What are cockroaches?
The Stereotypical Pest. Cockroaches are large insects, measuring up to two inches in length. All have antennae while only some species have wings. They can survive a week without their head, hold their breath for almost 40 minutes, and while they can’t actually survive nuclear explosions, they can survive the radiation that follows. Either way, no one wants them in their home.
The Danger of Cockroaches:
Cockroaches are known to spread filth throughout a space, which can spread contamination through food and even storage locations. If you suspect a cockroach infestation do the hesitate to call a pest inspector immediately, as they can leave behind a trail of issues that can linger without proper care.
Oriental cockroaches specifically are known to even be the source of food-borne pathogens such as e.coli and salmonella. Because they have a tendency to feast upon garbage and decaying foods, their legs and bodies can carry contamination quick to clean areas.
What’s in Humboldt? There a quite a few cockroach species in the United States, but the ones you are most likely to see are the German cockroach and the Oriental cockroach.
- The German Cockroach: can be identified by two dark lines racing down its back and while they do have wings, perfer to run. If there is a large population of German Cockroaches they can produce a musty odor.
- The Oriental Cockroach: is typically a solid dark brown or black in color. They are typically a bit larger than their German counterparts and are not capable of flight.
- Brown Banded Cockroach: is smaller than other roaches, barely reaching half an inch in length. They get their name from the brown bands on their wings.
When should I be on the lookout?
During the colder months, you should keep an eye out for roaches within your home as they love warmer temperatures, so your home looks as cozy to them as it does to you in winter. Cockroachs are typically going to be found on the lower floors within homes and businesses. However, it's important to note that you should be on the lookout year round for cockroaches that hitch a ride in appliances or even paper bags from the store. Always make sure to give any appliance a thorough and complete visual inspection prior to bring them into your home.
You can also find cockroaches outdoors, specifically the Oriental cockroach which is adept at living in mulch, leaf litter and underneath debris. Cockroachs will also find space within porches and decks a comfy nesting location and are likely to be spotting surrounding water.
How Do I Know If I Have An Infestation?
- Roach Feces. Cockroach droppings often resemble coffee grounds or crushed pepper. Depending on the species, you might also find longer, cylindrical droppings.
- Oily or Musty Odor. Even a single cockroach can emit a disgusting smell that is often described as oily or musty though the smell is often associated with larger infestations or dead roaches.
- Egg Cases. That’s right. Cockroaches don’t just lay eggs, they lay egg cases. They are dark oblong cases about 6-10 mm that can be tucked away in the corner or attached to the roach itself. Usually they only contain 10-20 eggs inside, but the German cockroach’s cases can have up to 50 eggs. Given that a female roach can lay an egg case about once a month, infestations can grow to an alarming size very quickly.
- The Roach Itself. If you see any cockroaches in you house, there’s a good chance it’s not alone. You can always capture and release the roach outside, but it might not stay away or it could be an indicator of a larger problem. If you find a single roach, we recommend doing a thorough visual scan of your home and business looking for cracks, entry ways and water leaks that may attract cockroaches.
How can I prevent a cockroach infestation?
Sealing everything. Not just your food, but your entire house. Any crack in window sill, hole in the floorboards, even your plumbing can be a point of entry for cockroaches. Because of the wide range of entry points for cockroaches, we cannot recommend treating the problem yourself unless you are a professional well versed in preventative care.
If your home or area is prone to large cockroaches we would even recommend that you schedule regular service appointments to develop proactive prevention and protection. Cracks and seals need to be regularly checked to make sure that they do not breakdown or grow larger.
Preventative care inspections cover the following and more:
- Inspections of cracks and crevices for windows, doors, decks and outbuildings
- Major appliance inspections
- Plumbing inspections
- Electrical outlet inspections.
- Surrounding environment inspections
- And much much more....
What more can I do to keep cockroaches away from my home?
Additionally we recommend the following basic steps for keeping your home unattractive for cockroaches:
- Remove indoor trash and make sure all trash cans seal properly indoor & outdoor
- Keep all large containers outside sealed tightly
- Seal all food containers
- Keep dishes and countertops where food particles can collect as clean as possible
- Maintain clean kitchen appliances by removing food grease
- Never leave pet food contains open and unsealed
- Regularly sweeping and vacuuming your home to remove food particles and crumbs that naturally fall
- Keep recycling of soda bottles, and cans in a tightly sealed container
Can I Treat This Myself?
When Do I Need to Call Someone?
While there are home remedies that can be used to attract and eradicate cockroaches, these solutions can actually have the reserve affect of attracting more roaches than may have originally been present within your home. Additionally if you have small children or pets that may become exposed to these home remedies or over the counter chemicals, you want to use with extreme caution and be diligently watching for effectiveness. For that reason we recommend you use these solutions with extreme caution.
If you suspect you have a cockroach infestation, call Humboldt Termite & Pest Control for an inspection immediately. Cockroaches are notoriously difficult to deal with and most, if not all, the home remedies you find elsewhere will be ineffective or dangerous to you and your home if misapplied. Humboldt Termite & Pest Control promises the best products and latest methods to treat your infestation that won't put your family or pets at risk from dangerous chemical and poisonous solutions.
What is our treatment?
At Humboldt Pest, we provide a variety of solutions that will take care of the problem and give you peace of mind. If you suspect a cockroach infestation do not hesitate to call. As noted above these pests can be extremely dangerous and challenging to properly eradicate owing to the fact that they can enter a home through almost any crack. We also say that it's "better safe than sorry" and with cockroaches that's extremely true. We've seen it time and time again, please do not wait until the infestation has gotten out of control, but seek professional help to remove it as fast a possible to mitigate potential damage and loss.
Our technicians are trained to provide treatment solutions specific for your cockroach infestation that are unique to your specific needs and unique requirements. No two cockroach infestations are alike. Our treatment solution follows these core steps to make sure your home and investment is protected.
- Step 1: Identification of Cockroach Infestation – We’ll find out what the real problem is and where it’s coming from to develop a solution that is unique to your specific environment and situation. It's important to know, one size doesn't fit all. Our technicians will help you discover, identify and build a custom plan of attack to keep your home safe.
- Step 2: Eradication & Removal – It's our job to make sure the removal of cockroaches is as stress free as possible. We'll remove those little bugs and make sure your home and business can return to normal.
- Step 3: Ongoing Prevention & Protection – We’ll protect your home today and tomorrow and the day after that. Regular prevention and inspections can help keep your home secure from pests and give you early warning and notification if cracks may develop within your home that may put you at risk. Even better than early warning, our technicians will work to make sure your not only aware of the potential issues, but resolve them before they grow.
Remember! We offer a warranty on all of our services. If the pests come back, so do we. No extra charge. We are confident that the service we provide will keep spiders away. So rest easy, we're on the job.