Wisconsin is a major tourist destination loved for its beer and dairy products. In addition, major tourist sites such as the Harley Davidson Museum, Michigan lake, and the countryside attract almost 4 million tourists each year. With a continental climate that comprises chilly winters and hot summers, cockroaches in Wisconsin are common.
Cockroaches in Wisconsin Include the German Cockroach, the most common Cockroach that infests indoor spaces. The second most common roach in Wisconsin is the American Cockroach which rarely infests indoor spaces and loves to live in sewers.
In Wisconsin, other common cockroaches are Brown Banded and Oriental cockroaches; they infest indoor spaces but less commonly. However, the Wood roaches are the only native Wisconsin roaches that inhabit all the forests, including the Black River, Brule River, and Flambeau River State Forests. Wood roaches are accidental intruders in Wisconsin and are easy to exterminate.
The cities, including Milwaukee, Madison, and Green Bay, are visited by thousands of tourists during the summer months. Unfortunately, the tourist brings and takes cockroaches and their eggs. This cycle of infestation favor cockroaches to move from state to state. Moreover, the more densely populated the city, the more likely cockroaches are to transfer from neighbor to neighbor.
Tired of cockroaches? Invest in only these products and follow the guide to eliminate roaches!
Use these products, and you will be roach free in less than a week.
1. Advion Cockroach Gel Bait (Review)
2. Gentrol IGR Point Source (Review)
Other Products to try:
1. Combat Roach Traps (Easy than gel baits)
2. Hot Shot Foggers (To kill in masses – 95%)
3. Pet Safe Killers (Uses Essential Oils)
4. Ortho Defence Outdoor Roach Killer (Prevent Roaches)
Roaches in Wisconsin are a common thing.
Roaches are common in almost every state, including Ohio, Arizona, Georgia, and Hawaii. They are pretty resilient and can survive different climates, from cold chilly winters to hot, humid summers.
Roaches in Wisconsin are a common phenomenon and infest almost every city in the state. They are most active during hot, humid summers when they mate, breed, and reproduce.
High-rise buildings, hostels, guest houses, and restaurants in Wisconsin are the hotspot of the cockroach infestation.
Some of the dangerous roaches are the small roaches with a propensity to infest indoor spaces and usually infest populated cities, including Milwaukee and Madison.
In contrast, the wild part of Wisconsin, such as national forests, Blackjack Springs, Gaylord Nelson, Headwaters, and Porcupine Lake Wilderness, has wilder and bigger cockroaches.
Type of cockroaches in Wisconsin
According to the US Department of Agriculture, Wisconsin houses almost 20 to 23 types of roaches. However, most roaches do not infest indoor spaces and love to live in the wild.
Here are the types of cockroaches in Wisconsin,
German Cockroach
The German cockroach is the most common Wisconsin roach to infest indoor spaces. It is half an inch in size and has dark stripes on the back of the head. German roaches have two sets of wings, but they can’t fly.
The German cockroach is mainly found indoors in Wisconsin. However, it infests houses, highrise buildings, damp basements, and restaurants. Moreover, they also love to infest bedrooms and kitchens.
Moreover, Hotels in Wisconsin are the hotspot for German roaches because many tourists visit them each year and bring German roaches, their babies, and eggs along with them.
German cockroaches spread disease and trigger allergies because they visit sewerage more often. Moreover, German roaches reproduce very quickly and infest very heavily.
American Cockroach
This is the second most common cockroach in Wisconsin. However, it rarely infests indoor spaces.
American cockroaches are found mainly inside gutters, damp basements, under the rocks, and sheds. They infest indoor spaces in Wisconsin when the outside temperature drops or increases above their limit.
The American cockroach is one and a half to 2 inches with brown color with a flat body. It has flight-capable wings and reproduces quickly. The American cockroach has a life span of up to 2 years.
The American cockroach, or the flying cockroach, is notorious for flying toward flashes of bright light or when feeling threatened.
Brown Banded Cockroach
Brown-banded cockroaches are the third most common cockroach found in Wisconsin. It is different from the German roach because it has two noticeable lighter stripes across its back hence named brown banded.
Brown Banded Cockroach measures about ½ inch long, and the male roach has wings covering the whole abdomen. However, the female Brown-Banded cockroaches have tiny wings with no ability to fly.
Brown Banded cockroaches are common in Wisconsin but rarely infest homes. Instead, they infest restaurants and bars more commonly.
Oriental cockroach
The Oriental cockroaches are also known as waterbugs. Interestingly, Oriental cockroaches are among the list of Wisconsin roaches found in large numbers.
The Oriental cockroach is 0.71–1.14 inches with a dark brown to the glossy black oval body. Interestingly, the female Oriental cockroaches resemble Florida Wood Cockroaches instead of males.
The male and female both have short wings, but none fly, excluding them from the group of flying roaches in Georgia.
Oriental Cockroaches live in dark and moist places near decaying organic matter, sewers, drains, damp basements, porches, and other damp locations.
Oriental cockroaches rarely infest indoor spaces in Wisconsin but sometimes are seen in damp basements in hot and humid cities like Green Bay.
Wood Cockroach
Wood roaches are the only roaches that are native to Wisconsin. They live in forests in large numbers and are accidentally carried indoors with firewood.
They infest homes made of wood but are easy to exterminate because they are less shy than other roaches and roam freely.
Although all counties are infested with Wood roaches, Forest County in Wisconsin has the highest infestation rates with wood cockroaches.
Do you know the biggest cockroaches measure more than 3 inches in size?
Other types of roaches in Wisconsin
Smokey Brown, Asian, Oriental, Brown Banded, the Australian cockroaches are also found in Wisconsin. Thankfully, these roaches mostly love to live outdoors and rarely infest indoors.
Therefore, these roaches do not impose a major infestation problem in Wisconsin. However, it doesn’t mean that these roaches will never infest indoor spaces.
When the outside conditions are unfavorable, mostly during heat waves, these roaches may move indoors and cause infestation.
The Cuban Cockroach is also found in large numbers in Wisconsin and is different from other roaches because of its unique green color.
Electronic Cockroach Repellent; Does it work? Read this article to know more.
Preventing Cockroaches in Wisconsin
Preventing cockroaches in Wisconsin can be easy than in other states of the US because of low humidity and unfavorable conditions. Therefore, you just need to be careful with a few things to prevent cockroach infestation.
To prevent roaches in Wisconsin from infesting indoor spaces, follow these guidelines,
- Regularly pick up clutter, spilled food, and garbage.
- Cover garbage bins and bathroom drains when not in use
- Use Natural Repellents to keep roaches from entering the house or at restaurants
- Keep mothballs inside your luggage when traveling to Wisconsin from other states or cities.
- Cover crevices and gaps in doors and windows with masking tape.
- Use mesh screens to prevent American roaches from flying inside.
- Use IGR spray or device inside the house. This prevents roaches from maturing into adult bugs.
- Keep lights dim on the patio and backyard to prevent Wood and Asian roaches from getting attracted.
Can you kill a cockroach by stepping on it? Read this interesting article to know more!
Getting rid of roaches in Wisconsin
After successfully preventing the cockroaches in Wisconsin, it’s time to get rid of them.
Follow these three simple methods to get rid of roaches in Wisconsin.
Method 1: Using a bait
This method uses bait to get rid of cockroaches inside your bathroom, cupboards, kitchen cabinets, and basement, all the favorite spots of German cockroaches. Baits are better than sprays as baits will kill the entire colony.
You can get your hand on many baits, but these are my favorite ones. Use each of them according to the instructions on the pack.
– Bengal Roach Killer is a dry spray bait, very easy to apply and use. (How to use guide)
– Advion Cockroach Gel Bait is the most effective gel you can buy.
– Hot Shot Liquid Cockroach Trapper and Killer is the best trap you can get for cockroaches.
– Combat Max 12 Month Roach Killing Bait is the best bait out on the market.
Method 2: Using an IGR
Using an IGR helps ensure the roach nymphs don’t grow into adults. The American cockroach is a notoriously fast breeder among roaches in Wisconsin. Using an IGR spray will keep it in check for you.
An IGR alters the internal hormones of roaches to molt. This way, the roaches can not transform into adults and fail to reproduce.
Gentrol Growth Regulator (Amazon Link) is the only and the best IGR device for roaches. It’s easy to use. Just purge one of them and place it in a hidden place inside your bathroom.
Method 2: Insecticide Spray or Roach Bombs
Insecticide spray or roach bombs are quick solutions for getting rid of cockroaches in Wisconsin. However, Insecticide spray kills roaches but does not destroy eggs; hence, we often start to see roaches again just after a few weeks.
To get rid of Wisconsin cockroaches, seal all doors and windows, turn off ventilators or air conditioning and spray around all the corners and cockroach hiding places. Then, wait for 30 minutes before you ventilate the room.
Additional Read!
