Let's talk about cockroaches.... (Phoenix: apartments, houses, neighborhoods)

[jwhalen]

I'm a complete scaredy cat when it comes to roaches. Specifically, I mean roaches in my house. Bugs outside I can deal with, but if I see even the tiniest little creature in my house, I absolutely freak. This probably has something to do with my growing up in Houston and waking up in the middle of the night with a large flying cockroach on my face.

How prevalent are bugs in Phoenix? I would imagine that things like cockroaches would enjoy the climate. Is this something I should worry about? If it's just a matter of keeping things clean and having a bug guy spray frequently, that's not a problem. My concern is having cockroaches coming up through the bathroom drain or somehow getting in regardless of what you do to keep them out.

I know I sound like a complete wimp, but I honestly have been fortunate enough to have not seen a cockroach in my home since we moved from Texas when I was a kid. I've lived in upstate NY for almost 18 months, no sign of a roach anywhere, and lived in California for many years, still no cockroaches...I guess I've been lucky.

So bring on the lizards, spiders, snakes....just no cockroaches.

[CodyW]

Cockroaches - They seem to be attracted to houses with pools. I'm guessing its because of drains and things. But, yes, I've seen my share of them in the Phoenix area, more specifically, in the older neighborhoods for some reason. I don't hear much about them in newer developments.

[AksarbeN]

I live in an older area of north central Phoenix (Moon Valley) the house is about 25 years old and I don’t have any problems with roaches or any other bugs for that matter. There was a period of time years ago that the entire metro valley had infestation of what they called the German cockroach. They were the flying kind and the entire valley had them. I found that at night I could go outside and find them all over in the Eucalyptus trees. They are bad trees (mostly like paper) very soft and subject to storm damage. Well I had some damage due to a storm that week; I had the trees removed and never saw another cockroach outside.

I don’t find any bugs in my yard outside or inside the house. I do have a month contract with a private man who comes and sprays outside only. He does a great job because I can’t find bugs scorpions spiders snakes only the little lizards and birds are visiting my yard. Nothing inside the house other then at times the little baby lizard comes inside. I drop a soft white rang on top of him; he stops running and enjoys being under it. I then carefully pick it up with him inside and allow him to enjoy the outside again. They are great little bug eaters to have around the yard!

Scorpions like citrus trees, river rock, and dry-washes, roof-rats like citrus tree areas.

[CodyW]

German cockroaches have NOTHING on rhinoceros beetles!

[sablebaby]

The only time I have seen roaches are in older apartments and older homes. I had HUGE ones in my first apt that was old and on a manmade lake. They were everywhere in the parking lot. Yuck! That's when I decided to pay more for apts and never once had another problem.

[Ponderosa]

If you keep a few scorpions around the house, they will take care of the cockroaches.

[gigi927]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

If you keep a few scorpions around the house, they will take care of the cockroaches.

LOL...as an admitted bugphobe myself, something tells me if they are freaked about cockroaches they won't exactly be importing scorpions in

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

If you keep a few scorpions around the house, they will take care of the cockroaches.

There we go! A man who knows what hes talkin bout!

Seriously, youd rather have scorpions than roaches. Yes, their stings are horribly painful, but they go away. Diseases from roaches dont, at least not right away.

[grpish2000]

what bout bedbugs in apt buildings?????

[AksarbeN]

The “little” scorpions are the worst ones for a bad painful sting! If they get big enough they can be trained to come and go in the house by using the doggy door.