There are over 4,500 types of cockroaches although only 30 of them are commonly found around human habitats. The cockroach is a peculiar-looking insect, with a sturdy body, long legs, and flexible antennas. On average their bodies are 2-3cm long but some varieties are 9cm in length.
Almost all cockroaches have small heads, flattened bodies, and are a reddish-brown color. These insects are believed to have been in existence for 300-350 million years and, although they are relatively primitive, they are known to be able to survive almost anything.
It is also normal to feel a shiver going down your spine when you see one scuttling across your floor. It leads to the inevitable question of whether you have a cockroach issue or not.
The short answer is that it is time to call the exterminators. If you see one cockroach then it is likely there are more. These insects can be difficult to eradicate, that’s why you should click here and get the professional help you need to eliminate them.
The Truth About Cockroaches
Most people think of cockroaches as dirty creatures that shun the light. This means you are surprised when you see one in your home as you probably don’t consider yourself a dirty person.
Interestingly, despite their reputation, cockroaches are not dirty creatures. They are simply attracted to sources of food and water. If you see just one cockroach it is possible that it is passing through and you don’t have an issue. But, if there is more than one you need to assume you have an infestation.
The truth is that cockroaches tend to live in groups and they reproduce rapidly. This means even if you just have two cockroaches today, you are likely to have a lot more soon.
Of course, cockroaches do like dark spaces and are very good at hiding, which means you are unlikely to see them during the daytime. In order to verify that you have a cockroach problem, you’ll want to turn the lights out and then slip back into the room. You are likely to be able to hear them scuttling around. In fact, turn the light on and you will see them heading back to their homes. This will give you an idea of where they live, which can help you to deal with the issue.
Best of all seeing a cockroach does not mean you have a dirty house. It simply means they are using your home as a base.
Risks Associated With Cockroaches
Cockroaches can carry disease-causing bacteria. This is due to the fact that they walk over a wide variety of surfaces, including waste. A cockroach won’t bite you but it will leave bacteria wherever it has been. You can pick this bacteria up when you prepare food and undertake other activities in your home.
The most common diseases associated with cockroaches are diarrhea, dysentery, cholera, leprosy, plague, and typhoid fever. The effect of these diseases ranges from mild discomfort to life-threatening. That’s why you need to treat even one cockroach seriously and assume there are more.
How To Deal With An Infestation
There are two elements to dealing with a cockroach infestation. The first is eradication, the second is prevention.
It is possible to take steps to eradicate them yourself. However, in most cases, it is better to get professional help. Cockroaches have been around for a long time and have developed immunity to several pesticides, specifically those that you get over the counter in your local store.
Using a store-based pesticide may have no effect on the cockroaches but it can be detrimental to your health. If you wish to try getting rid of the cockroaches yourself the best thing to use is boric acid. It has no odor and won’t be noticed by the cockroaches. All you have to do is sprinkle it where they travel and they will crawl through it repeatedly until it kills them.
Boric acid has a low toxicity for cats and dogs which means it won’t cause them an issue if they ingest it by accident.
Preventing Their Return
You don’t need a dirty home to attract cockroaches. All they need is a source of food and water. That means you can leave a few crumbs on the floor and have a leak you don’t know about and you’ll attract them to your home.
It’s a good idea to clean your surfaces straight after you have prepared food. You should wipe them down with a disinfectant spray to prevent any food from being left that will attract cockroaches and other pests.
It is also a good idea to sweep and vacuum your floor daily, as well as mopping it with a disinfectant. This will prevent any crumbs from being left and avoid anything that may attract interest from cockroaches and other pests.
Alongside this, you need to put all open packets of food into sealed containers. This ensures the cockroaches, and other pests, cannot get to them. It even prevents them from being able to smell the food.
You should also empty your bins regularly and wash the insides of the bins. This removes the residual waste products that are so attractive to cockroaches and other pests.
Of course, it is worth visually inspecting your home to find any gaps where cockroaches can enter. They can get through very small gaps which means you need to seal every one of them up. Pay particular attention to windows, doors, and around the soil line
Final Thoughts
In rare cases, you get just one cockroach. However, the majority of the time this is a sign that you have an infestation. It does not mean you have a dirty house. You do need to pay extra attention to cleaning and, ideally, get the professionals in to handle the cockroaches for you.
This is the fastest way to eliminate the issue and allow you to feel comfortable in your own home again.