Cockroaches have been around forever – approximately 300 million years. “Cockroaches have been found to carry over 33 types of bacteria and six species of parasites which can be extremely dangerous to humans. If an unknowing person consumes food contaminated by cockroaches, it can cause food poisoning, and/or gastroenteritis. Common symptoms include severe stomach cramps and tenderness, diarrhea, belly pain, nausea, and vomiting,” explains Pestworld.org.
The sight of a disgusting black cockroach skittering across your counter, sink or floor is enough to send you running for a broom, shoe or can of insect repellant. Everyone hates roaches — and for a good reason.
Cockroaches give off unpleasant odors, aggravate allergies (especially in children), carry diseases, and ruin food. In extreme cases, they even bite!
How cockroaches enter the home
Cockroaches survive on the following items:
- food
- warmth
- moisture
- shelter
Human homes possess all of those things, from pantries stocked with food to lots of cracks and crevices in which cockroaches can hide and lay their eggs.
Homes that are dirty homes offer the perfect conditions for cockroaches. These items attract cockroaches into your home:
- Food and crumbs left out on the counter
- A sink full of dirty dishes
- Floors with crumbs laying on them
- Moisture from a leaky pipe underneath a bathroom sink or a wet bathmat on the floor
- They enter your home through cracks, crevices, vents and pipes, and even on things like grocery bags, purses, boxes, and shoes.
Cockroaches are a problem year round. That being said, they are more prolific in the summer; they fare poorly in the cold, but they thrive in heat and humidity. This means that you should be especially vigilant from now until when the weather cools.
You may not see cockroaches them until there is a severe infestation because they are nocturnal creatures.
Most common roaches
Here are some of the most common roaches in the United States:
American cockroaches / Palmettos are reddish-brown with wings, and up to 1.5-inches long.
Brown-banded cockroaches – considered the “furniture cockroach”.
German cockroaches are about half an inch long with brown with dark stripes behind the head.
Oriental roaches are black and 1- to 1.5-inches long. The male cockroaches have short wings, though they can’t fly.
Wood roaches are 1- to 1.75-inches long and are brown. These male wood roaches have wings; however, this type of cockroach can fly.
Signs of infestation
Here are signs of a cockroach infestation:
- Cockroaches seen during the day running through the house
- Droppings that look like pepper or coffee grounds
- Dead cockroaches
- Egg casings that are oval-shaped
- A musty smell in your kitchen, bathroom, or other areas of your home
Are they harmful?
Cockroaches can be harmful to humans in two ways:
- Illness – Bacteria and protozoa cause diseases (such as different forms of gastroenteritis and diarrhea) which can be carried on the legs and bodies of cockroaches and deposited on food, utensils, etc.
- Allergies – Cockroaches are recognized as one of the most important sources of allergens, with about half of asthmatics allergic to cockroaches. Allergens from cockroaches can include cast skins and excrement. Some symptoms of cockroach-induced allergies include skin reactions, eye irritation, and sneezing, skin reactions.
If you suspect you may have a cockroach infestation, or would like to have peace of mind, call us for a free inspection. Contact a local experienced pest control company at the first signs of any insect infestation.
Drive-Bye Exterminators offers home and commercial pest control services in Clearwater, Florida, and the surrounding areas. Family owned and operated for over 25 years, Drive-Bye Exterminators has state certified inspectors, and exterminators provide roach, subterranean termite, dry wood termite, roaches, spider, ant, and flea services to both commercial and residential clients. Whether a business owner needs help getting rid of a termite infestation, or a homeowner wants to rid their kitchen of ants, Drive-Bye Exterminators offers each client the same level of professionalism and excellence.
Request a FREE Pest Control or Termite Inspection today with the Professionals of Drive-Bye Exterminators. Contact Us Today at 727-787-2127.
