Cockroaches are gross; there’s no doubt about that. However, they’re also pretty interesting creatures. Here are some fun facts about cockroaches: cockroaches are estimated to be over 100 million years old; they can live for a week without their heads, and they can live for a month without food. However, when you think about them being inside your home, these fun facts about cockroaches aren’t such fun facts. Cockroaches are resilient creatures that make extermination difficult, but it’s not impossible to prevent an infestation and to deal with one effectively. Read on to learn about German and the American cockroaches on Turks & Caicos properties and the signs of a cockroach infestation.
What Does A Cockroach Look Like?
The German cockroach is usually fairly small, growing up to about ⅝ of an inch long and living throughout the United States. Light brown with two darker, parallel stripes across their backs, German cockroaches are oval-shaped and tend to prefer living in bathrooms, living rooms, dens, and bedrooms. Anywhere food can accumulate, so can the German cockroach. They prefer warmth, so they may travel from building to building or hide in appliances, and they can survive on soap, glue, and toothpaste when other food sources aren’t available.
The American cockroach is typically reddish-brown with a yellow figure eight on the backs of their heads. They can fly short distances and can grow up to three inches in length. If you don’t want these large cockroaches flying from corner to corner, pay close attention to the rest of this article. This species of cockroach prefers warm, moist, and dark environments like basements, kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms.
Do cockroaches carry disease? Yes. Most cockroaches travel through decaying material in the yard or the sewers before settling indoors. They are known to carry over 33 different kinds of bacteria, six kinds of parasitic worms, and seven other pathogens transmittable to humans. “Do cockroaches carry disease?” is an important question, but even more important is “How can I prevent them?”
What Causes Cockroach Infestations?
If you see the signs of a cockroach infestation, it’s likely because the conditions in your home are drawing them in. To prevent having to worry about this dangerous pest in your home, try these prevention methods:
- Around the exterior of your home, seal up any cracks, holes, and crevices with silicone-based caulk. Make sure door and window screens are free of holes and that doors and windows completely seal.
- Store food in glass or metal containers, and don’t leave any spilled food to sit, inside or out.
- Vacuum regularly, and sanitize floors and counters. Don’t leave sticky spills for any reason.
- Take out indoor trash regularly. Make sure both indoor and outdoor trash receptacles seal and are cleaned out once a week. Keep outdoor trash far away from the home.
- Keep your yard trimmed and clear of piles of leaves or other compostable materials.
- Address the cause of any water accumulation inside or outside of the home, e.g., pipes, sprinklers, drainage issues.
- Keep your home free of clutter. If you must store things in boxes, make them sealable plastic boxes, not cardboard.
How To Get Rid Of Cockroaches: Parkway Pest Solutions
Homeowners and residents of buildings with roaches often resort to extreme methods to attempt to get rid of the infestation on their own. However, cockroaches are resistant to many health-endangering pesticides, and their numbers are often too prolific for over-the-counter methods. Many who attempt to use things like borax to kill cockroaches put themselves and their household members in more danger than the roaches. Don’t rely on dangerous methods. Don’t use borax to kill cockroaches and endanger your family and pets. Instead, call Parkway Pest Solutions for total cockroach elimination. Call Parkway Pest Solutions for your free inspection today.