Cockroaches: a reality that many businesses throughout Toronto don’t want, but still have to face. These pests can be a huge nuisance for businesses throughout the city (homeowners, too!).

They are incredibly resilient creatures with species that can live in a variety of areas and climates that would otherwise be uninhabitable. Many businesses in the Toronto area focus their efforts on treating German cockroaches, thinking other species are treated the same way.

This simply isn’t the way pest control in Toronto works.

Case in point: the Oriental cockroach.

These guys are nearly unaffected by the management approach the German variety requires. You need a specific plan for dealing with Oriental cockroaches separately.

Oriental Cockroaches vs. German Cockroaches

Here in Toronto, the two most prevalent species of cockroach are the Oriental cockroach and the German cockroach. Torontonians are probably most familiar with both. Here’s a quick comparison of the two:

Type: German                   

Appearance: ½” – ⅝” length

Where You Usually Find them: Predominantly kitchens and bathrooms Light brown/tan stripes (infestation can cause them to spread to other areas of the home)

Type: Oriental          

Appearance: Up to 1-inch length shiny black colour

Where You Usually Find them: Outside during warm months, dark moist areas in Shiny black colour the daytime, more active at night

Now that you know what to look for, you can confidently inspect your place of business. Understand, however, you won’t always see the Oriental cockroach itself since they’re most active at nighttime, but there are some tell-tale signs of infestation.

Sure Signs of an Oriental Cockroach Infestation

Even if you haven’t spotted cockroaches, or if you’ve only seen one, don’t rule out the possibility of an infestation. A few sure signs:

• Sightings (usually near moist gutters and dark places)
• Oriental cockroach egg casings (usually dark brown or reddish in color)
• A musty smell from chemical secretions

If you find an abundance of one or more of these in an area of your business, it’s time to contact your Toronto pest control expert immediately.

Dealing With Oriental Cockroaches in Toronto

If you’ve spotted cockroaches around your business, it’s important to consult with a pest control expert. Why? Because, although business owners do wear a number of hats when it comes to the upkeep of their company, treating cockroach infestations is an entirely different situation.

Here at Greenleaf pest control, we only hire certified professionals who bring years of experience dealing with exactly the kind of pest problem you have.

Treating for Oriental Cockroaches

Unlike the German cockroach, Oriental cockroaches can live outside and survive in very low temperatures. For this reason, this is an outline of our approach:

• Address outdoor spaces in addition to indoor areas of interest to this pest.
• Search and seal commercial pipes, cracks and crevices that open up your interior space.
• Tailor treatment solutions to eliminate immediate unwanted guests (inside and out).
• Lay down non-repellant treatments like granules in areas of heavy grass/foliage to be carried away to the nest
• Create a barrier around the commercial perimeter of repellant treatment to prevent more from entering the property.

Remember, though, there is no one size fits all solution and treatment — especially when there are multiple varieties in one area.

The sooner you address an oriental cockroach problem the better. The reason for this? Not only can these pests be a nuisance, but they also carry disease.

Additionally, for those customers and employees who have an allergy to them, the repercussions can be even more serious — they may experience severe reactions and in rare cases can prove fatal.

In order to ensure your business (and customers) are Oriental cockroach-free, your best step is to reach out for an inspection and consultation!

About the Author:

Daniel Mackie, co-owner of Greenleaf Pest Control, is a Toronto pest control expert and a regular guest on HGTV. He is renowned in the industry as an innovator of safe, effective pest control solutions. Mackie and business partner Sandy Costa were the first pest control professionals in Canada to use detection dogs and thermal remediation for the successful eradication of bed bugs. In his free time, he is an avid gardener.