How To Get Rid Of Water Bugs
When a home or business owner wants to get rid of water bugs (oriental cockroaches), a do-it-yourself approach can be effective if it’s done thoroughly and consistently. The best methods combine sanitation, exclusion, and targeted treatment. Here’s how to get rid of water bugs:
Eliminate Moisture Sources
Water bugs are highly attracted to damp, humid areas.
Fix leaky pipes, faucets, and drains immediately.
Use dehumidifiers in basements, crawlspaces, or bathrooms.
Improve ventilation in kitchens, bathrooms, and storage areas.
Remove Food Sources
Like other roaches, water bugs thrive when food is easy to access.
Store food in airtight containers.
Keep counters, sinks, and floors clean and free of crumbs or grease.
Take trash out daily and use sealed garbage cans.
Don’t leave pet food out overnight.
Seal Entry Points
Exclusion is key to keeping water bugs out.
Seal cracks and crevices in foundations, walls, and baseboards.
Install door sweeps and weatherstripping.
Repair torn window screens and seal gaps around utility pipes.
Use Baits and Traps
Targeted DIY treatments can help reduce infestations.
Place gel baits or bait stations near water bug hot spots (under sinks, behind appliances, near drains, in basements).
Use sticky traps to monitor activity and identify problem areas.
Apply Insecticides Wisely
Use insecticide dusts (boric acid or diatomaceous earth) in wall voids, under appliances, and in cracks—areas pets and children cannot access.
Spray residual insecticides labeled for cockroaches along baseboards, entry points, and damp hiding spots. Avoid over-application, as roaches will avoid treated surfaces if the chemical barrier is too strong.
Maintain Ongoing Prevention
Continue regular cleaning and inspections even after activity declines.
Monitor with traps to ensure the infestation doesn’t return.
Reduce outdoor attractants like leaf litter, mulch piles, and standing water near the property foundation.
The best DIY way to get rid of water bugs is to combine sanitation (eliminating food/water), exclusion (sealing entry points), and targeted use of baits, traps, and insecticides.
The Best Way To Get Rid Of Water Bugs
Our professional pest control services are the best way to get rid of water bugs because these pests are resilient, reproduce quickly, and often hide in places that are difficult for home or business owners to reach with DIY methods. Here’s why our experts provide a superior solution:
- Accurate Identification: Water bugs are frequently confused with other insects, including other types of cockroaches and even beetles. Our pest control professionals can properly identify the species, which is critical for choosing the most effective treatment plan.
- Targeted, Professional-Grade Treatments: Store-bought sprays and baits may kill some visible bugs but often fail to reach deep nesting sites. Our professionals use advanced baits, dusts, and residual treatments designed to eliminate the infestation at its source, not just on the surface.
- Access to Hidden Infestations: Water bugs typically nest in wall voids, basements, crawlspaces, drains, and other dark, damp areas that are difficult to treat without specialized tools. Our pest control technicians have the equipment and expertise to access and treat these hard-to-reach spots.
- Long-Term Prevention: Our professionals don’t just kill the existing pests—we implement an integrated pest management (IPM) plan. This includes sealing entry points, addressing moisture problems, and applying barriers to prevent reinfestation.
- Safe and Strategic Application: DIY insecticide misuse can create health risks for people and pets. Our professionals apply products in a precise, regulated manner, ensuring effectiveness while maintaining safety.
- Faster, More Reliable Results: Because water bugs reproduce quickly, an infestation can grow out of control in a short time. Our professional pest control provides quicker, more thorough eradication compared to trial-and-error DIY attempts.
- Ongoing Monitoring and Support: We provide ongoing pest protection services to ensure the problem is fully resolved. This proactive approach prevents future infestations and gives peace of mind.
Our professional pest control is the best solution for water bugs because it combines expert knowledge, specialized treatments, and long-term prevention strategies. This ensures complete eradication and protection of your home or business—something DIY methods rarely achieve.