Do you know what this is? - Blattella germanica

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Based on finding multiple specimens in bathrooms and kitchen alone, this is a German rather than Asian cockroach. Also note the lack of silver coloration seen in the other two invasive species of Blattella found in North America, and other characteristics described on the genus-level info page. Moved from Cockroaches and Termites.

… John Carlson, 2 November, 2009 - 9:31am

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Moved from Cockroaches.

… Charley Eiseman, 11 October, 2009 - 5:25pm

Getting rid of Germans/Asians

If you still have them, you may try pesticides. If you have small children or pets, you will have to be extra cautious to apply them in remote locations. There are cockroach baits out there but you would need at least two kinds because cockroaches can develop bait aversion (stop feeding on a certain kind of bait). Apply the baits in high places and in cracks and crevices close to the areas you've seen the cockroaches. Also, cockroaches in large numbers can be a health hazard. Apply sprays around the baseboards of your home especially in the kitchen area. Also, you will need to remove all of your food from your cabinets and make sure they are not getting into it. Seal everything you can into plastic containers. That will remove their food sources. It will really help if you do a deep cleaning prior to the placing of baits. There are baits out there specific to cockroaches and these are the best. Since you live in CA, I would check the laws to ensure that the baits you get are legal.
These cockroaches multiply the fastest of all cockroaches, so the professionals may have to be called in. Also, never spray over the areas that you bait. It renders the bait ineffective.
Good luck.

… sciencebuff, 9 May, 2008 - 12:47am

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Moved from Arthropods.

… john and jane balaban, 22 September, 2007 - 8:25pm

Cockroaches

A dehumidifier might cause them to move out since they are intolerant of dry air. Fans can also help as well as removing any food source, especially food scraps in hard-to-clean areas of the floor. I've heard there are some roach-specific agents that will kill them but don't recall what they are.

… Jim McClarin, 18 July, 2007 - 8:48pm

Dehumidifier? In Southern California?

Unless this is right near the coast, the humidity is already pretty low. Single-digit relative humidities have been recorded not far from LA- and I'm not talking about the desert. Fifty percent during the afternoon is considered muggy.

Far better are glue traps (such the Roach Motel™) or boric acid mixed with sugar (don't leave boric acid around where pets or small children could get into it). They get the boric acid mixture on their feet and end up ingesting it when they clean themselves.

Diatomaceous earth often helps, too, since it wears down the cuticle layer in the exoskeleton that keeps the bug from losing moisture to the air and drying out.

Just remember that dead roaches need to be disposed of promptly- a female's eggs can mature and hatch even after she's dead.

Cutting off their food supply is a good idea- not because they'll starve, but because the more food they have, the faster they'll multiply. That means putting food in bug-proof containers, and not leaving crumbs or other food residues around.

I can't advise you on pesticides, because I never use them. Just remember that you might be exposed to them too, so carefully read the labels and follow the instructions.

This seems to be something along the lines of a German or Asian cockroach. They're the worst of the cockroaches because they don't stay on the floor- they can, and do, climb on almost any surface. It's possible to get rid of them, but not easy- it may require professional help.

I should add that I'm not an expert on roaches- this is just information I've run across over the years.

… Chuck Entz, 20 July, 2007 - 1:13am