One of the most prolific pests that we find in many kitchens and pantries is the cockroach. This small pest can find its way into your home or restaurant and make havoc out of all of your food and food areas. They can contaminate things, spread disease, and get into our food sources.
It’s important to keep insects away in order to keep everyone safe. Contacting a good Tulsa Pest Control company can help.
Let’s talk a little bit about cockroaches. There are four main kinds of cockroaches that we often see become pests in Oklahoma.
The German cockroach is a small brown cockroach about an inch to an inch and a half in length. The hard plate behind its head has two circular orange markings that make it distinct. This cockroach is usually found lower and often in high numbers. This is the number one pest we have with roach issues. They get into all sorts of food areas, can spread disease, and cause problems.
The second kind of cockroach we have is the brown-banded cockroach. This cockroach has three light brown-colored bands around its abdomen. Usually it’s found on walls and often behind wall hangings. If startled, it can use its wings to glide down and flutter, which usually scares people. It makes them think that they have flying cockroaches.
The American cockroach is the biggest of the four pest cockroaches. This cockroach is about two inches long and usually mostly found outside, but will sometimes make its way inside. It will follow water supplies and go through cracks in the foundation to get inside.
American cockroaches are copper-colored and about two inches long. This one also follows water supplies and is sometimes called a water roach. Often you’ll see these in drainage ditches and anywhere plumbing is broken.
Cockroaches are unique in the fact that they have incomplete metamorphosis. Essentially, there is an egg, and then it hatches and becomes a nymph. This nymph is a smaller version of the adult cockroach. It will molt multiple times before it becomes a full-grown cockroach. That means it will shed its exoskeleton in order to grow further.
The exoskeleton can only stretch so far before it has to be released and a new exoskeleton created. These structures are made of a material called chitin, which is very hard and not very pliable.
If you’re seeing cockroaches in your house, it’s probably time to call a good Tulsa Pest Control company. TermMax Pest Control is the best in town, and we can take care of these problems easily and quickly for you. If you’re having problems with cockroaches, call us today.
