Everyone, at one point in their life, will encounter an issue with cockroaches. These small insects thrive in the same conditions that we do. They have evolved to be the perfect parasite for the human experience. Cockroaches can be found everywhere we are, such as homes, apartments, hospitals, homes for the elderly, stores, restaurants and many other places. Why are cockroaches hard to kill? Cockroaches are perfectly adapted to live with us. They have tough, flexible exoskeletons, are good hiders, very fast, and multiply rapidly.
Cockroaches find their way into our homes many different ways. They are extremely fast for their size. Scientists have found that cockroaches can cover 50 body lengths a second. They can squeeze in very tight places, and are great at hiding. The female german cockroach can produce up to 200 offspring in its lifetime. And, of course, this reproduction expands exponentially over time. Multiple generations of roach live together at any given time.
KINDS OF COCKROACHES
The most common cockroaches that infest homes are grouped into two groups: small cockroaches and large cockroaches. The small cockroaches are predominately confined to two species: the german cockroach and the brown banded cockroach. Both of these roaches do poorly in outside weather, which means that they thrive in homes and businesses. They are tropical pests, so temperature regulated homes and apartments are perfect for them. They have plenty of hiding spots and lots of food and water available. This makes them the perfect pest in many ways. With help from your local Oklahoma exterminator, you can get rid of them.
The large cockroaches also come in two species, predominately: the American cockroach and the Oriental cockroach. These roaches fair much better outside, and mostly prefer it. They usually find their way into our homes through plumbing and water leaks. Both of these roaches are found in damp areas such as sewers and drainage ditches. They feed on dead and rotting organic material more than anything else. Because of this, they are usually easier to control than the smaller ones.
SHOULD I JUST LIVE WITH COCKROACHES?
Many homeowners are exasperated by their issue with cockroaches, and some will just give up. But there are many reasons not to give up. The most important one, is the health of your family. These insects infest our foods and carry disease and pathogens that can make people very sick. They also molt and create dust particles in the air that agitate and possibly cause asthma and respiratory disease. And their feces can contaminate air and food quality.
Cockroaches can be dealt with, if you know what you are doing. The most effective method of eliminating these pests from your home is to contact a good Oklahoma pest control company, and have them conduct an inspection. They will be able to solve your problem at a reasonable cost.
WAYS OF PROTECTING YOUR HOME
Cockroaches require three things to survive in any environment: food, water and harborage. So, in any infestation situation, it is important to control these factors. Seal food in plastic containers. Fix any water leaks or points of condensation. Eliminate places where insects can live by eliminating clutter. Seal off any entry points in and around your home. Fix any plumbing issues quickly. Most of these methods are great for prevention, but don’t help much once you have cockroaches in your home. The best thing to do if you already have an infestation, it to contact a good Tulsa pest control company for help.
But just as there are many ways to prevent cockroaches from infesting your home, there are many ways that you should NOT use to get rid of them. For this article, we will talk about one of them. Bug bombs and foggers are over the counter pest control products that have been sold for many years. Often they are advertised for roach control, but they are anything but. These bombs are cans of pesticide that, once fired, release a repellant spray that settles over all the surfaces of your home. First of all, cockroaches main place where they stay are in cracks, so this treatment is going to be ineffective. Foggers are also a fire hazard. Many people have burnt their house down with them. And a repellant insecticide will cause the surviving roaches to go into the walls and reproduce causing a worse problem then when you started.
HOW DO I ELIMINATE COCKROACHES FOR GOOD?
If you are having an issue with cockroaches in your home or office, it is probably time to bring in the professionals. Eliminating cockroach infestations, once they start, are difficult at best. Contact your local Tulsa exterminator for a free estimate. Here at TermMax Pest Control, we service all of the Tulsa area including Owasso, Broken Arrow, Catoosa, Coweta, Muskogee, Tahlequah, Bixby, Sand Springs, Pratville, and Sapulpa. Contact us today! We’re here to help!