The first thing you need to know about cockroaches is how to identify them and understand the signs of an infestation in your home. These creatures are typically light to dark brown, ranging anywhere from one to three inches in length. They have six legs and antennae extending from their head. Some of the more common species are oriental cockroaches (typically the darkest) and German cockroaches (smaller and lighter in color). However, the most common species of cockroach in Honolulu by far is the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana). When you see these, you won’t miss them. These are one of the largest species in the world.
Identifying Roaches & Signs Of An Infestation
Being able to identify this cockroach is half the battle. The other half is recognizing the signs of an infestation. First of all, since this species typically moves around and feeds at night, seeing one during the day is a likely sign of infestation. You’ll also notice their droppings around the house in dark, damp places. Check behind the kitchen appliances or under mats for small black, cylindrical droppings. You might also find their oval-shaped eggs in safe hiding spots throughout your home like up on a bookshelf. These roaches will also carry an unpleasant natural odor with them that you will notice if the infestation is severe enough.
Roaches: The Danger Is Real
The second thing you need to understand about roaches is the threat they pose to your health. Roaches crawl through some of the dirtiest places, both inside and outside your home, picking up a number of diseases and pathogens, and proceed to spread them wherever they travel. Some of the more serious diseases that Pacific cockroaches carry can cause typhoid and polio in humans. They also produce allergens that can create discomfort and allergies for everyone and cause a severe attack for those who have asthma.
Contaminating Your Kitchen While You Sleep
Since roaches will crawl into small crevices and openings in search of damp and cold places to feed, they’ll begin infesting your kitchen first. It’s only a matter of time until they slither their way into your food supplies. They will not only eat any food you may have left uncovered; they will also crawl all over your kitchen at night, leaving their trail of disease and allergens over food prep surfaces. This pathogen trail is one of the most common ways they transfer diseases like E. coli and salmonella to humans. Now, if that doesn’t make you pause next time you dive into dinner-making, I’m not sure what will.
The Eradication Process
Once you understand what an infestation looks like and how dangerous it can be, you can begin taking the problem seriously. Yes, there are plenty of homemade remedies that claim to get rid of roach infestations. One of the most popular of these is to take away any potential food source; this helps if you always remember to store leftover food in proper storage containers and always clean up any crumbs or spills. Home remedy advice also involves cleaning behind your kitchen appliances and checking for crumbs behind and between the cracks of your stove.
In all honesty, if you keep your house spotless all the time, you will have a better chance of avoiding infestations. If you’re anything like the rest of us, that’s not as easy as it sounds, and no matter how careful you are, roaches always find a way, don’t they?
Not Something To Mess Around With
While keeping a clean home is a good start, the only surefire way of preventing or eradicating a roach infestation is with help from professionals. And this doesn’t mean you have to spend all your money on treatments! At Able Pest Management, our professional pest control services offer reasonable prices, convenient appointment times, and friendly customer service. If the health of your family and home is important to you, then isn’t it worth looking into?