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Archive for the ‘Roaches’ Category

The Common Cockroaches in Your Home: What to Look Out For

When it comes to unwelcome household pests, few invoke the visceral shudder of the cockroach. These hardy insects are synonymous with filth and infestations, appearing suddenly in the dark corners of our kitchens or scuttling across the bathroom floor at the worst possible moments. But not all cockroaches are created equal, and the species that commonly infest homes have their own distinct characteristics and behaviors.

Understanding the types of cockroaches that may infest your home can help you with prevention, identification, and, if necessary, eradication. By knowing your enemy, you can better protect your home from these resilient intruders. Here, we’ll explore the different cockroach species you might find in North American homes and what you can do about them.

The German Cockroach (Blattella germanica)

Of all the roach species, the German cockroach is perhaps the most reviled houseguest. Their small size – 1/2 to 5/8 inches long – and light brown or tan coloration allow them to hide in tiny crevices, making them extremely difficult to detect and eliminate. German cockroaches breed rapidly, with one female capable of producing up to six generations annually.

Identifying Features

  • Size: Smallest of the roach species common in homes
  • Color: Light brown or tan
  • Speed and Agility: Moves quickly and is adept at hiding

Behavior

German cockroaches are typically found in warm and humid areas, such as kitchens and bathrooms. They are attracted to food and water sources and can contaminate these areas with bacteria as they forage. Additionally, the German cockroach releases an aggregation pheromone, which can quickly attract others and lead to a thriving population.

Control and Prevention

Effective control of German cockroaches requires meticulous cleaning and sanitation. Remove all food and water sources that might attract them. Seal cracks and crevices, store food in airtight containers, and fix any plumbing leaks. If an infestation occurs, immediate professional intervention is often necessary.

The American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana)

The American cockroach holds the title of largest common house-infesting roach, reaching up to 3 inches in length. Despite its name, it is not native to North America and may have been introduced during the colonial period. Unlike the German variety, American cockroaches thrive in warm, damp environments but can also survive outdoors. They are reddish-brown and have a distinctive yellowish figure-eight pattern behind their head.

Identifying Features

  • Size: Can grow up to 3 inches long
  • Color: Reddish-brown with a yellow figure-eight behind the head
  • Flight: Capable of flight, though prefers running

Behavior

American cockroaches prefer dark, moist environments and can often be found in basements, laundry rooms, and other secluded, damp areas. Like their German counterparts, they are attracted to food and water sources. They are also known to eat a wide variety of items, including paper, glue, and soap.

Control and Prevention

To manage American cockroaches, reduce moisture in and around your home, and seal or screen potential entry points. Outdoors, eliminate harborage areas such as woodpiles and mulch. Regular vacuuming can also help reduce their numbers. In severe cases, professional pest control is warranted.

The Oriental Cockroach (Blatta orientalis)

Oriental cockroaches, also known as “water bugs” or “black beetles” due to their shiny, dark exterior, are a larger species capable of flight. This species tends to inhabit more of the ground level and is often associated with foul odors. They are sluggish in comparison to other roach species and do not climb as well.

Identifying Features

  • Size: 1 to 1.25 inches long
  • Color: Dark brown or black
  • Odor: Can produce a noticeable smell

Behavior

Oriental cockroaches are more likely to be found in cooler environments and can often be spotted in basements and crawl spaces. They, too, are attracted to water and dampness but can survive for long periods without food. Despite their slower pace, oriental cockroaches can still rapidly infest an area if conditions are favorable.

Control and Prevention

Reducing moisture and sealing entry points are critical to preventing oriental cockroach infestations. Outdoors, regular yard maintenance can help. You should also ensure that your home’s foundation and exterior are in good repair. If confronted with an infestation, professional pest control is recommended.

The Brown-Banded Cockroach (Supella longipalpa)

This smaller species, named for the light bands across its wings, is known for its characteristic tendency to hide in higher locations than other roaches. They are often found in upper cabinets in kitchens and bathrooms, behind picture frames, and in closets. The brown-banded cockroach’s preference for warm, dry areas sets it apart from the more moisture-dependent roaches.

Identifying Features

  • Size: 1/2 inch long
  • Color: Brown, with light-colored bands across their wings
  • Habitat Preference: Likes warm and dry spaces

Behavior

Brown-banded cockroaches are particularly fond of starchy materials and may be found near these food sources, which can be anything from wallpaper to book bindings. They are not as commonly associated with unsanitary conditions as German roaches but are nevertheless unwelcome invaders of living spaces.

Sealing entry points, along with the removal of potential hiding places, is crucial in preventing brown-banded cockroaches from taking up residence in your home. Sticky traps can be useful for monitoring and control. Insecticides may also be necessary, applied by professionals where infestations are found.

Cockroach Control Tips

The key to managing a cockroach infestation is vigilance. Regularly inspect your home for signs of these pests, such as droppings, eggs, or discarded exoskeletons. Keep your living space clean, minimize clutter, and seal up potential entry points. If you are dealing with a substantial infestation, a professional pest control service is the most effective strategy.

By learning about the different species of cockroaches, you can tailor your pest management approach to the specific threats they pose. With a proactive stance and the right knowledge, you can help ensure that these resilient insects don’t make themselves at home in your living space. Contact us for serious cockroach control services.

Protect Your Home from Common Fall Pest Invaders with J&J Exterminating

As the leaves begin to turn and the temperatures drop, it’s not just the human population that’s ready for a change of scenery. Fall is a notorious season for pest infestations, with many insects and rodents seeking shelter from the approaching winter. These pests can not only cause damage to your home but also pose health risks to you and your family. In this post, we’ll go over some of the most common fall pest invaders and how J&J Exterminating can help keep your home healthy and pest-free.

Rodents

Fall is the time of year when rodents start seeking out warm, cozy places to spend the winter. Rats, mice, and other furry pests can squeeze through surprisingly small openings and quickly establish nests in your attic, crawl space, or walls. Rodents can cause a lot of damage to insulation, wiring, and other parts of your home, as well as pose a risk of disease transmission. Fortunately, J&J Exterminating offers comprehensive rodent control services that can help keep your home free of these unwanted guests.

Spiders

Despite being a common fall pest, spiders can actually help reduce the population of other insects in your home. However, some species of spiders can be dangerous to humans, and even non-venomous ones can be a nuisance if they build webs in inconvenient locations. J&J Exterminating can help identify and eliminate spider infestations by targeting their hiding spots and using long-lasting solutions to keep them from returning.

Termites

Termites can pose a threat to your home year-round, but fall is often when they become particularly active. Termites can quickly cause extensive damage to wooden structures, and they can be difficult to detect until the damage has already been done. J&J Exterminating offers both preventative and corrective termite control solutions that can help protect your home from these destructive insects.

Ants

Ants are another common fall pest, as they start looking for food and shelter before the winter sets in. While most species of ants aren’t harmful to humans, they can still be a nuisance and difficult to get rid of. J&J Exterminating offers ant control services that can target specific species and eliminate colonies at the source.

Don’t let pest invasions ruin your fall season. With J&J Exterminating, you can ensure that your home stays healthy and pest-free all year round. Our experienced team of pest control professionals can identify and address any pest infestation, using eco-friendly solutions that are both safe and effective. Contact us today to learn more about our pest control services and how we can help protect your home from common fall pest invaders.

The Threats Posed By The American Cockroach

If American cockroaches were simply disgusting, they would be considered nothing more than a nuisance, rather than a pest. However, these insects pose several threats to the inhabitants of the buildings that they infest. Let’s take a look at the threats posed by the American cockroach.

Bites

While American cockroaches have the ability to bite people, these bites rarely occur, and when they do, they pose no health threat. They do however have strong spines on their legs, which can pierce the skin, and since the roaches carry pathogens and bacteria on their legs, a scratch can easily become infected.

Diseases

American cockroaches are capable of carrying and spreading over 30 pathogens, bacteria and parasites. When it comes to food-borne bacteria, they can spread salmonella, streptococcus, and staphylococcus. On top of that, they also carry diseases such as as typhoid fever, cholera, and dysentery. American cockroaches will pick up all of these diseases as they travel through sewage and garbage, and then, as they come into contact with our own food, they will inadvertently lay down these bacteria and pathogens.

Allergies

If spreading diseases wasn’t bad enough, it turns out that cockroaches are capable of causing allergic reactions by their mere presence. This is because cockroaches have certain enzymes in their saliva, urine, feces, eggs and body parts, which are spread in the environments that they inhabit. These allergens or enzymes are widespread throughout the US, with the National Pest Management Association estimating that 63% of US homes contain cockroach allergens. In urban areas, that number can be as high as 98%. To make matters worse, children are more susceptible to these allergens, and studies have shown that buildings in areas with a higher concentration of cockroaches have higher rates of childhood asthma

Getting rid of American cockroaches

Because of these threats, getting rid of American cockroaches is essential as soon as you notice the first signs of an infestation, and in order to remove the roaches, you will need the help of a pest control pro. A pro will be able to remove the existing cockroach population in the building, and then lay down preventive measures that will lower the odds of a reinfestation. If you would like to know more about the threats posed by these roaches, or if you have an infestation that needs to be removed, give us a call and we will assist you right away.

How To Recognize Brown Cockroaches And Their Eggs

There are four primary cockroach species that infest homes throughout the United States. These species are commonly known as America, German, Oriental and brown-banded cockroaches. In addition to these four species, several additional cockroach pests can be found in the southeast where the subtropical climate favors roach activity. For example, the non-native species commonly known as smokybrown cockroaches, Australian cockroaches, and Surinam cockroaches can only be found in the Gulf Coast states. Periplaneta brunnea is another non-native cockroach species that can only be found in tropical and subtropical locations including Louisiana. This species is more commonly known as the “brown cockroach,” and its relatively large size can be unsettling to homeowners who find these pests indoors.

The brown cockroach is similar to the American cockroach in both appearance and behavior, but only the latter can be found throughout the country. Adult brown cockroaches are between 1.5 and 2 inches in length, and are reddish-brown in color. Much like American cockroaches, brown cockroaches possess a yellowish band directly behind their head on their upper back, but unlike American cockroaches, brown cockroach wings do not extend beyond their abdomen. Although the American cockroach is the second most commonly managed roach species within homes and buildings in the US, the brown cockroach is a surprisingly more common pest of homes in certain areas of the south. This may be due to the unusually rapid rate at which brown cockroaches proliferate in moist and humid conditions in the south.

The brown cockroach egg case, or “ootheca” is 12 to 16 mm long, and they are 5.2 mm longer than the average ootheca produced by female American cockroaches. The number of eggs within a brown cockroach ootheca varies from 21 to 28, and eggs develop into adults within 339 to 360 days, far shorter than the American cockroach life cycle. Female brown cockroaches use a frothy white oral secretion to paste their eggs to walls within protected locations, such as dark and moist harborages, beneath sinks, behind appliances, in basements, and within wall voids in bathrooms and kitchens. Initially, an ootheca appears brown in color, but they become progressively darker with age.

Have you ever found a cockroach egg case within your home?

 

 

Everything You Need To Know About Cockroaches

Cockroaches are a pest found all over the world, being one of the most common in home infestations. They are active at night, scouring the kitchen, bathroom, garbage cans, and food storage places in the home for anything to eat. Due to their habits, and the chemicals that are released by their bodies, they will carry diseases and cause allergic reactions. As such, getting rid of these pests as soon as possible is highly recommended. In this article, we’re going to take an in-depth look at the roach and cover some of the things that you need to know about these insects.

Biology

Cockroaches are flat insects with two pairs of wings and a light brown to black coloration. There are over 4000 species of cockroaches in the world, with 55 of them being located in the US. Most cockroach species will rarely fly, despite having wings. Instead, they will choose to walk very fast as a means of travel. The most common species that infest homes in the US are the American, Australian, Oriental, German and brown-banded cockroaches.

Behavior

The species of cockroaches that are adapted to living indoors likely have tropical origins. This is why they are attracted to parts of the home where they can find food, warmth and moisture. They will live in large groups and they will be active at night, while hiding during the day in tight spaces such as crevices in furniture, door frames and walls. Some roaches may even hide inside appliances, televisions, or drains and sewer systems. You will notice that if you turn on the light and cockroaches are out in the open, they will soon scurry to dark locations where they feel safe.

Health effects

Cockroaches routinely travel from filth to food sources, spreading pathogens in their wake. They may spread diseases on food, book-bindings and fabrics. They also disgorge partially digested food, spread disease through their feces, and discharge a foul secretion from various glands on their bodies which makes infested areas have a particular odor. In terms of the diseases and adverse health effects that they can cause, you have diarrhoea, dysentery, cholera, leprosy, plague, typhoid fever and a variety of viral diseases. In addition to these, they also carry the eggs of parasitic worms and they are known to cause allergic reactions.

Getting rid of cockroaches

Like with any pest, it’s best to start by removing the causes of the infestation. Make sure that you keep all food in sealed containers, that you have a lidded garbage can, that you remove any entry points into the home such as cracks and spaces in the walls, and that you seal the openings around drain pipes and electrical cables. This is then followed by chemical control methods, usually employed by a professional. These methods are designed to eliminate all of the roaches in the home and clear out their nest. If you currently have a roach infestation, contact us today, and we will help you get rid of it.

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