The cockroach is a high
risk pest to have in your home as cockroaches carry a range of serious
illnesses including salmonella, dysentery, and gastroenteritis.
Cockroach droppings may also lead to some cases of childhood asthma.
Cockroaches in Your Home
Need help with a cockroach problem?
Cockroaches can breed rapidly and are highly resilient. For this
reason, it is very important to know how to get rid of cockroaches in
your home and to act quickly to prevent them in your home or spreading
to your neighbors.
Identifying a Cockroach
There are three common species of cockroaches found in the home:
- German Cockroach -
5/8" - Also known as the "croton bug" the German roach is brown in
color with 2 dark stripes on thorax. The wings are as long as the body
or slightly overlapping in both sexes, despite this they prefer to run
or climb. Prefers moist environments such as kitchen cabinets and bathrooms.
- Oriental Cockroach -
1 1/2" - Dark brown to black in color. The wings are undeveloped in
female but cover 3/4 length of the abdomen in the male; both sexes prefer
to run or climb. Prefers cool, damp environments like drains, sewers and crawl spaces.
- American Cockroach -
1 1/2" - Also known as the palmetto bug, the American Cockroach is
reddish brown in color and has a pale yellow area around the perimeter
of the pronotum. These cockroaches tend to be found in dark, undisturbed areas that are high in humidity.
Are you worried about cockroaches in your home? If you notice any of the signs below, your home may be at risk from cockroaches:
- Seeing live insects
- cockroaches are nocturnal and hide during the day. You will most
likely see them when turning on the light in the kitchen at night
- Egg cases and cast skins - cockroaches shed their skin 5-8 times as they mature
- Droppings - cockroaches leave a dust of black droppings less than 1mm wide and of varying lengths
- Odor - established cockroach infestations produce an unpleasant, musty smell
- Damage - cockroaches will attack organic goods including leather and books
If you are worried, contact a pest control professional for more help with cockroach problems in your home or advice on
how to get rid of roaches.