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Cockroaches

What is a Cockroach?

While we have many cockroach species, two of the most common roaches we see the most in New York are the American cockroach and German cockroach. 

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The American cockroach is one of the largest house infesting roaches and major common unwanted pest you will find throughout the U.S. American cockroaches are typically reddish brown with a yellowish figure 8 patter on the back of the head. They have 6 legs and as an adult may range between 1 1/4 inches to 2 1/8 in length.  Both male and females have wings and can fly short distances. 

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The German cockroach is another most common cockroach species found worldwide. German cockroaches are typically light brown to tan, with two dark, almost parallel stripes located on their backs just behind their heads. They have 6 legs and can range between 1/2 - 5/8 long in size. While German cockroaches have wings, they rarely fly as they prefer to run.

How Did I Get Cockroaches?

While both cockroaches prefer to be indoors, both have different attractions.

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The American cockroach enters a home to find two things: water and food. While American cockroaches can be found outdoors, they will move indoors when they experience an shortage of food or if winter approaches. Typically they feed on many kinds of food such as crumbs found under appliances, in drains, behind kitchen cabinets and on the floor. They can also eat pet food that is left uncovered. 

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The German cockroach are more known to be indoor cockroaches. The most common source of problems with German cockroaches are used items such as furniture and luggage. Areas where food is left such as garbage containers, kitchen cabinets and under sinks are prime locations where these cockroaches will have food, water and protection and claim it as their home. 

Inspection & Treatment

Overall, both American and German cockroaches are filthy pests. They can potentially spread diseases, contaminate your food and cause allergies & asthma. They can pick up germs on the spines of their legs and bodies as they crawl through decaying matter or sewage and then carry these onto your food surfaces.  Germs that cockroaches eat from either matter or sewage lasts in their bodies for several weeks longer and spread into your own home.  

 

American cockroaches live and feed under darkness. This means if found during the day could potentially mean that there is a serious infestation. Often, these roaches could be found behind fridges, under sinks and stoves, inside floor drains, beneath rubber mats and within wall cracks. In the outdoors you may find them wandering through mulch, woodpiles, flowerbeds and under shingles.  Their feces resemble coffee grounds or black pepper, if the infestation is much larger you may encounter a strong, oily/musty odor.

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German cockroaches can potentially spread at least over 30 different kinds of bacteria, 6 kinds of parasitic worms and at least 7 other kinds of human bacteria. Similar to the American cockroaches, they too can pick up germs on the spines of their legs and body as they crawl through decaying matter and sewage. If dead roaches or skin sheddings are found, this is a clear sign of infestation. Similar to the American cockroaches these roaches could be found behind fridges, under sinks and stoves, inside floor drains, beneath rubber mats and within wall cracks These roaches in particular enjoy soap and toothpaste, this means you can find them in your bathrooms as well. 

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Pest2Kill Exterminating Company, will inspect and create a thorough pest control plan to help eliminate these filthy pests. One effective method is applying insecticide sprays to create perimeters or barriers around baseboard and doors. Outside of sprays we also provide bait traps, insecticide granular, dusters and much more! All effective ways to getting rid of these roaches. Call us today to set up a custom plan just for you!

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Close Up American Cockroach

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Close Up German Cockroach

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Prevention

Prevention is key when avoiding both American and German cockroaches in your home. There are a number of different ways to prevent them from entering. Here are some helpful tips to avoid them:​

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  1.  Keeping your home -- specifically your kitchen and bathroom clean and free of food and soap debris is very important to avoid an invasion of cockroaches. This includes sweeping your floors on a regular basis to remove fallen crumbs. Wiping under kitchen appliances and over counters to ensure all food residue is gone.  

  2. Move garbage cans out of preferred moist habitat -- use a tight fitting lid on your trash can.

  3. Remove old boxes and piles of papers where roaches can hide.

  4. Stop water leaks, screen equipment overflow drains; keep drain traps full or capped. 

  5. Do not allow pet food to sit out overnight. 

  6. Elimintate as much clutter as possible.

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Call Pest2Kill Exterminating today to set up a custom plan just for you and help eliminate your cockroach problem!

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