The most effective way to get rid of sewer roaches, or American cockroaches, is to kill them with pesticides, or to call in a professional to do it for you. Pesticides incorporating boric acid are the most effective, as this attacks the cockroach’s nervous system and dehydrates its body. It is also non-repellent, which means the cockroach will return to the substance until it is dead. Also known as water bugs, or water roaches, American cockroaches are the largest species of common cockroach and are often considered a pest. They are scavengers, feeding on decaying organic matter and other foods, and so are often associated with being carriers of disease, although this may not necessarily be the case. They are attracted to damp and humid surroundings, hence their name, and are surprisingly resilient, even able to survive for several days without a head. It is perhaps this rather alien characteristic, coupled with their large and distinctive form and their ability to fit into small cracks and under doors that makes them one of the most loathed species of common insect. Due to their large size and slow development, large infestations of cockroaches are not common within houses, although they may move indoors during colder months where they enter through sewer connections, under doors, around plumbing or other orifices. Apart from killing them outright, there is no real way to remove a cockroach infestation.
