Cockroaches are terrible insects to find inside your home. They can get into kitchens and pantry areas, feed on available food, and leave unsanitary conditions wherever they travel. If you’re having problems with cockroaches, a Broken Arrow Exterminator can help you deal with them. Let’s take a closer look at these insects and what we can do about them.
Cockroaches use incomplete metamorphosis to develop into full-grown adults. The female produces eggs inside an ootheca, or egg case. Depending on the species, the egg case may be deposited in a protected location. The German cockroach is different because the female typically carries the egg case until shortly before the young hatch. Oklahoma State University Extension explains that female German cockroaches carry their egg capsules until they are ready to hatch.
Once the eggs hatch, nymphs emerge. A nymph resembles a smaller, wingless version of the adult cockroach. As it grows, it must molt, or shed its exoskeleton. After each molt, the new exoskeleton is initially soft and pliable before it hardens. The cockroach passes through multiple nymphal stages before reaching adulthood, when it can reproduce and continue the life cycle.
Cockroaches leave their harborages to search for food. They can feed on many different materials, including food scraps and decaying organic matter. When cockroaches travel through contaminated areas and then across food-preparation surfaces, they can mechanically move bacteria and other contaminants. That’s one reason it’s important to keep them away from your home and your loved ones.
Harborage is also an important part of a cockroach infestation. During the day, cockroaches often stay in protected areas such as cabinets, under sinks, behind appliances and baseboards, and around plumbing fixtures. Younger cockroaches often remain close to these protected areas. Cockroach feces and other organic material can also become part of the food available within an infestation.
Reducing food, water, and shelter is an important part of cockroach control. Oklahoma State University Extension recommends sanitation, reducing water sources, eliminating hiding areas, and using appropriate cockroach-control methods. Proper identification and treatment are important because different cockroach species can behave differently and occupy different areas of a structure.
If you think you’re having an issue with cockroaches or another pest-control problem, it’s time to get in touch with a good Broken Arrow Exterminator who can get the job done right. TermMax Pest Control can help with cockroaches and other pests. If you think you’re having a problem, call us today for more information and help getting cockroaches out of your home.
