Insects
American Cockroach
The American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) is the largest cockroach found in buildings: the adult reaches nearly 40 mm. It seeks heat and moisture, and thrives mainly in basements, boiler rooms, sewers and commercial kitchens in Montreal.
WHY CHOOSE US
Why choose 514 Extermination for your American cockroaches?
Spraying scatters the colony into wall voids and brings it back stronger. We work with gel bait, which also reaches the individuals that never leave their harbourage.
Gel bait, not spray
Spray acts as a repellent: it scatters the colony. Gel bait is carried back to the nest and eliminates, by domino effect, the ones you never see.
A product in the cracks too
We don't stop at bait. A targeted product is also applied in cracks and sensitive areas, where spraying never reaches — to get the cockroaches that never leave their harbourage.
We identify the species first
German, American or Oriental cockroach: they don't live in the same places and aren't treated the same way. Identification changes the whole protocol.
We find the source, not the survivors
Under the sink, behind the dishwasher, near the floor drain, in the basement kitchen. What you see upstairs is almost never the focal point.
Safe for children and pets
The gel is applied in cracks and behind appliances, out of reach. Health Canada approved products, applied by a CD5-certified technician.
Follow-up + guarantee
The egg cycle (ootheca) often requires a second visit: follow-up is included. The written guarantee states the coverage period — if cockroaches return during that time, we come back at no charge.
Limited offer · Only 7 days left
10% off bed bugs, cockroaches and rodents treatments
Valid for any intervention booked by August 31, 2026. Mention code AOUT10 when you call.
Free on-site inspection and quote, written guarantee: always included, offer or not.
How to identify
Large uniformly reddish-brown cockroach with a glossy body. The pronotum (plate behind the head) bears a distinctive lighter yellowish border. Both sexes have reddish-brown wings covering the abdomen, but it rarely flies.
Typical habitat
Warm, dark and very damp places: basements, boiler rooms, crawl spaces, sewers, plumbing risers, commercial kitchens, pet stores and indoor gardens. Common in food plants and restaurants.
Health risks
By moving between sewers, garbage and kitchen surfaces, it carries pathogens and contaminates food. Its droppings and moults are also allergens that can trigger asthma.
The complete guide
The American cockroach: the basement giant
Despite its name, the American cockroach originates from Africa. It is now the largest cockroach found in Quebec buildings, with an adult approaching 40 mm. It is recognized by its uniform reddish-brown colour and the light yellowish border of its pronotum, the plate behind the head.
Unlike the German cockroach that invades apartment kitchens, the American cockroach prefers the warm, damp areas of basements, boiler rooms, sewers and commercial kitchens. In Montreal, it is mainly an issue for restaurants, buildings with shared plumbing networks and buildings with damp crawl spaces.
How to tell it apart from the German cockroach
- Size: ~40 mm for the American, versus just 1 to 1.5 cm for the German.
- Colour: uniform reddish-brown, versus pale brown with two dark bands on the thorax.
- Habitat: damp basements and sewers, rather than warm kitchen cabinets.
This distinction matters: the treatment method and the areas to target differ by species.
A long but prolific life cycle
- The female produces an ootheca of 9 to 12 mm, usually deposited two days after forming in a sheltered, damp spot.
- Each ootheca can hold up to 18 eggs, and a female lays 6 to 14 over her life.
- Nymphs emerge after about fifty days and complete development in 6 to 9 months.
- Adult lifespan: about 14 months.
This slower development than the German cockroach explains why American cockroach infestations are often linked to a stable, lasting source — a sewer network, a boiler room or an old water event.
Health risks
The American cockroach travels between sewers, garbage and food-preparation surfaces. In doing so, it carries bacteria and pathogens that it deposits on food and dishes. Its droppings, moults and saliva are also recognized allergens, associated with asthma attacks, especially in children. In a food business, its presence is grounds for MAPAQ non-compliance.
Our professional method
Lasting elimination relies on drying and sealing as much as on products:
- Inspection of basements, boiler rooms, drains and plumbing risers to locate the moisture source.
- Monitoring traps and glue boards placed in activity areas to gauge scale and track results.
- Baits and targeted treatment of cracks and access points, with Health Canada approved products.
- Environmental correction: repairing leaks, screening drains, sealing cracks.
- Written guarantee, CD5-certified technicians, discreet intervention.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between an American cockroach and a German cockroach?
Where do American cockroaches come from in a building?
Are American cockroaches dangerous?
American Cockroach problem? We respond within 4 hours
Montreal, Laval, South Shore, North Shore. Written guarantee, certified technician, unmarked vehicle.
Other similar pests
Bed Bug
The bed bug is a parasitic insect that feeds on human blood during sleep. Montreal is one of the most affected cities in Canada.
Cockroach
Cockroaches are extremely resilient nocturnal insects. They reproduce quickly and can infest an entire building within weeks.
Oriental Cockroach
The Oriental cockroach (Blatta orientalis), often called the "water bug" or "sewer roach", is a dark brown to black cockroach with a glossy body. It tolerates cold better than other species and thrives in damp, cool places: sewers, drains, cellars and foundation cracks.