Nobody wants to see cockroaches in their home or business. These creatures have a reputation for being dirty disease carriers. Unfortunately, they can also look like other bugs, so it’s crucial to tell them apart from less harmful creatures. It’s also vital to know how to locate a roach nest when you spot a roach in your home. Learn how to identify these pesky bugs and when to call for professional help before it gets worse.
The Characteristics of Cockroaches
There are more than 4,000 species of cockroaches all over the world. However, only a few are problematic for your home or business. Roaches that live outdoors are helpful to the ecology, but they can quickly become a problem inside. Cockroaches can be identified by their oval-shaped, flat body with six spine-colored legs, and their long antennae. These antennae are the same color as their body and just as long. Some may have full or vestigial wings, while others have no wings at all. American cockroaches can be from 1/4 an inch to just over 2 inches long. In addition, they have distinctive reddish-brown bodies and yellow figure-8-like back patterns. Ultimately, they are the most common species you will see. On the other hand, German roaches are super-fast, brown, and have horizontal black stripes on their back. Lastly, Oriental cockroaches, or water bugs, are usually identified by their dark brown or jet-black color with vestigial wings.
Habits of Cockroaches
If cockroaches venture into your space, it’s because they are looking for food. Once indoors, they will seek warm and humid environments, such as bathrooms and kitchens. German cockroaches are often seen in restaurants, hospitals, and places where food is processed. They can even live inside industrial ovens; the heat doesn’t bother them at all. Oriental cockroaches are often found in piles of debris, leaves, and stones. They tend to move around more often at night when it’s dark and breed quickly, resulting in hundreds of spawns in a single laying.
Where Cockroaches Hide
Inside your house, roaches prefer dark areas and hide behind furniture, in wall cracks, cabinets, and cupboards. Many are photophobic and will scatter when a light comes on. That’s why they are often seen late at night, right when you come down for a midnight snack.
Getting Rid of Cockroaches
Cockroaches are resistant to some pesticides, heat, and moisture, which makes them tough creatures. They also breed with such proliferation that it can be hard to exterminate them entirely on your own. That’s why it’s important to get in touch with a professional pest control service who knows how to eliminate and prevent the problem completely.
Contact Dr. Death Pest Control
If you’ve seen a cockroach in your home, don’t mess around. Where there’s one, there are almost always more. We’ll help seal openings in your house and advise you on keeping future pests from coming back with effective weatherstripping. Call our professionals at Dr. Death Pest Control and get rid of these disease-carrying bugs today!