There are thousands of different species of cockroach across the globe; only some of these species are found in the US. Three of the species that you are most likely to see in a home or business premises are the American cockroach, German cockroach and Oriental cockroach. All of these pests are most commonly found in the southern states of the country, due to the warm humid weather.
However, cockroaches are hardy creatures and they can infest a home in any part of the country. If you think you have a problem with cockroaches, you need to get help with pest control straight away. These pests can contaminate food, spread bacteria and cause allergic reactions, so they should never be ignored.
How to make an infestation less likely
There are things that you can do to make it less likely that you will have a problem with cockroaches in your home. They need moisture and food to survive, so you need to ensure that you do not provide them with access to either of these.
- Make sure that there are no gaps or cracks in the exterior walls of your home where they can gain access.
- Clear away food remnants and do not leave uncovered food on worktops.
- Empty kitchen bins every day and make sure that they have a lid.
- Check for water leaks and areas of damp and make sure that they are attended to straight away.
Taking these actions can help to maintain your property as a pest free home. However, you can never be certain that you will not have an issue with cockroaches, so you need to keep a look out for these pests.
Recognising a cockroach
There are features of the three main cockroach species that you can look out for. This is important because knowing what type of pest is present means that the problem can be resolved more easily.
This type of cockroach can be as long as around one inch and is reddish brown in color. You should also be able to see a stripe on the head of this pest. American cockroaches have an incubation period of between six and eight weeks and live for around a year and a half.
The German cockroach is smaller in length, at around two thirds of an inch. Its shade of brown is more tan than red and it has two stripes on its head. These cockroaches breed rapidly and have an incubation period of around six weeks. However, they do not live for as long as the American cockroach, with a lifespan of around six months.
The oriental cockroach is around the same size as the American cockroach, but its color is dark brown or black. It’s a slow moving pest that is most often found in dark and damp areas of a property. This species of cockroach has an incubation period of around two months and lives for as long as two years.
All of these cockroaches can spread bacteria and have an adverse effect on the health of people living in your home. So, you need to make sure that you call professional exterminators to deal with the problem, as soon as possible.
Professionals know the pest processes and products to use to return your home to its pest free state, as quickly and effectively as possible.
