Cockroaches are pests most people can't tolerate. Looking at a cockroach sends a chill up your spine as you imagine the germs they carry. But, while roaches are repulsive to look at, the reality of the health risks they pose is even worse. Cockroaches are potentially dangerous as they can transmit illness, so they aren't a pest you should take lightly.
A few kinds of cockroaches often invade area homes; these are German cockroaches, American cockroaches, and oriental cockroaches. Of the three, oriental cockroaches aren't as well-known, but they are just as problematic and challenging to remove. Find out how to identify and control oriental cockroaches in this handbook put together by Bay Area pest control experts.
Identifying Oriental Cockroaches
Oriental cockroaches are one of the larger cockroach species growing to about an inch long. While they aren't as big as the American cockroach, they are still disgusting to run across. These cockroaches in the Bay Area are sometimes referred to as "water bugs" or "black beetles" as they love to live in humid areas and have jet-black, shiny bodies. Just like other cockroach species, they have six legs, a pair of antennae, and wings that lie flat.
Another way to identify oriental cockroaches is where they hang out. While most roaches like damp areas, this species is notorious for needing a high-humidity environment to survive. They often enter households through pipes and drains.
Oriental Cockroaches and Food-Borne Pathogens
Oriental cockroaches love decay and filth. They will consume food that humans enjoy, like stored-grain products or sweets, but they also eat garbage, sewage, and animal carcasses.
These pests pick up pathogens on their bodies and often live around toilets and places humans find disgusting. Then, they spread potential illnesses to the surfaces of your home and into the foods you eat. These roaches transmit many food-borne pathogens such as dysentery, gastroenteritis, and salmonella.
Steps To Take To Deter Oriental Roaches
Since oriental cockroaches are potentially dangerous, it's wise to prevent them. The best way to deter these roaches is by removing the factors that attract them in the first place. Here are some simple measures to implement:
- Keep drains and pipes clean.
- Remove standing water from your property and fix leaky plumbing.
- Use dehumidifiers in rooms of your house that have high humidity.
- Clean up food and drink spills right away.
- Do dirty dishes frequently and sweep and mop floors.
- Take out the trash often and get lids for trash cans.
- Seal up cracks in the walls and foundation. You can use products such as caulking or foam insulation.
- Repair or replace torn screens in doors and windows.
- Contact Bay Area cockroach control experts for more cockroach prevention tips.
Oriental cockroaches are difficult to prevent and harder to eradicate. If you end up with an infestation, the Bay Pest Solution Inc team has the expertise you need to eliminate them.
Finding And Eliminating Oriental Cockroaches For Good
Oriental cockroaches might not look small compared to species like ants, but they are tiny enough to fit into holes in your walls or inside your drains. These roaches are hard to identify, and since they are invasive, most DIY control methods aren't going to work. It's easier and safer to let our Bay Pest Solution Inc team eradicate these dangerous pests and keep them from coming back through home pest control services.
Contact us today to schedule a service visit or learn more about cockroach removal.