Most homeowners know how filthy cockroaches are. Still, while unsanitary home conditions can draw them in and feed their infestation, these pests can survive on next-to-nothing and in inhospitable conditions. They are a threat to every kind of home and business and are near impossible to get rid of on your own. Even more unfortunate, different types of cockroaches carry different threats and habits. Knowing your enemy is the first step to preventing and eliminating infestations.
Types Of Cockroaches Threatening Homes & Businesses
There are two common cockroach species to be aware of in the Turks and Caicos Islands. These pests pose unique threats, so it’s good to be aware of which type you’re dealing with if you spot one in your home or business.
American Cockroach
- Reddish-brown with a yellowish figure-eight pattern on the back
- Grow over two inches in length (may exceed this in tropical climates)
- Oval-shaped and winged
- Usually found in sewers, drains, flower beds, and mulch piles when outside of the home
- Indoors, prefer bathrooms, kitchens, basements, and laundry rooms
- In more commercial buildings, can be found in boiler rooms, kitchens, steam tunnels, and basements
- Known to spread around 33 different bacteria, including Salmonella and E. Coli
While smaller, the German cockroach is an even more dangerous opponent in terms of pathogens they can bring indoors.
German Cockroach
- Light brown to tan with two, dark parallel stripes on the back
- Grow to ⅝ of an inch long but can exceed this in tropical climates
- Oval-shaped bodies, with wings but rarely fly
- Most likely to be found in kitchens, they will spread to anywhere food can be found, including living rooms and bedrooms
- Can fit through tiny gaps
- Spread around 33 different types of bacteria, but they are also vectors for parasitic worms and other pathogens
Cockroaches can cause asthma attacks, especially in children. These pests leave fecal smears, shed exoskeletons, and egg sacks around the home that can be used to identify them. It’s easy to see that cockroaches are too dangerous a pest to allow indoors. Preventing them comes down to keeping a clean home and maintaining a pest-excluding outdoor environment.
How To Prevent Cockroaches
Keeping cockroaches from coming inside takes persistence. Try these techniques to keep them away from your home and business:
- Keep indoor trash sealed and taken out regularly. Outdoor trash should be sealed and kept far away from the home.
- Regularly sanitize, especially in bathrooms and kitchens. Vacuum at least once a week, and don’t let dishes pile up.
- Keep food in sealed containers, and don’t leave pet food sitting out.
- Ventilate dark, humid areas like crawlspaces and basements.
- Run water in bathrooms periodically to prevent pipe-squatting cockroaches.
- Seal cracks and crevices around the home with silicon-based caulk.
- Remove sources of standing water and fix leaking pipes.
- Check any used furniture or appliances before bringing them indoors.
Minimizing entry points and attracting factors will go a long way toward preventing cockroach infestations.
Contact Parkway Pest Solutions At The First Sign Of Cockroaches
Not only are cockroaches incredibly resilient pests, but they are also hard to prevent in tropical climates like ours, where every home meets its temperature requirements. Don’t let cockroaches be a source of worry for you. When you schedule an appointment with Parkway Pest Solutions, we will inspect for pests and pest-inviting problems, treat your home and prevent future visitors, and return regularly to make sure cockroaches remain a distant threat. Call or visit us online to schedule your free inspection today.