Cockroaches are more than just a nuisance, they pose serious problems when they infest your property. Here’s what you need to know about these pests and how Atlas Termite & Pest Control can help. Cockroaches are more than just a nuisance, they pose serious problems when they infest your property. Here’s what you need to know about these pests and how Atlas Termite & Pest Control can help.
Types Of Cockroaches
1. American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana)
Despite its name, the American cockroach is native to Africa and the Middle East. It’s one of the largest species of cockroaches and can grow up to 3 inches in length. They are reddish-brown and have a yellow band around the shield behind their head. They prefer warm, damp areas like basements and sewers.
2. German Cockroach (Blattella germanica)
The German cockroach is smaller than the American cockroach, usually about half an inch long. They are light brown with two dark stripes down their back. This species is a significant pest in urban environments and can cause serious infestations in homes, restaurants, and hotels.
3. Oriental Cockroach (Blatta orientalis)
Also known as the water bug, the Oriental cockroach is dark brown or black and about an inch long. They prefer cool, damp areas and are often found in basements, drains, and sewer systems. Unlike other cockroaches, they are not great climbers.
4. Brown-banded cockroach (Supella longipalpa)
The Brown-Banded cockroach is one of the smallest pest cockroaches, measuring only about half an inch in length. As their name suggests, they have distinctive brown bands across their wings. They prefer dry, warm areas and are often found in furniture, cabinets, and closets.
5. Smokybrown Cockroach (Periplaneta fuliginosa)
The Smoky brown cockroach is a large species of cockroach, similar in size to the American cockroach. They are uniformly mahogany or dark brown. They are strong fliers and are attracted to light.
Each of these cockroaches can cause problems when they infest human habitats. If you suspect a cockroach infestation, it’s important to seek professional pest control services to effectively eliminate the problem.
Cockroaches Infestation Problems
Cockroaches are carriers of disease-causing pathogens and allergens. The saliva they continually secrete contains hundreds of allergens that can cause respiratory problems, especially in individuals with asthma or other respiratory conditions.
Moreover, cockroaches can inflict damage on your property, including chewing on electrical wires, insulation, and fabrics. They also emit a distinct musty or oily odor that can be unpleasant. Signs of a cockroach infestation include droppings, smear marks, an unusual odor, eggs, and shed skin. In areas with high moisture, cockroaches produce dark, irregular-shaped smear marks as they crawl along walls or even rest. If you notice a new moist, oily, or musty smell, it could indicate the presence of cockroaches.
If you suspect a cockroach infestation, here’s what you can do:
Use Cockroach Bait: Boric acid in powder form is a great way to kill off a large number of roaches. Dust it in the cracks and crevices where cockroaches may hide.
Maintain Cleanliness: Ensure food spills are cleaned promptly, food is stored in airtight containers, and garbage bins are regularly emptied.
Seal Entry Points: Prevent further infestations by sealing off entry points such as gaps in windows, doors, and cracks in walls.
Cockroaches Behaviors
Cockroaches are primarily nocturnal creatures, which means they are most active during the night. They spend the day hiding in cracks, crevices, or other confined spaces. If you see cockroaches during the day, it is often a sign of a large infestation.
Cockroaches are omnivores and can feed on a wide variety of organic materials, including food scraps, paper, cloth, and dead insects. This broad diet contributes to their ability to thrive in various environments.
Where Cockroaches Live
Cockroaches are found all over the world and can adapt to a wide range of environments. However, they generally prefer warm, humid conditions.
In urban environments, cockroaches are often found in buildings, where they can access food and water. They are commonly found in kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and sewers. In these areas, they can hide behind appliances, under sinks, in cupboards, or in other secluded places.
In the wild, cockroaches live in a variety of habitats, including forests, grasslands, and caves. They are usually found under bark, in leaf litter, or in other hidden locations.
Regardless of where they live, cockroaches can pose significant problems due to their potential to spread diseases and cause allergic reactions. If you suspect a cockroach infestation, it’s important to take action quickly to control the population and prevent further issues.
Damage Cockroaches Can Cause
1. Health Risks
One of the primary concerns with cockroaches is their potential to spread diseases. Cockroaches are known to carry several types of bacteria, including E. coli and Salmonella, which can cause food poisoning or gastroenteritis. They pick up these pathogens while crawling on contaminated surfaces and then spread them onto food or food preparation surfaces.
Cockroaches can also trigger allergies and asthma. Their droppings, shed skin, and body parts contain allergens that can cause allergic reactions or exacerbate asthma symptoms, especially in children.
2. Property Damage
Cockroaches can cause physical damage to your property. They have chewing mouthparts and can chew on various materials, including paper, cloth, and leather. This behavior can lead to damage to items like books, wallpaper, curtains, and furniture.
In severe infestations, cockroaches can also damage electrical wiring and electronic devices by chewing on the insulation. This chewing can cause short circuits and increase the risk of electrical fires.
3. Contamination and Odor
Cockroaches can contaminate food and cooking utensils with their feces and regurgitation, which is not only unsanitary but can also lead to food poisoning.
Additionally, cockroaches produce an unpleasant odor. This odor is produced by secretions from their bodies and can affect the taste of food. In large infestations, this smell can permeate throughout a building.
Each of these issues underscores the importance of addressing cockroach infestations promptly. If you suspect a cockroach problem, consider seeking professional pest control services to effectively eliminate the infestation and prevent future ones.
Atlas Termite & Pest Control: Your Solution For Cockroaches Extermination Services
For severe infestations or if you’re unable to control the problem on your own, it’s advisable to seek professional pest control services. Atlas Termite & Pest Control specializes in various types of cockroach extermination. We have the expertise, tools, and experience to effectively eliminate cockroach infestations and prevent future ones.
Contact us at the first sign of a cockroach problem. Our team is dedicated to ensuring your property is safe, clean, and free from these harmful pests.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cockroaches
The most common types of cockroaches found in homes vary by region but generally include the American cockroach, German cockroach, Oriental cockroach, and Brown-banded cockroach.
Signs of a cockroach infestation include seeing live or dead cockroaches, finding cockroach droppings (which look like ground coffee), spotting egg cases, and noticing a musty odor.
While cockroaches can bite, it’s extremely rare. They are scavengers and usually feed on leftover food, garbage, and decaying matter. Bites tend to occur in severe infestations where food sources are limited.
Cockroaches are attracted to food, water, and shelter, all of which are readily available in homes. They can enter your home through cracks, crevices, vents, sewer and drain pipes, or on items brought into the home.
Signs of an infestation include seeing live or dead cockroaches, finding their droppings (small, dark specks or cylindrical pellets), noticing a musty smell, spotting egg cases (oothecae), and observing damage on food packaging or organic materials.
To prevent these pests, seal entry points such as cracks and crevices around doors, windows, pipes, and utility lines. Keep your kitchen clean by removing food debris, sealing food in containers, managing garbage effectively, fixing leaky faucetspipes to eliminate moisture sources, and using dehumidifiers if necessary.
Effective methods include proper sanitation to remove food and water sources; using baits, insecticide sprays or dusts specifically designed for roach control; employing traps to monitor and reduce populations; and possibly professional pest control services for severe infestations.
Natural remedies include boric acid powder as a contact poison (used cautiously away from where petschildren could reach it), diatomaceous earth which damages their exoskeletons upon contact, bait stations with natural ingredients like boric acid mixed with attractants, essential oils like peppermint oil as repellents (though effectiveness is limited), and maintaining cleanliness to deter them without chemicals.
You should consider hiring a professional when you have a large-scale or persistent infestation that you cannot manage with DIY methods. Professionals have access to more potent treatments and can provide targeted strategies to fully eradicate the problem.
Atlas Termite & Pest Control offers thorough inspection, customized treatment plans, expert technicians, prevention strategies, and a satisfaction guarantee to effectively eliminate cockroach infestations.