German cockroaches favor warm, humid spaces near food and water — kitchens, behind appliances, under sinks — and Avenal's a hot-summer Mediterranean climate with intense summer heat, mild winters, and persistent winter tule fog keeps them active most of the year. American cockroaches, larger and reddish-brown, prefer basements, drains, and utility rooms. Stucco and wood-frame homes on slab foundations dominate, designed around the valley's intense summer heat.
We start with an inspection to identify the species and the source — sanitation issue, moisture problem, or entry point. Treatment centers on gel bait placed in cracks, voids, and under appliances, not broadcast spraying, since German cockroaches in particular have developed resistance to many surface sprays. A follow-up visit confirms the bait is working and the population is dropping.