There are over 4,000 types of cockroaches worldwide, the four main cockroach pests are the German, The American, the brown banded and the oriental cockroach. The most abundant is the German cockroach. A single female produces 30,000 babies in one year. Cockroaches carry human pathogens, such as E. coli and Salmonella, which when spread by these insects can promote human diseases and result in diarrhea and food poisoning. When the American cockroach comes in contact with human sewage and pet droppings, it can spread deadly diseases, such as dysentery and typhoid fever. It can also spread the hepatitis virus.

Cast-off skin, feces, and saliva from cockroaches contribute to allergens in
the air, which is a leading cause for allergies flaring up with children, or people susceptible to allergic reactions, who are living in a cockroach-infested environment.

My house is clean, where did they come from?
People often blame a cockroach problem on poor housekeeping. While cleaning floors, kitchens, and bathrooms is useful and very important to reduce food sources used by cockroaches, they may get inside and cause an infestation for other reasons. These pests can hitch a ride on infested items (even food items) brought inside, get indoors via cracks and gaps in the home’s exterior, enter through drains or sewer pipes and a few species of cockroaches can fly inside when attracted to lights.

Signs of Cockroach Infestation
Cockroaches are nocturnal insects. They prefer to live and feed in the dark, so a cockroach seen during the day is a possible sign of infestation. Cockroaches tend to prefer dark, moist places to hide and breed and can be found behind refrigerators, sinks and stoves, as well as under floor drains and inside of motors and major appliances. Because they can flatten their bodies to fit into narrow areas, cockroaches may also be found hiding beneath rubber mats, behind wallpaper and within wall cracks.

How to get rid of an Infestation
If you believe you have identified a cockroach infestation within your home,
contact us to discuss inspection and extermination options.