Roaches
Cockroaches are both unpleasant and unsanitary. Cockroaches are known for their ability to adapt and survive. While this is a useful tool for roach colonies, it makes pest control difficult for home and business owners. The German cockroach is the most common roach around human habitation and is prevalent throughout the Pacific Northwest.
General Information
Cockroaches are invasive pests that left untreated can reproduce at a frenetic pace . Cockroaches have flattened, oval-shaped bodies, and six legs that are covered in spines. Not counting their antennae, German roaches are typically ¾” to 1” in length. The nymphs look like small adults and shed their exoskeleton as they mature. Roaches rarely travel alone and can form massive colonies given the abundance of food, water, and shelter.
Roaches are omnivorous scavengers, eating anything that is plant or animal based. When food is scarce they will become cannibalistic, eating other roaches. Cockroaches are attracted to all types of food available in your home.
Common roaches in the
Pacific Northwest:
- American cockroaches - The largest variety of roaches | reddish-brown | most often found around food
- Brown-banded cockroaches - Small | reddish-brown or dark brown | two yellow stripes
- German cockroaches - Typically small | pale brown | two dark brown stripes
- Oriental cockroaches - Medium-sized | glossy | dark brown or black
Common signs that you have a cockroach infestation include:
- Small droppings that look like coffee grounds or larger cylindrical droppings.
- Musty, pungent, oily odor. An established cockroach infestation produces a lingering and unpleasant odor that permeates throughout the infested structure. The odor may be strongest in wet areas, like the bathroom or basement, since this is where roaches tend to congregate first.gs that look like coffee grounds or larger cylindrical droppings.
- Oval egg cases in hidden areas of your home, such as behind and under furniture.
- Smear marks - If water is abundant cockroaches will produce brown and irregular shaped smear marks. Check for marks on horizontal surfaces and at wall-floor junctions where cockroaches scuttle along.
- Dead cockroaches or shed skins throughout your home.
The German Cockroach is by far the most common of the cockroaches in the Northwest. It is light brown with a pair of parallel brown bars between the head and the front of the wings. Adults are about 5/8-inch long. A single German cockroach and her offspring can produce 300,000 roaches in a year. German cockroaches can be one of the most difficult pests to exterminate due to their adaptability and their tendency to produce massive colonies. Though they have wings, German roaches do not fly.
You’ll most likely find German cockroaches hanging out in your kitchen, bathroom, or any place where food is stored or prepared. They are especially fond of humid areas with temperatures between 70 and 75 degree Farenheight.
German cockroaches are dangerous in homes because they can spread disease by contaminating food and cooking surfaces. Furthermore, they shed periodically and leave behind egg casings that can cause asthma attacks and trigger allergies.
Are Cockroaches Dangerous?
Cockroaches are considered dangerous insects as they are responsible for causing a variety of bacteria, diseases, and health problems for people. At Altus Pest Control, we have over twenty five years of experience dealing with cockroach infestations. We know how to deal with them in a way that is family- and pet-friendly for you.
When they get into a home or business, they can be a significant factor for increased illness. Cockroaches carry bacteria that can cause several different diseases. If they come into contact with food in your home and leave bacteria behind, they can cause diseases like salmonella and streptococcus. They are also known to cause diseases like diarrhea, cholera, and dysentery – all of which are gastro-intestinal diseases caused by bacteria found in food.
Cockroaches are more than just a nuisance—they can pose a threat to your health. In addition to aggravating allergies, cockroaches can bring serious illnesses into your home, such as:
- Viruses – Cockroaches have been known to carry numerous viruses, including serious ones, such as polio.
- Roundworm and Tapeworms – Parasites such as pinworms, roundworms and tapeworms can travel on cockroaches. These can be extremely dangerous in humans.
- Dysentery – This disease comes from ingesting fecal matter, something that is very common for roaches to do.
- Food poisoning – Roaches feed on decaying matter and crawl around in all kinds of unsanitary conditions. If cockroaches get into food stores, they can contaminate them with germs and cause serious illness.
- Fungus – Cockroach droppings, shed skins and other material can carry fungus that will affect lungs and eyes in humans. Those with asthma can be dangerously triggered by this fungus.
People with allergies and asthma often find that their symptoms are aggravated by droppings, dead roaches, and the dust that occurs from shed skins. Studies have indicated that roach allergens are a significant contributing factor in childhood asthma. It is best not to let a roach infestation continue without addressing it. People who have chronic asthma are susceptible to these triggers and their homes must be as allergen-free as possible.
How Altus Pest Control Can Get Rid of Roaches
Cockroaches breed rapidly and can be difficult to control without the help of a professional cockroach exterminator. Spraying or “bombing” for roaches is very ineffective; it will simply scatter the insects into other areas or adjacent units in apartments. The most effective method of managing an established cockroach infestation is by applying an integrated approach that utilizes several different strategies.
During the daytime, roaches hide in cracks and crevices in walls, furniture, roof voids, sub-floors, crevices and cracks in the kitchen and bathroom. Adult German cockroaches can hide in a crack 1/16 inch wide. Our child-safe, pet-friendly and environmentally conscientious treatment for roaches will consist of baiting and applying a residual crack and crevice treatment.
Getting rid of cockroaches is a difficult task due to their elusive, nocturnal nature and ability to thrive with very few resources. In multi unit dwellings like apartments, condominiums, and townhomes, cockroaches travel through walls infesting rooms as they spread.
With over 25 years of experience in the pest-control industry, and the most up-to-date technologies and tools, we eliminate any cockroach infestation and protect your home from future invasion. Get the pest control services you need today! The experienced professionals at Altus Pest Control can rid your home of unwanted and dangerous pests quickly and completely. Contact Altus Pest Control to request a free estimate today!
Please don’t hesitate to ask us if there are any specific questions about the treatment, your health and safety are always a top priority to us!