Sept 7, 2018 8:57:16 GMT -5 tacokick said:

I lived in a 700 sq ft rowhouse and didn’t have any. Rats fought in the alley on the regular but no cockroaches!

That's reassuring! I don't love insects and rats outside, but I understand that they belong there and I can handle it (sort of, lol). Inside my house is another story. Thank goodness for the cat! I hope he stays on top of this issue. 

I was reading somewhere (while not sleeping last night) that it's more common to get a large one in the house when it's really hot and humid outside. This Baltimore weather needs to quit. It's ruining everything!

This has been the most miserable summer I can remember. Not the best welcome for you!

[wildrice]

Sept 7, 2018 10:38:41 GMT -5 mofongo said:

Aw, bless your heart 🤣🤣. It’s kind of cute actually!
I have not seen one in my house this summer, we have a contract with a company and they come quarterly. I hate roaches so so much. I have a physiological reaction and just go nuts.

Anyway I’d probably set some traps and spray, or get your H to do it!! I don’t do roaches, I’m good with any other bug or critters but H has to deal with them.

Sadly my H is even more insect phobic than I am. He once killed a big spider for me, so that was nice of him. Usually he's the one running away from flying insects while I'm rolling my eyes.

I'm going out of town this weekend and leaving him in the apartment. If this roach has friends, he may not have a very fun weekend lol. 

I did order some traps on Amazon last night so hopefully those will do the trick. Do you know of any sprays that aren't toxic to cats?

[wildrice]

Sept 7, 2018 10:43:30 GMT -5 melmaria said:

I had a cockroach infestation in my DC apartment. We tried exterminators and Raid and bait and all sorts of shit and nothing worked -- until I pulled the oven/stove away from the wall and saw that there was a massive hole in the wall where the piping went through. After I patched and sealed the wall, I never saw a cockroach again (they had always been in the kitchen previously, despite keeping it immaculately clean). So if it becomes a bigger problem, look for cracks/holes to seal.

Ewww! I would die. But this is good advice. I may look at sealing up some cracks and such anyway. I've noticed little tiny bugs coming in and out of cracks in the bathrooms anyway. They haven't really bothered me enough to do anything about it yet, but this may have pushed me over the edge lol.

[agnes]

When we first moved in to our townhoase we were sitting in the dark watching TV in the living room and saw a black thing shoot out from by the front door to under our couch! The cat got it. But we bought roach baits and sprayed the next day. I also squished towels under the front door even though I know they could still get through.

[fumbalina]

It was probably a tree roach. Those are not the kind to worry about, although really the only effective killing method is squishing it.

The come in to avoid rain out find water but that type prefer outdoors.

There are also German and Asian roaches and either of those prefer interior and are nearly impossible to get rid of.

Bengal spray is pretty powerful but I believe toxic as well. Both acid or diamectous(sp) earth work on them as well. Sticky traps will let you know if you have a real problem

Good luck

[lingome]

Something that I have found effective and that is easy, safe, not messy, are Harris Famous Roach Tablets (you can find them on Amazon and I think at major hardware stores). They're made with Boric Acid, and you can put them under sinks, toss them behind major appliances, or anywhere you have had roaches. Whether or not you have an infestation it can ease your mind to drop them in a few spots.

[Saint Monica]

www.depestify.com/home-remedies-for-roaches/

[mrs.jacinthe]

In my experience (years of living in South Carolina and Texas), the big guys are generally incidental - they prefer to be outside but they come inside through the plumbing (hence why he was in the toilet.) If you don't mind the sound effects, the most efficient way to get rid of them is by sucking them up with a vacuum (use a wet-dry vac for easier clean up) and letting them spin around in that chamber for a while. They're not a sign of "dirty" and there's generally only one or two max. The ones you have to worry about as an infestation are german cockroaches - the tiny ones - which are the ones where if you see one, you have thousands. I know it doesn't make them any less horrifying, but that's the most reassuring thing I've got.

If it makes you feel any better, when we lived in Texas I found one in my shoe. With my foot. While I was wearing it AND HAD BEEN FOR A WHILE. That was traumatizing. (I stopped leaving my shoes in the bathroom area and started shaking them out before I put them on after that.)

[wildrice]

Sept 7, 2018 16:39:12 GMT -5 mrs.jacinthe said:

In my experience (years of living in South Carolina and Texas), the big guys are generally incidental - they prefer to be outside but they come inside through the plumbing (hence why he was in the toilet.) If you don't mind the sound effects, the most efficient way to get rid of them is by sucking them up with a vacuum (use a wet-dry vac for easier clean up) and letting them spin around in that chamber for a while. They're not a sign of "dirty" and there's generally only one or two max. The ones you have to worry about as an infestation are german cockroaches - the tiny ones - which are the ones where if you see one, you have thousands. I know it doesn't make them any less horrifying, but that's the most reassuring thing I've got.

If it makes you feel any better, when we lived in Texas I found one in my shoe. With my foot. While I was wearing it AND HAD BEEN FOR A WHILE. That was traumatizing. (I stopped leaving my shoes in the bathroom area and started shaking them out before I put them on after that.)

Lol. That is horrifying. Thank you for giving me another thing to have anxiety over! (Kidding, sort of).

I am glad the consensus seems to be that the big ones are random. I may never sit on a toilet in the dark again, but I am hopeful I won't see another anytime soon.

[skidunks]

Roaches are probably my biggest fear. I can’t stand them. I bought a huge can of roach/bug spray for my trip.

[mrs.jacinthe]

Sept 7, 2018 16:44:27 GMT -5 wildrice said:

Sept 7, 2018 16:39:12 GMT -5 mrs.jacinthe said:

In my experience (years of living in South Carolina and Texas), the big guys are generally incidental - they prefer to be outside but they come inside through the plumbing (hence why he was in the toilet.) If you don't mind the sound effects, the most efficient way to get rid of them is by sucking them up with a vacuum (use a wet-dry vac for easier clean up) and letting them spin around in that chamber for a while. They're not a sign of "dirty" and there's generally only one or two max. The ones you have to worry about as an infestation are german cockroaches - the tiny ones - which are the ones where if you see one, you have thousands. I know it doesn't make them any less horrifying, but that's the most reassuring thing I've got.

If it makes you feel any better, when we lived in Texas I found one in my shoe. With my foot. While I was wearing it AND HAD BEEN FOR A WHILE. That was traumatizing. (I stopped leaving my shoes in the bathroom area and started shaking them out before I put them on after that.)

Lol. That is horrifying. Thank you for giving me another thing to have anxiety over! (Kidding, sort of).

I am glad the consensus seems to be that the big ones are random. I may never sit on a toilet in the dark again, but I am hopeful I won't see another anytime soon.

I do what I can. O.o

[bunnies]

A couple years ago, a roach got stuck in the glass panes in the microwave door at work. Then it molted. It was the weirdest, grossest, and most fascinating thing!

[blondemoment123]

I never understood how they got in the plumbing. When I was a property manager, a homeowner who lived out of state hired us to do an eviction for him.

Once the tenant vacated, we inspected the house. It was absolutely filthy. We opened the dishwasher and hundreds of roaches came running out. I still have nightmares about it.

[laurack]

Once I was pumping at work and looked at the pump bag and thought I was hallucinating because the biggest cockroach ever was just sitting there on the bag. I was all hooked up and seriously started to panic but I somehow managed to detach the pump, get myself dressed and then run out.

Since my office is in an older building in Boston, cockroaches aren’t uncommon, I’ve seen a couple others and once a tiny one (baby?) scuttled across my desk once. After reporting it they increased the traps because I haven’t seen one now in a year.

It’s true though that other bugs can be mistaken for cockroaches, like a June bug (but I think those are less than one inch long) and giant water bugs but in the city I tend to lean more toward cockroach

My kids have held those giant Madagascar hissing cockroaches a number of times at the curious creatures shows but I cannot even consider touching one lol