Cockroaches are a serious health hazard that can carry bacteria and germs that cause diseases such as typhoid, polio, and dysentery. The best way to control them is to keep your home clean and avoid overcrowded conditions.
It’s important to remove easy sources of food from your house while Cockroach Pest Control Near Me are being treated. This will prevent them from simply moving to another area of the house.
What Are Cockroaches?
Cockroaches are insects that belong to the order Blattodea. They are one of the most common pests in homes, where they can cause a number of health problems by contaminating food and surfaces. They are also known to transfer pathogens that cause gastrointestinal issues in humans, such as Salmonella.
There are about 4500 species of cockroaches worldwide, with some 30 being commonly associated with human habitats. Some are more common than others, including the German cockroach and American cockroach.
These pests are scavengers that are not picky eaters, and they tend to feed on almost anything, including glue, soap, book bindings, wallpaper paste, hair, leather, and even decaying rodent excrement. They have been around for millions of years and can survive many types of environmental stressors, such as radiation, drought, freezing temperatures, floods, and hurricanes.
The Oriental cockroach, which is also called the water bug, is typically found in basements and crawl spaces, where it can hide during the colder months. It prefers cool, damp environments and can often be seen in drains or near leaky pipes.
A single female cockroach produces an incomprehensible amount of offspring, which is why you should call a professional for cockroach control as soon as you suspect an infestation. Once they hatch, the young cockroaches are known as nymphs and go through a series of molts until they are mature adults. Shedding their exoskeletons, nymphs release allergens that trigger asthma and other respiratory conditions.
How Do Cockroaches Infest Your Home?
Cockroaches can enter homes and businesses through a variety of means, including stowing away in bags, backpacks, and suitcases carried into a building by visitors. They can also hitch rides on people and pets and crawl through pipes from apartment to apartment in a shared building.
They are drawn to light and moisture and can enter through any cracks or crevices in walls, door and window casings, or vents. They can also find their way inside by crawling through gaps in the foundation or basement. Cockroaches are a common problem in apartments because they can move easily from one apartment to another through connecting pipes and ventilation shafts.
Once inside, cockroaches seek out food and shelter. They are primarily active at night and will be found in dark areas where they can hide from the light. They are omnivorous and will eat anything, including paper, book bindings, and wallpaper paste.
Look for signs of a cockroach infestation, which include smear marks and droppings. You may also see discarded nymph skins or shed adult skins as well as egg capsules. An established cockroach infestation will have a foul, musty odor.
Promptly cleaning up messes, sealing all food in glass or plastic containers, not leaving pet food out, and removing outdoor trash cans close to the house are all good preventative steps. Regularly checking for leaking pipes, cracks, and holes and immediately repairing them is also important.
What Are the Signs of a Cockroach Infestation?
Cockroaches are nocturnal and hide during the day, but their feces give away an infestation. The droppings look like ground pepper or coffee grounds and are often found in drawers, on countertops, or in other places with high moisture levels. Dark smear marks may also appear on walls and in areas where cockroaches crawl. The smears are composed of liquefied cockroach droppings and are similar to rust or food stains. The smear marks are accompanied by a musty, oily smell that is indicative of a serious cockroach problem.
If you suspect a cockroach infestation, check kitchen cabinets, especially the bottom ones and those closest to the floor. You can also check behind stoves and refrigerators, in the backs of cupboards, and near plumbing. The pests love to hide in sheltered spaces with access to water, such as drains, and they will happily eat soap residue, toilet paper, tissues, and shed hair and skin cells.
Checking for molted cockroach skins is another good indicator of an infestation. Since female cockroaches produce up to 150 eggs per year, you can also expect to see oval-shaped egg casings in various locations throughout your home. The presence of these signs is an indication that a cockroach infestation is present and that the pests are feeding on your food. Eliminating all accessible food and water sources and reducing humidity levels can help prevent cockroaches from infesting your property.
How Can I Get Rid of Cockroaches?
No one likes seeing cockroaches scuttling around their homes. These pests can cause damage by chewing through cardboard and leather and leaving unsightly droppings and smears behind. They also spread harmful bacteria that can make people sick. Cockroaches carry a wide array of diseases and germs including salmonella, cholera, dysentery, listeria, giardia, typhoid fever, E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The spines on their legs are ideal for picking up and carrying bacteria from contaminated surfaces and objects, which they then transfer to people and animals via direct contact or by hitching rides on bags, backpacks and suitcases.
To keep cockroaches out, seal up all entry points into the house. This includes doors, windows, vents and ductwork. Keep garbage cans closed and secure, and use a dehumidifier to reduce moisture levels. Sweep and vacuum frequently, especially under and around appliances. Clean up spills and crumbs immediately, and store food in airtight containers. Remove outdoor pet dishes and trash cans, and use screens on outdoor vents.
A cockroach infestation can be tough to Pestemite control, and large infestations may require professional help. Eco-friendly treatment options include using essential oil sprays, boric acid, desiccating dusts (like silica aerogel and diatomaceous earth), and gel baits. In addition, you can try to lure cockroaches out of hiding by using a mixture of sugar and fabric softener in a spray bottle.
