A healthy home is a happy home. And a home that is pest-free is a healthy home. It is a known fact that the environment contributes to our stress levels. We all want to live full and healthy lives, and for most of us, the home is the environment where we are most nurtured. We all deserve to be healthy and happy, and that will always start by creating an environment at home that is optimal for good health.
We certainly would not be able to achieve this if we have pests in the house. Pests can be a nuisance pest, or health risk pests, or both. These unwanted visitors can certainly add to the stress that we do not need. Pests like mosquitoes, flies, rats, mice, and of course the ever-present cockroaches can add health risks to our lives right where we are supposed to be at a place that is the safest for us all: our homes.
Like we said earlier, cockroaches are one of the most stress-inducing pests there are. The mere sight of them makes one scream. Definitely, the presence of cockroaches does not make a healthy home. Cockroaches are very dirty, carrying with them lots of bacteria, viruses, and pathogens, making them walking disease carriers. So, one of the keys to having a healthy home is knowing how to get rid of roaches.
Overview
There are around 4,600 species of cockroaches. Out of this number though, only a few are actually household pests. There are four common cockroaches that are found in the United States which can be considered as household pests: the American cockroach, German cockroach, Oriental cockroach, and the brown-banded cockroach.
Cockroaches are insects of the order Blattodea. They are of medium size, with flat bodies, long antennae, and a tough external exoskeleton. They are equipped with sturdy wings but are clumsy fliers. These wings are attached to their second and third thoracic segments. In fact, they rarely fly, even in the face of danger. They only use their quickness of movement to escape such dangers.
They have three pairs of sturdy legs that are attached to their three thoracic segments. They are nocturnal, so we do not see much of them during the day.
Cockroaches have been around since the dinosaur era, making them the greatest survivors the world has ever seen. They have survived every natural and man-made calamity all throughout history. For one, cockroaches have a very tough exterior. They cannot easily be squished, unlike with other insects. Cockroaches can also survive for a month without food and a week without water. They can survive even with their head cut off, and would still live for 1 week. They have tiny holes throughout their segmented bodies which they use for breathing in place of their heads. They die after a week due to the fact that they still need to drink water to survive, and they cannot drink without their heads. Aside from that, adult female cockroaches lay hundreds of eggs every year, virtually ensuring the survival of their species.
Cockroaches eat anything as long as they can chew it. They eat fresh food when they can find it, rotten food, trash, fruits and vegetables, feces, the glue used on books, hair, and even their own dead. Because of these dirty feeding habits, they get to carry several bacteria and pathogens, making them disease carriers.
What Are The Diseases That Cockroaches Transmit?
Cockroaches are not only very ugly, but they are also considered as high health risks pests because they can transmit diseases. This is the reason why getting rid of them is of utmost importance.
If you are not yet convinced that cockroaches should be totally evicted from your home, here are just some examples of the diseases they can transfer:
- Allergies and asthma - Cockroaches can cause allergies and asthma. Most of the cases are that of children being patients.Cockroach feces, saliva and their body sheddings can result in these. Signs and symptoms include coughing, skin rash, nasal congestion, ear infection, and sinus infection.
- Typhoid fever - Typhoid fever is a bacterial disease that is life-threatening. It is caused by the bacterium Salmonella typhi.This disease spread throughout the body and is also highly contagious. It is acquired through ingesting contaminated water. One possibility is water being contaminated by a cockroach’s saliva, droppings, or vomit. Signs and symptoms of this disease include a high fever, weakness, headaches, stomach pain, and rashes.Testing of stool sample or a blood test are the best way to know if a person has typhoid. Again, children are the most commonly affected by this illness.
- Amoebiasis - This is a disease that can be acquired when a person ingests food that has touched fecal matter, or food that is contaminated with Entamoeba histolytica. It is caused by the parasite Entamoeba histolytica. Cockroaches can play a role in spreading amoebiasis, if ever food is contaminated by their saliva, droppings, or vomit. Symptoms include stomach pain, stomach cramping, and loose stools. Doctors may prescribe antibiotics as treatment.
- Shigellosis - Shigellosis is a disease caused by a group of bacteria called Shigella. Shigellosis can be acquired by ingesting food that is contaminated with the Shigella bacteria. One way that this could happen is again, through cockroaches. Signs and symptoms of this disease include fever, diarrhea, and stomach cramps.
Common Types Of Cockroaches In The United States
Before we learn how to get rid of cockroaches for a stress-free home, let us identify what we have here in the United States. Not all of the 4,600 species of cockroaches are pests in the U.S. Of this number, these four are the most common;
American Cockroach
This is a misnomer. What is supposedly American actually came from the Middle East and Africa. This type of cockroach got here via ships traveling to the United States. This type of cockroach is the largest species of common cockroach. It is about 4 cm in length and 7 mm tall. They are oval in shape, and are equipped with well-developed wings but rarely use them even in the face of danger.
American cockroaches thrive in wet and dark places like sewers and pipes in homes and commercial buildings. They are known to transmit diseases like typhoid, amoebiasis, and cholera. An adult female American cockroach can lay as many as 150 eggs per year.
German Cockroach
This type of cockroach is small, about 1.1 to 1.5 inches long. Its color can be tan or black. This type of cockroach is said to be the most troublesome. A German cockroach’s diet consists of meat, sugars, starch, fatty foods, glue, and even their own kind. They are commonly found in restaurants and hotels.
Oriental Cockroach
The size of the adult male oriental cockroach is 18 to 29 mm, while the female is about 20 to 27 mm. This type of cockroach is considered the filthiest among all the cockroaches. Oriental cockroaches are dark-colored cockroaches with a glossy body. They dwell in dirty, cooler places and create a strong smell. They eat garbage and organic material.
Brown-Banded Cockroach
Brown-banded cockroaches measure about 10 to 14 mm long. The adult life span is about 200 days. They come in tan to light brown in color with two light-colored bands across their wings and abdomen. They appear almost similar to the German cockroach but are a bit smaller. The male brown-banded cockroach having wings that cover their abdomen, while the females’ wings do not cover their abdomens entirely. They thrive in warm, dry places, and they hide their eggs under furniture, clothes, cracks on the floor, or wood.
How To Keep Your Home Cockroach Free?
Eliminating cockroaches at home can greatly reduce your stress levels, which is a big step towards living a healthy life. Here are some tips to help you get rid of these cockroaches.
- Practice good housekeeping. Properly dispose of your garbage every day.
- Cover your trash cans to reduce their food source.
- Do not leave unwashed dishes in the kitchen sink overnight. This would attract cockroaches, and worse, they would be feasting using your dishes.
- Wipe off food particles and drink spills.
- Put your food in sealed containers.
- Seal cracks, crevices, and holes by caulking. These are possible entry points that cockroaches can use to gain access to your home.
A pest control professional can, of course, help you do the dirty work; if you are looking for a reliable cockroach control company in North Carolina, then Go-Forth Home Services should be your top choice.
Go-Forth Home Services Is Simply The Best
If you have problems with any kind of pests, Go-Forth Home Services is the name to trust. We have been in the pest control business since 1959. Over the years, we have gained excellent experience in exterminating pests like cockroaches, mosquitoes, flies, rats, mice, moths, weevils, bed bugs, silverfish, wasps, and poisonous spiders.