Cockroaches
(Blattodea)
What are cockroaches?
Cockroaches are a type of insect. They are hearty, adaptable pests that have learned the benefits of living near people. Cockroaches have an oval-shaped body, six spiny legs, and long antennae. Many have wings, but few use them to fly. Below is a quick overview of the cockroaches that invade homes and businesses in North Carolina.
Smoky Brown Cockroaches
Smoky brown cockroaches are attracted to outdoor lights and prefer living in garden areas. These roaches often find their way into our homes. They have a shiny, black or mahogany body and wings that extend past their abdomen.
Wood Cockroaches
Wood cockroaches prefer to live outside and have a brown body with lighter tan colored wings. They often find their way inside on firewood.
American Cockroaches
American cockroaches are the largest species of house-invading roach in the U.S. They are reddish-brown with faded yellow edges on the thorax. They like to live outside but often move into buildings while searching for food.
German Cockroaches
German cockroaches have a body that is light brown or tan. They have two horizontal dark stripes behind their heads. These roaches are known for using their legs to scurry quickly from place to place. German cockroaches have adapted to living indoors.
Are cockroaches dangerous?
Cockroaches create significant health risks for people when they decide to invade homes. These pests travel through and feed on some less-than-sanitary things, picking up a variety of pathogens and parasites on their bodies and legs. After moving into your home, they will contaminate food and surfaces with disease-causing pathogens and excrement.
Considered a damaging pest as well, cockroaches stain or chew through things like boxes, books, clothing, upholstered furniture, curtains, and other paper and fabric items. Also, their presence creates an unpleasant odor in any structure they invade. Cockroaches breed fast and are difficult to control. At the first sign of these pests around your home, immediately contact a professional to treat the infestation! For information check out our blog “Are American Cockroaches In Raleigh Dangerous?“.
Why do I have a cockroach problem?
Many people believe that they are immune to a cockroach infestation as long as they do their best to keep their home clean. But, the unfortunate truth is that a cockroach infestation can occur in any home. While households with crumbs or clutter may entice cockroaches to stay, they certainly can make themselves at home anywhere there is shelter and the smallest amount of food and water.
Cockroaches can find their way into homes and other structures in a multitude of ways — inside boxes and deliveries, through pipes, sewers, and vents, and through openings in the foundation or gaps under doors. Their ability to take advantage of almost any opening and squeeze their way inside somewhere they’re not welcome is one of the biggest reasons cockroaches are so difficult to control.
Where will I find cockroaches?
After finding their way inside, cockroaches will move throughout your home, seeking out dark areas near moisture to hide during the day. At night these pests come out of their hiding spots to forage for food. Cockroaches are scavengers and feed on almost anything they come across, such as scraps of food, toothpaste, hair, glue, and fabrics.
Areas in a home where cockroaches forage for food or hide include:
- Kitchens
- Basements
- Bathrooms
- Crawlspaces
- Attics
How do I get rid of cockroaches?
Win the war against cockroaches and other pests with the help of an experienced professional. At Innovative Pest Solutions, we can provide fast and effective services that homeowners in the Raleigh, NC area can trust. We get rid of pests and stop them from coming back!
Protecting our customer’s home, health, and the environment are our top priorities. To learn more about our locally owned and operated company and our affordable pest solutions, reach out today! We will be happy to provide you with information about our residential pest control options.
How can I prevent cockroaches in the future?
To prevent cockroaches from becoming a problem on your Raleigh, North Carolina property, partner with Innovative Pest Solutions. Also, implement the following tips to guard your home against cockroaches:
- Keep the inside of your home free of crumbs and spills that provide cockroaches with a source of food.
- To help reduce the crumbs in your home, only eat in your kitchen and dining areas.
- Every evening before bed, pick up any pet food dishes.
- All trash cans located inside or outside of your home should have lids to keep foraging roaches out.
- Most roaches love humid living conditions. Reduce humidity levels in your home by using air conditioners and dehumidifiers.
- Maintain a barrier that keeps cockroaches out of your home by repairing cracks in the foundation, gaps in exterior walls, and torn screens.
- Place covers over vents and drains leading into your home.
- Seal space around wires and other utilities entering your house.
