Roaches: How To Fight Them Off

Turn on the lights at night time and you would see one, two, three, or many more insects scrambling away from possible harm.

They crawl on tables, chairs, cupboards, countertops, stovetops, or on the floor and walls.

To many people, these roaches make up their worst nightmares.

Unfortunately for us, roaches are not just a mere nuisance; they also carry and transmit several diseases. 

Roaches, after all, eat anything and thrive in the dirtiest of environments. They contaminate our food through their droppings, saliva, vomit, or urine.  With these qualities, it is no wonder it is very hard to like them!

To make matters worse, roaches are very hardy insects. Most of the time, a single stomp of the foot would not suffice in killing them. You might see their innards and all, yet they will be out and about after being stomped on. Roaches can survive without food for a month, and without water for a week. They can survive even with its head cut off for a week. WIthout its head, roaches can still breathe through the tiny holes found all throughout their bodies; they die only because they could not drink water. They would not have outlasted the dinosaurs if they were not such great survivors.

In this article, let us explore how we can get rid of roaches once and for all.  Good thing there are tips and tricks on how to solve roach infestation at home, so read on. 

First, let us identify what cockroaches are.

Description Of Roaches

There are around 4,600 identified cockroaches all over the world.  Out of this number, only a few are actual pests; most of them are beneficial insects.  They are insects of medium size, with flat bodies, long antennae, and a tough external exoskeleton. They have wings but are clumsy fliers. These wings are attached to their second and third thoracic segments. They have three pairs of sturdy legs that are attached to their three thoracic segments. They are nocturnal creatures; if you happen to see one during the daytime, that means you have heavy roach infestation at home for them to be going out of their hiding place.

Cockroaches eat just about anything; they eat fresh food, rotten food, fruits and vegetables, feces, the glue used on books, hair, their dead relatives, and whatever it is that can be found in your trash can. Because of their filthy habits, they are surely capable of transmitting diseases because of the bacteria and viruses that are attached to them. 

 Roaches harbor all these bacteria and viruses that are deadly to humans, yet they themselves do not die or get sick from them.  

Roaches Are Getting Resistant To Insecticides

According to a study published in Scientific Reports, roaches have developed immunity to insecticides. The same is true with cockroach baits, wherein cockroaches have also developed resistance. According to the study, roaches can develop immunity within the same generation. Tolerance to insecticides can also be developed just by them getting into contact with it.

These studies simply tell us that we need to be wiser now in trying to combat these pests in our homes. It will be a psychological war now. There should always be a combination of newer forms of insecticides, cockroach baits, good sanitation, and a good foot-stomping every now and then to kill them off because simply spraying them with insecticides would not work anymore.  And if all these fail, there will always be a quick company to get rid of roaches - Go-Forth Pest Control.

The Most Common Types Of Cockroaches In the United States

1. American cockroach -  This type of cockroach is one of the filthiest, and is responsible for transmitting diseases like typhoid, amoebiasis, and cholera.  They may be American by name, but they did not originate from America. This type of roaches actually came from the Middle East and Africa and is said to have traveled all the way to the United States through ships.  They are the largest species of common cockroach. Its size is about 4 cm in length and 7 mm tall. They are oval in shape, and with well-developed wings. Even though they have wings, they are clumsy fliers and are better off crawling. And boy, do they crawl very fast! American cockroaches thrive in wet and dark places like sewers and pipes in homes and commercial buildings.  An adult female American cockroach can lay as many as 150 eggs per year.  They have three developmental stages: the egg, nymph, and adult.  

2. German cockroaches - German cockroaches typically infest restaurants, hotels, and warehouses. This type of cockroach is small, about 1.1 to 1.5 inches long.  Its color can be black or tan. This type of cockroach is said to be the peskiest, so immediate help is needed once you spot one of these in your home.  Their diet consists of meat, sugars, starch, fatty foods, glue, and even their dead relatives.  

3. Oriental cockroaches - Oriental cockroaches are considered the filthiest among all the cockroaches.  They are also known as “water bugs” or black beetles. The oriental cockroach is a large species of cockroach.  The size of the adult male is 18 to 29 mm, while the female is about 20 to 27 mm. Oriental cockroaches are darker in color compared to other cockroach species. The male adults have three-quarter length wings, while the females do not have any. They can be black or dark brown in color, with a glossy body. They dwell in dirty, cooler places and create a strong smell.They eat garbage and organic material.

4. Brown-banded cockroaches - The brown-banded cockroaches are a small species of roaches. They measure about 10 to 14 mm long.  Its color is light brown to tan with two light-colored bands across their wings and abdomen. They are almost the same as the German cockroach but are a bit smaller.  You can actually tell the male from the female, with the male having wings that cover their abdomen, while the females’ wings do not cover their abdomens entirely. They typically thrive in warm dry places, and they hide their eggs under furniture, clothes, cracks on the floor, or wood.  The lifespan of an adult is about 200 days.

Getting Rid of Roaches

Now is the moment you have been waiting for: some tips and tricks on how to avoid getting a roach infestation in your home.  Follow these easy tips below:

1. Keep your food out of the reach of roaches.  It would be a big factor in keeping them away. Place your food in sealed containers.  Cockroaches are always on the lookout for food sources. 

2. Regularly dispose of your trash.  Cockroaches eat anything that is available, even those in the trash. Place a cover on your trash can.  

3. Do not let your unwashed dishes and other kitchen utensils stay in the sink overnight. Wash them so that it will not attract the roaches. 

4. Use food-grade diatomaceous earth.Diatomaceous earth is made up of fossilized remains of diatoms.This works by inflicting tiny cuts on the roaches’ bodies, letting them bleed to death. Sprinkle it on areas frequented by cockroaches.  When cockroaches crawl on these, they get tiny cuts in their bodies which will eventually cause their deaths.

5. Seal off cracks and crevices by caulking.These can be used as entry points by the cockroaches. Roaches can squeeze through tiny cracks or torn window screens.  

6. You may also use insecticides to control their population.

7. If cockroach infestation becomes too overwhelming, there are pest control professionals in your area who can help.

8. Always practice good housekeeping. Sweep the floors, mop, then vacuum. Wipe off food debris and drink spills.  

Following these tips makes your home inhospitable to these cockroaches, which is exactly how we want it. 

However, if your roach problem has become too much for you to handle, then do not fear.

There are pest control experts who are ready to help you. And when it comes to pest control, you only want the best. For the best in pest control management, call Go-Forth Pest Control.

Go-Forth Is Simply The Best!

Go-Forth Pest Control has been in the pest control business since 1959. We have excellent experience in exterminating pests like roaches, flies, mosquitoes, bed bugs, rats, mice, termites, ants, weevils, silverfish, and many more. We also do lawn care. 

We have a team of expert professionals who use only the latest and most advanced equipment in the business. Our methods are pet-friendly and family-friendly, so you can be assured of your family’s and pets' safety.

For more information, or to set an appointment, just dial 336-841-6111. Our friendly operators are standing by.