Cockroaches are no match for your Broken Arrow exterminator. These pantry pests are invaders that love to get into our kitchen, pantries and eat our food. They love to hide in our walls and make humongous families in places that they don’t belong. These tropical pests love the warm temperatures that we keep our homes at and thrive wherever we live. But keeping them out of your house, requires a little bit of understanding of how cockroaches work. So in this article, let us take a good hard look at cockroaches, their life cycle and what are you and your Broken Arrow exterminator can do to keep them out of your home.
COCKROACH TYPES AND BROKEN ARROW EXTERMINATORS
In Oklahoma, we have about four different types of cockroaches, that tend to find ways into our homes. These pests are divided into two groups. The indoor pantry pest cockroaches are German cockroaches, and brown banded cockroaches. Our outdoor cockroaches are American cockroaches and oriental cockroaches. The American cockroaches are the largest of the group. It’s a brown in color and about 3 inches long. This outdoor insect doesn’t get into our pantries and eat our food, but does love to find damp places that it can survive. This bottom feeder feeds on dead organic material and the bodies of dead animals. It also finds its way into sewers and eats raw sewage. Usually when we find American cockroaches in our homes, it’s following some water source into the home. Either a leak in the foundation or a broken pipe will allow these to get in.
The oriental cockroach is a little bit shorter than the American cockroach in about 2 1/2 inches and is black in color. These outdoor cockroaches are also not interested in our food sources. They eat dead organic material, raw sewage, and sometimes dead animal carcasses. We find them almost always in drainage ditches and other high moisture areas. These insects will find their way in the same way American cockroaches will. If you have a water leak somewhere where a pipe is broken or waters coming through a crack in the foundation, these insects may find a way into your home. If you are having a problem with these, not only should you contact your Broken Arrow exterminator but also your local plumber as well.
INDOOR COCKROACHES AND BROKEN ARROW EXTERMINATOR
When it comes to indoor cockroaches, the most prolific is the German cockroach. In fact, I would say 80 to 90% of the calls that I get for cockroaches are the German cockroach. This insect is a pantry pest that grows to about 3/4 of an inch and is brown in color. It has a yellowish outline to its pronotum, or the armor plate behind his head. While these insects have wings, they seldom use them. They love to find your dirty dishes or left out food items that they can feed upon. Keeping these at bay will help keep your family safe and healthy.
The last cockroach of the indoor cockroaches is the brown banded cockroach. This is also a brown cockroach about the same size as the German cockroach. It’s unique in the fact that it has three yellowish bands around its abdomen. Usually these insects are found higher up on the wall than the German cockroach. They hide behind pictures or wall hangings and are much more likely to use their wings to flutter down to the ground, if they are threatened. They will eat food sources that they can find and get into your pantry if they’re allowed to. If you’re seeing any of these cockroaches, it’s so important that you contact your Broken Arrow exterminator to get rid of them.
SANITATION AND BROKEN ARROW EXTERMINATOR
The first line of defense in keeping these bugs out of your home is to keep your home clean. Extra clutter will allow them to hide in places that you would not be able to see them in. Plus leaving out food or unwashed dishes overnight gives them the food source that they need to thrive and have large families. A pan of grease left on the oven or food substances that have gone down the sides of the oven are an invitation for a cockroach infestation.
Cockroaches are a tropical pest. They thrive in temperatures between 60 and 70°. They’ve made their way all around the globe by hitching a ride in our shipping containers and pallets. Because they like the warm temperatures, the winter cold does not suit them. At these times, many of these cockroaches will be pushed inside in order to survive through the winter months. Your nice warm home is a great reprieve from the icy outdoors.
ELIMINATING COCKROACHES
Most people, when they see a cockroach, will immediately go to the hardware store and pick up a can of pesticidal spray. While the sprays are good at knocking out one or two cockroaches, overuse of them can actually make the problem worse. The sprays contain two different kinds of pesticides. The first kind is a knockdown agent. This means that this Initial pesticide will kill anything that is sprayed on directly. This knock down agent will break down quite quickly after it’s sprayed, so within a matter of minutes, it’s done its work. The other part of this spray is a repellent pesticide. This repellent pesticide can be sensed by cockroaches and they’ll run away. Overuse can trap a group of cockroaches in a gap in a wall where they can reproduce prolifically. After that pesticide has broken down you’ll have a larger problem when you started.
If you’re having an issue with cockroaches, or any other pests, then it’s time to call your Broken Arrow exterminator for help. Here at TermMax pest control, we are the best in the business when it comes to dealing with cockroaches, or any other pantry pests. We service greater Tulsa area including a Owasso, Turley, Jenks, Bixby, Sand Springs, Sapulpa, Prattville, Broken Arrow, Coweta, Claremore, Catoosa, and so much more. Call today for a free estimate. We’re here to help!