u/Rainy_Day13

Pics in comments!

I originally posted this a few days ago: https://www.reddit.com/r/GermanRoaches/s/wBCV90r0Ky

But I have some significant updates.

My apartment complex has said this is a problem spread out over a 3 mile radius, and more than half the units have requested pest control. They were not able to get to my unit today so I have to wait until next Tuesday. I don't know how I'm going to make it.

But, most importantly, my complex claims these are Asian roaches, not German, and I'm not sure that's accurate.

They claim the Asian ones are attracted to light. But I noticed significantly increased activity when my power went out the other night. Keeping all of the lights on, everywhere, seems to decrease sightings. Then again, I had a lot of candles and a flashlight in my room when the power went out, and that was the only time I've seen them in my room.

I have noticed them primarily in my kitchen and near the doors. I'm too scared to open under my sink because I suspect that's where they're hiding. But I haven't - so far - noticed any in my pantry or trash or on my countertops.

I've seen them almost exclusively on the floor, with the exception that I've seen two in my kitchen sink, one on my bedroom doorframe that I think crawled through there because I had a towel under the door, and one that was on the floor that seemed to jump or fly about 8 inches up the wall then continued to climb.

With these behavior descriptions are you able to discern the likelihood of German vs Asian? I can try to get photos from my traps. I'll be honest I immediately squish every one of them I see crawling around.

UPDATE

Yesterday morning my apartment complex sent out an email regarding increased insect activity not outside and inside, and said they're working closely with the pest control company to take care of the problem.

I called today to get an update on when I might expect pest control to come by my unit, and I was assured definitely today but he can't say when because they're "tackling a ton of units today."

This makes me feel simultaneously better and worse.

Better because I know it's not my fault and I'm not the only one dealing with this, and it seems like they're taking it seriously to get it treated.

Worse because if this is a property-wide issue, I'm worried that eradicating them is going to be nearly impossible and I'm just going to be living in roach hell forever.

I've got a network of sticky traps doing their jobs for now at least, with even more coming today and a popup mosquito net so I can finally sleep.

Thank you for your comments. I'm trying to stay calm.

Original post:

I discovered my roach problem Thursday evening. I called my apartment office as soon as they opened Friday. They told me pest control only comes on Tuesdays. I immediately bought a bunch of sticky traps and deployed them (it didn't occur to me to check reddit until tonight). This has been the longest few days of my life. My days are now measured in how many I see and where. I can barely sleep. I don't want to eat. I don't want to be home and dread coming home.

My bedroom has become my haven as I haven't seen any in there (until tonight). I keep towels under my bedroom doors. Now even my room doesn't feel safe. But I still dread having to leave my room to go to areas where I've seen higher activity.

I'm keeping diligent notes on when/where I see them for the exterminator and have been squishing every one I see. I don't know how I'm going to live like this until it's taken care of. I feel like I'm in hell.

Two more sleeps until the exterminator arrives. If he doesn't have the spray and baits recommended here I'll be buying them on my own. I hope he does because I can barely afford rent, I don't have roach bait money.

It's just wild how this became a problem in what feels like overnight. I saw one lone dead one 3 days in a row then the next night suddenly 5 in an hour.

I want my apartment back.

Every time I get a new streak achievement, I get excited at how much lower my unlock number is than the previous one. And I set a "goal" for the next one - even though I can in no way influence this whatsoever.

For example, Basement Dweller is my next one to unlock, and I hope I'm one of the first 750,000.

Why? I dunno.

Anyone else do this? 😅