Cockroaches: it’s unfortunate that they seem to like exactly the same conditions we live in, and once they’re sharing our living space, they are a problem with a capital P. It’s hard to know where to start when explaining the very real challenge that roaches and roach control present. Let’s begin with the insects themselves and why, once they’ve made themselves at home, they’re so hard to get rid of, before moving on to the health risks they bring with them! Joe Jonovitch, a Clearwater pest control professional, tells us more about these remarkable, interesting, but nevertheless unwelcome guests.
In This Article
How Cockroaches Live and Breed
Not all cockroach species are household pests, but the ones that do take advantage of our unwilling hospitality are formidable foes. They like the same temperature ranges that we do, can subsist on the weirdest things (just cleaning up food scraps won’t starve them out,) and like us, enjoy easy access to water or moisture which we unwittingly provide plenty of. They love to hide in dark places and out-of-the-way nooks and crannies, and most damning of all, they breed prolifically.
A single American Cockroach (and there are other pest species of cockroach) will produce around 224 offspring in less than a year. That’s just one cockroach! So, if you have only five female cockroaches in your home now, they’ll have produced about 1,000 babies before the year is out. Cute? Only if you’re a cockroach!
Of course, we don’t see the full extent of the problem. Cockroaches are very good at hiding, and you’ll just catch the occasional forager from time to time. Killing the ones you see isn’t going to solve the problem, and that’s why it’s a smart idea to get licensed pest controllers to treat your home every so often. They’ll eliminate the cockroach population quickly, professionally, and above all, safely.
They’re Creepy, But That’s Not the Only Problem!
Nobody loves a cockroach, and since they aren’t capable of higher thoughts, they probably don’t love each other much either. But the creepiness of cockroaches is the least of your worries. Apart from their scavenging habits that can see them scurrying over unwholesome waste before making a foray across the kitchen counter, or worse still, your food, cockroaches pose a very real health risk.
As they grow, they shed their skins, and as you’d expect, they also produce their own excrement. These waste products decompose into tiny particles that can easily become airborne, triggering an allergic response,life-threatening asthma attacks, and even the development of asthma in healthy young children. Do you recognize the characteristic smell of a cockroach-infested building? It’s probably better not to think about what you’re actually inhaling!
How to Reduce Your Chances of a Cockroach Infestation
Common sense tells us that keeping food and garbage sealed away from marauding pests will help to make our homes less attractive to them. With cockroaches, we should also eliminate old piles of cardboard boxes, newspapers, or magazines where roaches love to hide, generally declutter (you’ll feel better afterwards too), and seal off chinks, cracks, and crevices where cockroaches can gain entry to the home. And since they like moisture so much, dripping taps and leaking pipes are a definite no-no.
When using professional pest control services, ask them to perform an inspection and help you to develop a strategy that will keep your home pest free for longer. A properly trained pro will be able to spot the sneaky places where pests gain entry. Nevertheless, even the most careful people with the cleanest homes can end up facing cockroach issues, so don’t be shy of reaching out for help if you suspect that your home is housing more than just your family.
