When Arizona’s summer heat hits, your garage can become more than just a storage space.
It turns into a prime hiding spot for cockroaches. From Phoenix to Tucson, many homeowners are noticing an uptick in cockroach activity around their garage doors, boxes, and shelving.
But why now, and why the garage?
This article breaks down the reasons cockroaches flock to garages during the summer, the most common types you might encounter, and how to prevent a cockroach infestation in your Arizona home. If you’re tired of late-night roach sightings near your garage door, keep reading.
Key Takeaways
- Arizona’s extreme summer heat drives cockroaches indoors, especially into garages with easy access and high moisture levels.
- Clutter, pet food, and cracks in garage walls create the perfect habitat for roaches to thrive.
- German, American, and Oriental cockroaches are the most common species found in garages in Arizona.
- A reliable pest control company can help identify entry points, treat infestations, and keep your garage free from roaches.
Why Cockroaches Love Arizona Garages in Summer
Arizona summers bring triple-digit heat and a surprising rise in cockroach activity, especially in garages. Here’s why these pests head straight for this overlooked part of your home.
Garages Stay Cooler Than the Outdoors
When it’s 110°F outside in Phoenix or Chandler, your garage offers roaches shelter from the sun. Even if the garage isn’t air-conditioned, it tends to be cooler and more humid than the surrounding outdoor environment.
That makes it attractive for species like the American cockroach and Oriental cockroach, which both prefer damp, shady areas.
Water and Food Sources Are Easy to Find
Garages are often home to stored pet food, extra pantry goods, recycling bins, and even water heaters.
These can provide consistent food sources and occasional leaks that make survival easy for cockroaches in garage environments. Pet food, in particular, especially when left out in open bags or bowls, is a significant draw.
Clutter Creates Hiding Spots
Cockroaches don’t need much space to hide. Cardboard boxes, stacked bins, and wall crevices all offer ideal shelter. Even tight cracks in the garage slab or behind baseboards can be enough for a whole colony to go unnoticed. Once roaches get comfortable, they’ll leave droppings, shed skin, and egg cases behind.
Garage Doors Are a Major Entry Point
Cockroaches in Arizona are resourceful. They can slip in through gaps in garage doors, foundation cracks, or around dryer vents.
During the monsoon season, when flooding or sudden downpours hit the Valley, sewer roaches (also known as American cockroaches) often emerge through storm drains and find their way into garages.
Without quick action, what starts as a few roaches seeking shelter can quickly turn into a full-blown roach infestation, creating ongoing cockroach problems for homeowners throughout the summer.
Types of Cockroaches You Might See in Arizona Garages
Understanding the types of cockroaches that are active around your home can help you spot signs of trouble early. Here are the most common roaches Arizona homeowners should look out for:
American Cockroach
An American cockroach is also known as a water bug or sewer roach. These are reddish-brown and among the largest cockroaches found in homes in Arizona. They’re fast movers and often appear in garages, basements, or near drains. You’ll recognize them by their large size, long antennae, and occasional gliding.
German Cockroach
German roaches are much smaller and typically light brown or tan, with two dark stripes behind their heads. While they’re more common in kitchens and bathrooms, a messy or humid garage can also attract them, especially if there’s access to food and water.
Oriental Cockroach
These dark brown to black cockroaches are usually found near water heaters, drains, or shaded garage corners. They’re less active during the day and tend to hide in damp areas. You may spot them in basements, utility rooms, or other areas with limited airflow.
Turkestan Cockroach
This species is becoming increasingly common across the Phoenix metro area. It’s often mistaken for the American roach but tends to be more active outside. Males are light reddish-brown, while females are darker and wingless. They’re especially active in cracks and crevices along garage foundations.
How to Get Rid of Cockroaches in Your Garage
Roaches can reproduce quickly and spread disease-causing pathogens. That’s why even one or two sightings in the garage shouldn’t be ignored.
Here’s how to address the problem:
Clean Up the Clutter
Start by removing cardboard, paper, and anything stored directly on the floor. Roaches love nesting in warm, hidden areas, so clear away boxes and reorganize shelves to limit hiding spots. Sweep regularly and don’t leave pet food or bird seed exposed.
Eliminate Moisture and Fix Leaks
Check your garage for leaky pipes, sweating water heaters, or pooling rainwater near the door. Roaches are drawn to damp conditions, and even small amounts of moisture can support an infestation. Consider using a dehumidifier if your garage tends to trap humidity.
Seal Entry Points
Use weatherstripping on garage doors, caulk gaps along the baseboards, and screen any vents. Roaches enter through the tiniest cracks, especially during monsoon season when outdoor conditions push them indoors.
Remove Food Sources
Keep pet food in sealed plastic containers with tight lids. If you store dry goods in your garage, ensure they’re kept off the floor and away from the walls. Roaches can chew through light packaging and spread contamination quickly.
Use Traps or Contact a Local Exterminator
Sticky traps can help monitor the situation, but a full cockroach infestation usually needs professional pest control. Local pest control services, such as Green Home Pest Control, know how to identify cockroach hotspots unique to Arizona homes.
Whether it’s German roaches behind your storage bins or American roaches around the garage drain, we can help get them under control.
Do I Need a Pest Control Company for Roaches in the Garage?
If you’re seeing roaches in your garage more than once, a deeper infestation is already underway. Cockroach droppings, egg cases, and nymphs can all be hidden behind shelves, inside wall crevices, or near water heaters.
Even if you treat visible roaches, the hidden population will continue to reappear unless the entire nest is eradicated. That’s where a pest control company that specializes in Arizona pests can make all the difference.
At Green Home Pest Control, we use safe and targeted treatments for roach control, tailored to the behavior of these pests in local homes. We service homes across the Phoenix area, including Scottsdale, Chandler, Mesa, and Tucson. Just give us a call, as we also know how to help prevent other pests, like scorpions and termites, that often coexist with roaches.
FAQs
What attracts cockroaches to my garage?
Food crumbs, pet food, standing water, and cardboard boxes are all magnets for roaches. Combine that with Arizona’s summer heat, and they’ll gladly move in.
Are garage roaches dangerous?
Yes. Roaches can carry bacteria and leave droppings that trigger allergies. Even if they stay in the garage, they can still move into the living areas at night.
What are the signs of a cockroach infestation in the garage?
Look for droppings, shed skins, egg cases, and roaches fleeing when you turn on the light. A musty smell can also indicate a larger infestation of roaches.
How can I keep roaches out in the long term?
Seal entry points, store food in airtight containers, reduce moisture, and schedule regular pest inspections to prevent infestations. Professional cockroach control ensures they don’t come back.
21 years of pest control experience
Founder and Owner of Green Home Pest Control
13 year resident of Arizona
