Roaches give most people the creeps. They are unpleasant and unsanitary. Although they cannot directly cause serious harm to people, cockroaches carry a myriad of bacteria and diseases, not to mention the diseases people get from ingesting their droppings. They also carry allergens that can trigger asthma and allergies. Cockroaches have been known to cause the spread of infection, diarrhea, dysentery, cholera, leprosy, plague, typhoid fever, and polio.
There are 4,500 known species of cockroaches but only 30 species are identified to enter homes. Cockroaches are identifiable by their long flat bodies, long antennae, and six legs. They are usually brown or black and grows from ½ inch to two inches.
There are five common roach species in the United States. They are the German cockroach, American cockroach, Oriental cockroach, Australian cockroach, and Bon-banded cockroach. Identifying what kind of cockroach infests your home is key to terminating them.
American Cockroach
The largest of the five, the American cockroach can grow up to two inches. They are reddish-brown. They like warm and moist places like sewers, drains, flower beds and under the trees. They are also called the water bug, flying water bug and the palmetto bug. They are prevalent in the northern United States, although they are native to the tropical regions of Africa.
Australian Cockroach
Their length ranges from ¼ inch to one inch. They are reddish-brown and have yellow markings in their head and wings. They are found in the southern United States and tropical places. They prefer to stay outdoors in moist areas but enter the home in search of food. They can live in bathrooms and water pipes. They can also infest the yard and garden, living under piles of fallen leaves and tree branches.
German Cockroach
Among the smaller species of cockroaches, the German Cockroach grows only up to ½ inch in length. They are brown in color and identified by the two black vertical stripes near the head. The younger German cockroaches are almost black. They have wings but they rarely fly. They thrive in warm and moist places and are commonly found in the kitchen and bathroom.
Brown-Banded Cockroach
Just like the German cockroach, they grow up to ½ inch. Their color can range from golden tan to dark brown. They can be identified by the light brown bands on their bodies. These pesky creatures are commonly found in the southern United States
Oriental Cockroach
They are can grow up to 1.25 inches. Their color varies from dark reddish-brown to shiny black. The larger adult females lack wings. However, both adult male and the female oriental cockroach is incapable of flight. They like to live in damp areas like the sewers, under stones, mulch, landscape beds, and leaf litters.
Inside the home, they can be found in the sink and areas near water sources. They prefer to feast on garbage, filth and material about to decay. They are also known to de dependent on water. They cannot survive for more than two weeks without it.
Signs Of Cockroach Infestation
Proper inspection is critical in roach control. Cockroaches tend to lay their eggs in secluded areas. Inspect underneath, over and behind furniture and appliances, along the walls and window sills, inside the cabinets, cupboards, and closets, and under the sink. Cockroach eggs look like small medicine pills. Their color ranges from light brown to reddish-brown to almost black. Another sign of roach presence is the small black or brown droppings they leave behind. Roaches can also eat through cardboard boxes, so check food packaging in the kitchen for any holes made by the little critters.
Keeping Cockroaches Out Of Your Home
In order to keep roaches and other pests away from your home, you need to make sure that you maintain cleanliness. Here are some tips on how to make you home roach-free:
1. Check bags, furniture, appliances, and other items before bringing them into your home. These things might have roach eggs inside them or nymphs. If you bring an infested appliance inside your home, they will grow and reproduce at a shocking rate.
- Do not pick up furniture like sofa chairs from the roadside.
- Wash and launder second-hand clothing from yard sales and thrift shops.
- Double bag second- handbooks and similar items and freeze them for at 72 hours to kill hidden pests. Roaches can lay their eggs inside book binds and between the pages.
2. Roaches love dirty and areas with a lot of hiding places. Many people think that roaches are only attracted to human food. However, cockroaches can eat literally anything, including debris. To make your house unattractive to pests, clean the house regularly and keep it uncluttered.
- Clean under and inside appliances like ovens, stoves, and refrigerators. Wipe down spills and clean up crumbs and other kitchen debris immediately.
- Unclutter cabinets and cupboards.
- Do not leave laundry piles on the floor. Hang the clothes you plan to use again and place soiled ones in the hamper. Do your laundry weekly. Piles of dirty clothes provide warm shelter for roaches.
3. Do not leave food unattended. Place them in sealed storage containers. Remember not to let fruits and vegetables on the counter spoil. Not only will this attract roaches but also flies. Keep them in the crisper or vegetable compartment in your ref. Another way you can store it is to place flour, cereal and other baking material in air-tight containers.
4. Do not leave dirty dishes in the sink overnight. Wash them before going to bed and keep the sink clean and dry.
5. Throw out the trash regularly. Rinse recyclables before placing them in the recycling bins. Diapers and other odorous food wastes should be disposed of immediately. Wash your garbage bins regularly because food debris can build up on the bottom of the bin. Always keep the lid on the bins to prevent the roaches from entering.
6. Keep the bathroom clean and its floor dry.
7. Pet food and water should be covered up when your pet is done feeding.
8. Keep gutter and drainages clean.
9. Store your firewood away from the house.
10. Seal cracks and crevices on the walls and windows to prevent unwanted entry of roaches and other pests.
11. Get rid of old newspapers, fabrics, and cardboard or store them away from the house.
12. Fix up leaky plumbing and pipes. Cockroaches are attracted to moist and damp areas.
13. Clean the area surrounding your house. Remember that your lawn should be your first line of defense against pests. You can naturally treat your lawn using essential oils such as lavender, citronella, lemon oil, and many more, All you need to do is mix a generous amount of water with the essential oil and spray it regularly on your lawn.
Although the effects of essential oils fade easier than pesticides, you can rest assured that you will be protecting your family and the environment.
- Mow your lawns on a regular basis and rake up the leaves.
- Remove piles of leaves, wood, and branches.
- Remove old toys and decorations.
Treating Cockroach Infestations
While you can purchase roach traps and commercialized pesticides or call a professional pest control agent or deal with your roach problem, there are home remedies you can also try to treat the roach infestation.
Do-It-Yourself Sugar & Borax Recipe
This recipe contains one part water, one part borax, and three-part sugar. Mix all the ingredients until you have a pasty mixture. Make sure that it is not runny. Keep in mind that this home remedy is environmentally friendly but it does not make it any less dangerous for children and pets so be careful. It is best to use up all the mixture and refrain from storing it to avoid any accident.
Baking Soda
This is a safer option because it is harmless to children and pets. You can leave trays of baking soda as baits in areas you suspect that the roaches are nesting. Consuming the baking soda will make the roaches gassy and sine they are incapable of expelling gas they will soon explode. When using this method make sure to clean up the carcasses because it can become food sources for other types of pests like ants and rats.
Can Pest Control Get Rid Of Roaches?
If you're wondering if exterminators are as effective as the DIY procedures, they're not. In fact, Raleigh exterminators offer more effective pest control measures. The treatments and methods they provide can holistically eliminate and prevent roaches at home.
Go-Forth Home Services is one of the best pest control company in North Carolina. Rated A+ on Google and Facebook, their customers remain beyond satisfied with their methods. The company offers a basic service plan that covers the entire house. The exterminators aim to eliminate and prevent all kinds of pests including roaches, ants, bed bugs, and many more. What are you waiting for? Take control of your life. Get rid of those pesky pests with Go-Forth Home Services.