What is it about insects that make them so scary? We see them all the time, outside buzzing about, crawling all over the place, and sometimes inside our homes. But what is it that makes them so frightening? It can be argued that some of them cause harm, such as bees and wasps, but what about pests like cockroaches? Are the problems they cause reason enough for the fear they elicit in us? Today we will look at just how scary cockroaches are and if the fear they cause is logical or just an illusion.
Common Types Of Cockroaches
Here in Lexington, four main species of cockroach can be found inside homes, the brown-banded roach, the Oriental roach, the American roach, and the German roach. Of these roaches, the American is the largest, growing to be upwards of 2 ⅛” in length. Thankfully these massive roaches are not as common as the German cockroach, which are more likely to invade Lexington homes.
How dangerous are cockroaches?
There is no arguing that cockroaches are scary to look at, but are they as dangerous as one might think? The answer is, yes, but not in the way many people think. They do not bite or sting as other pests do. They are more afraid of you than you are of them. They can, however, get you and your family very sick. By their nature, cockroaches are filthy creatures that spend most of their lives in bacteria-ridden areas. When inside homes, they can transfer this bacteria onto cooking and eating surfaces and onto left-out foods. Some of the most common diseases cockroaches have been known to spread include.
- Salmonellosis
- Cholera
- Dysentery
- Plague
- Typhoid Fever
- Gastroenteritis
Basic Prevention Methods For Cockroaches
Contrary to popular opinion, keeping cockroaches out of a home is not as simple as keeping things clean. Your home could be spotless and cockroaches could still find their way inside and find a reliable food source to munch on. Consider the following prevention tips to keep your home cockroach-free this fall and winter.
- Seal potential entry points in the exterior of your home using a caulking gun.
- Make sure your gutters are in good working order and properly channeling water away from your home's exterior.
- Install dehumidifiers in particularly humid areas of your home.
- Store leftover foods inside airtight containers.
- Fix leaks around your home.
- Clean regularly and in areas where you might usually neglect such as under appliances where cockroaches love to hide.
It is good to keep in mind that these prevention steps are general and not designed to completely safeguard your home against roaches.
DIY Compared To Professional Pest Control
If you are considering over-the-counter pest control for your cockroach infestation, consider the following first.
- Over-the-counter pest control can be messy when applied wrong inside your home.
- Over-the-counter pest control can be expensive. And if it doesn’t work, you may find yourself out of a fair amount of cash without the results you were looking for.
- Over-the-counter pest control contains dangerous chemicals and if used improperly can be dangerous to you, your family, and your pets.
Professional pest control services, on the other hand, means that all pest control treatments are utilized properly in the correct amounts and in the right places to be safe as well as effective for people and pets alike.
To avoid the problems of OTC pest control, reach out to the professionals here at The Original Bugman Pest Elimination, Inc. today. We will send a qualified pest technician your way ASAP with a solution that best suits your needs. Cockroaches are not just scary looking, they are dangerous. Let us take care of them for you.
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