Roaches are a fact of life if you live in Bradenton. These unsanitary pests thrive in our area. The Florida heat and humidity are perfect for cockroaches. So, it isn't surprising that we have trouble with these pests. But, a big reason why many residents have trouble with cockroaches has less to do with the climate and more to do with the methods they use to stop cockroaches. If you've been struggling with cockroaches and have had just about enough, we get it. Join us as we take a quick look at common Bradenton roaches, what these insects do inside our homes, a few common reasons why DIY cockroach pest control fails to get rid of cockroaches, and what the experts do to stop roaches in their tracks. Does that sound like a plan? If so, read on.
Before we begin, we'd like to take a moment to remind you that help is available. You can get answers to cockroach questions or request service at any time. Give us a call or connect with us through our contact page for assistance. Westfall's Lawn and Pest provides professional solutions for pest control in Bradenton. We can help.
How to Identify A Cockroach
The first step in dealing with a cockroach infestation is determining that you do, in fact, have cockroaches. Most Floridians can pick a cockroach out in a lineup, but sometimes, beetles and other insects are mistaken for cockroaches. It doesn't happen often, but it happens. It is also possible to see cockroaches and not realize that they're roaches. In both cases, the following cockroach facts will help you figure out whether or not you're dealing with a roach problem.
- Cockroaches are insects. As insects, they have six legs. The front pair of legs appear to be attached to the thorax, while the middle and back legs look as though they are attached to the abdomen, but all three pairs of legs are actually attached to the thorax. If you look at the bottom of a cockroach, you'll see where the thorax ends and the abdomen begins.
- Cockroaches have spines on their legs, but they aren't the only insects that have these spines.
- Cockroaches have long antennae that curve outward to the sides. Some other insects have these as well.
- Most cockroaches have wings that stack on top of each other. These stacked wings are rounded at the tips and do not have a cleft.
- A cockroach has two appendages at the end of its abdomen that stick out the sides. These are called cerci if you want to do an internet search to see a picture of them.
- Cockroaches have three body parts: the head, thorax, and abdomen. The abdomen of a roach is covered by the wings—if it has wings.
- The three common cockroaches in Bradenton are American, German, and oriental cockroaches. American cockroaches are chestnut with a yellowish marking on the back. German cockroaches are tan with a black equal sign on the back. Oriental cockroaches are entirely black and look armored. The reason for their armored appearance is that they have wing pads or fully-formed wings that only cover ¾ of the abdomen.
- Cockroach nymphs are much smaller than adults and are sometimes hard to identify as cockroaches. A fact to keep in mind is that baby roaches run as fast as adult roaches, even though they are quite a bit smaller. If you see a small, fast-moving insect, it is likely a roach.
Once you identify the pests in your Bradenton home as cockroaches, the next step is to consider what cockroaches do inside your home. We'll give you fair warning; it's kind of gross.
The Health Risks Of A Cockroach Infestation In Your Home
Cockroaches are a health risk because they are unsanitary. They are attracted to rotting things and fecal matter. As they move about inside your home, they'll spread microorganisms they've picked up from dirty places. Some of these organisms have an implication for human health, such as salmonella and E. coli.
Another way cockroaches impact human health is they shed their skins. Cockroach exoskeletons contain proteins that can trigger an allergic response. Research reveals that cockroach infestations increase hospital visits for individuals with asthma, particularly children. Roaches can also cause an allergic response when crawling across the skin and may leave a rash if they crawl on you while you sleep.
Cockroaches do something else while you sleep. They nibble on dead skin around lips and eyes. When they do this, they sometimes bite the skin by accident. If you wake up with a swollen eye or lip, you may have a cockroach bite. It is also possible to get pink eye from contact with cockroaches while you sleep.
The primary issue with cockroaches is that they contaminate stored foods when they chew through cardboard or paper packaging and get inside. They also contaminate surfaces, cutting boards, dishes, toothbrush bristles, and more. It is not good to have cockroaches climbing around inside your home.
Why Do-It-Yourself Cockroach Control Usually Fails
There are many over-the-counter cockroach control products available. Unfortunately, cockroach control requires more than a single product. Professionals use a multi-pronged strategy to deal with roaches. If you go after cockroaches with one product, the cockroaches in your home will likely survive. Here are a few reasons why:
- Cockroaches can continue to get into your home as you eliminate the cockroaches infesting your home. If you don't keep roaches out, you'll continue to battle cockroaches.
- Cockroaches can reproduce faster than their population numbers are reduced by control measures.
- Cockroaches work together to avoid treated surfaces, and may go around treated areas without ever exposing themselves.
- Cockroaches don't like to crawl over powdered surfaces because powder makes it difficult for them to cling to a surface, and cockroaches are always clinging to the surfaces they climb on, even the floor. Have you ever found a dead cockroach lying on its back? Did you wonder why it was on its back? Cockroaches are top-heavy. When they die, they let go of the floor and roll over onto their backs. So, if you use a powder, they'll likely avoid it.
- Cockroaches are adaptable insects. When exposed to a control material, roaches have the ability to shed their skins and create new skins that are more resistant. Certain cockroaches are born with a resistance to certain materials. Have you ever doused a cockroach with a control agent and watched it walk away? It is because that cockroach, or its ancestors, have already adapted and developed a resistance to that material.
- All baits do not work on all cockroaches. If you don't have a strategy to test the success of your bait, roaches will outsmart you.
- Some cockroaches are born with bait aversion. The reason for this is the same as the control material resistance mentioned already. Cockroaches work together to avoid dangerous food sources. If a dangerous food source is encountered many times, roaches adapt. They genetically alter their taste receptors so that the food source is no longer palatable. Researchers have found that some German cockroach populations have developed a genetic aversion to common roach bait. They're born with bait aversion. For this reason, we always suggest a professional German cockroach treatment when these roaches are found. They are the hardest to control.
As you can see, cockroaches are quite versatile and adaptive pests. That is why we recommend calling an expert to address a cockroach infestation or to keep cockroaches from getting into your home. Let's take a look at how this works.
Call The Experts For Total Cockroach Control For Your Home
A professional will perform an inspection and consider many factors that lead to cockroach infestations, such as conducive conditions, entry points, and food sources. The findings of this inspection will provide the data needed to establish a cockroach control plan. Systematically, your technician will apply traps, materials, baits, and other methods. These treatment methods are monitored and evaluated to ensure success. When cockroaches are no longer active in your home, your technician will perform another inspection to check for any evidence of continued infestation. Once your home is free of cockroaches, your technician can continue to assist you by providing an exterior pest control plan to keep cockroaches and other pests out of your home all year long. Your pest control service plan will include a perimeter treatment that gets cracks and crevices around the foundation of your home to stop cockroaches in their tracks.
If you live in Bradenton, contact us to learn about our pest control options. Westfall's Lawn and Pest uses smart, eco-friendly solutions to get effective control of pests with the least amount of control materials. Plus, all of our technicians are green industry pest management practice certified. You'll always get control solutions that meet and exceed regulatory standards. Navigate to our contact page to learn more or to schedule a service visit. We look forward to speaking with you about your cockroach and pest control needs.
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