Cockroaches have been around since the time of the dinosaurs. Unlike the dinosaurs, these resilient and adaptable insects did not go extinct. Instead, they evolved, living beneath bigger creatures and surviving for millions of years. Today, there are approximately 4,000 species of known cockroaches in the world. 70 of these are found in the United States.
Cockroaches have long, oval, and flattened bodies with two long antennae. Most of the roaches we see at home are black and disgusting. It’s probably one of the most repugnant creatures you’ll encounter. The worst part is, cockroaches have a high capacity for breeding. A female adult cockroach can lay between 16-50 bean-shaped eggs depending on the species. These hatch into young roaches called nymphs that resemble the adults, but don’t have wings.
Common Types Of Roaches
American Cockroaches
Despite their name, these roaches are not native to North America. They originated in Africa. People believe that people transported them to America through the slave ships in the 1600s.
American cockroaches are also known as the palmetto bugs. They are the largest type of roaches growing up to 1 to 3 inches in length. They are commonly found inside houses and commercial buildings. They are also one of the longest living species of roaches. They can outlive their other cockroach cousins for almost two years. They are reddish-brown and have a distinguishing light-yellow edge on their pronotum.
They prefer to dwell in warm, dark, and wet places like the sewer and basement. But they will come out of their dwelling to search for food. These roaches will eat just about anything, including plants, garbage, and smaller insects.
Brown-Banded Cockroaches
These invasive roaches first came into the United States in 1903. They traveled from Cuba to Florida. They got their name from the two light bands across their dark brown wings. They are smaller than the American cockroach, growing only up to half an inch.
Brown-banded cockroaches need little moisture, but they avoid light. They prefer warmer, drier, and higher dwelling places like the ceiling and attic. But they can hide inside and under electronic appliances and furniture. Sometimes, they can cause short circuits on appliances when they gnaw into the wirings. Because they are small and primarily nocturnal, these types of roaches usually go undetected.
If you’re wondering how your wallpapers and cardboard are ruined, they should be one of your suspects. Brown-banded cockroaches like to eat starchy food, including wallpaper paste and book bindings. They can reach the topmost shelves in your homes just to feed. Do you want to know an interesting fact? Only the female adult Brown-banded roach can fly. Not only will they feed on your books and cardboards on top of your shelf, but will also lay eggs. So, in exterminating them, be sure to check these areas for eggs and larvae for a more effective strategy of eliminating them.
German Cockroaches
They are the most common cockroaches found in the United States. These are light brown and can grow only up to 0.6 inches. The German roach prefers to live in the kitchen and bathroom where it’s warm and damp. They eat sweet and floury food, including non-organic objects like books and clothes.
Although they cannot fly, they can glide in scant distances. Can you imagine a cockroach flying towards you? It’s one of the most disturbing thoughts ever. German cockroaches are persistent and difficult to exterminate. Plus, they have a higher capacity for breeding. The female German cockroach carries with her the eggs until they are ready to hatch. Their rate of reproduction is one of the many reasons people call professional bug exterminators. Without help, people will experience a full-on infestation that will cause countless nuisances that can lead to a variety of problems.
Oriental Cockroaches
Like the American cockroach, the oriental cockroach is native to Africa. It traveled on board ships from which it got its name. They are darker than most cockroaches, with glossy black color. They are larger than other roaches and can grow up to 1 ½ inch. But, they are incapable of flight and gliding because their wings are underdeveloped even when they reach their adult stage.
These roaches prefer cooler temperatures and can be found hiding under decaying organic matter like wood and piles of leaves. Inside the house, they prefer to line in the basement and garage.
Smoky Brown Cockroaches
Smoky brown roaches are large dark mahogany roaches growing up to 1 ½ inch. They have wings longer than their bodies, which makes them excellent fliers. Like the brown-banded cockroaches, they are nocturnal. But they can easily be attracted to light. These types of roaches need constant moisture because they dehydrate easily. This is why they prefer to stay in moist places such as in vents, plumbing, and gutters.
Nuisances Caused By Roaches
Cockroaches are vile and disgusting creatures, living in the dirtiest of places and scavenging for food. They are an unsavory sight that can scare the hell out of anyone when they suddenly scuttle under your arm or fly on your face.
These creatures do not usually bite humans unless they are provoked. Their bites are like other bug bites with red bumps. Although their bites are generally harmless, these can be extremely itchy and cause swelling around the center of the bite.
It's no surprise that roaches are dirty creatures. They dwell in sewers, travel through pipes and drainages. Plus, they scavenge garbage cans. Because of this, they are known to carry at least 33 different bacteria on their bodies, including 6 parasitic worms and 7 other human pathogens.
The World Health Organization claims that roaches are suspected carriers of microorganisms. These organisms can cause diarrhea, dysentery, cholera, leprosy, typhoid fever, and the plague. Roaches create an unsanitary and unhealthy environment for home and business. Their droppings, saliva, and skin cause allergic reactions and asthmatic irritations. If you suspect an infestation, here are some strategies you can apply to eliminate roaches:
Getting Rid Roaches
- Place sticky traps in places where roaches like to visit like the kitchen or the basement. Most roaches love areas where there is moisture. Concentrate these traps in these areas at night for more chances of eliminating these pesky creatures.
- Remove unnecessary clutter especially under the bed and other furniture. Roaches dwell in clutter. These serve as their favorite hiding spots. To make your home unsuitable for their activities, maintain an organized environment to deter roaches away.
- Seal cracks on the walls and floors with caulk. Roaches can fit through small gaps and cracks on floors and walls. While sealing these entryways will not eliminate them, it inhibits the existing roaches from escaping when you apply treatments indoors.
- Limit access to food and water. Some roaches love human food. This includes sugary and starchy foods. Did you know that they are also attracted to beer? So, to control the roach population in your area, don’t forget to rid your home of potential roach food. Clean bread crumbs, stains, and many more. This will help prevent roaches from infesting.
- Repair leaky pipes and faucets. As we have discussed, cockroaches are attracted to moisture. To eliminate eggs as water in the atmosphere, fix leaky pipes. If you can’t do it yourself, call a local plumber to do it for you.
- Essential oils. While essential oils are conducive to healing, meditation, and relaxation to human beings, it is considered an irritant to cockroaches. One way you can deter them is to spray essential oils such as lavender, geranium, and nasturtium in your home. Combine a generous amount of oil with water and store it in a spray bottle. Use it to deter cockroaches from coming inside by spraying it to your window sills, doors, and other possible entryways.
- Use appropriate pesticides. But before you do, assess the severity of the infestation to determine if pesticides are needed. If not, settle for DIY procedures first. This will keep you safe from the harmful effects of pesticides on human beings and animals. Remember to read and understand the instructions of the manufacturer to avoid the dangers of using pesticides.
Contact A Pest Control Professional
DIY procedures are effective to control cockroach infestations, but it doesn’t cut it. The best way to thoroughly eliminate pests is by calling professionals from a reliable company such as Go-Forth Home Services. If you are unsure about the right ways to use a commercial insecticide, it’s best to seek their guidance for a safer and more effective application of pest control methods.
Don’t worry about the price. These Gastonia exterminators understand the hassle and distress all of dealing with pests alone. So, they offer their services at an affordable price to cater to everyone in North Carolina. We all have financial obligations to think about. But we need to prioritize the safety of our families.
Never underestimate the infestation of pests. You never know how deadly they really are once they become uncontrollable inside your home. To prevent this from happening, contact an expert to help you achieve the pest-free environment you and your family deserve.