Almost everyone knows that it is a bad idea to have cockroaches in their home. But how bad are the cockroaches here? Are they any worse than cockroaches in other parts of the country? The answer is a resounding no. Not only are the species of cockroaches found in other states, but almost all cockroaches have the same dirty habits that make them a serious health threat when they get into man-made structures. Let's take a closer look.
Cockroaches
We have four common cockroach species in our region: American cockroaches, German cockroaches, Oriental cockroaches, and brown-banded cockroaches. Of the four, the most common structure-investing pest is not the American cockroach. It is actually the German cockroach. In fact, the German cockroach is the most successful structure-infesting insect in the world. But you can have trouble with any of these cockroaches. Under the right conditions, cockroaches will get into your home and they can be a serious threat to you and your family.
Why Cockroaches Spread Illness
It may come as no surprise to you that cockroaches hang out in places you would never consider hanging out in. They are commonly found in sewer systems, dumpsters, trash cans, compost heaps, and other dirty locations. This brings them in contact with harmful bacteria, parasitic worms, and other tiny organisms. But this is only the beginning of the many ways cockroaches expose themselves to organisms that can make us sick.
- Cockroaches feed on decaying animal carcasses.
- Cockroaches feed on the feces of animals.
- Cockroaches lay their eggs in gelatinous, decaying organic masses.
- Cockroaches feed and breed on the sludge of the kitchen drain.
- Cockroaches climb around on dirty mops, explore litter boxes, and run across toilet rims.
- Cockroaches squeeze into the gap between your oven and the wall, where grease, rotting food particles, and grime can be found.
How Cockroaches Spread Organisms
You may already be aware that cockroaches get into your food. That is certainly one way they can make you sick. The organisms on their exoskeletons can dislodge and contaminate your foods as cockroaches get into food packages to feed. But this is only one of many ways they can expose you to these organisms.
- Cockroaches eat toothpaste and can be found nibbling on toothbrush bristles at night.
- Cockroaches climb on the dishes in your cabinets as they explore.
- Cockroaches skitter across your cutting board and other food-prep surfaces.
- Cockroaches are known to get a drink from the moisture in the mouths of sleeping humans.
- Cockroaches are attracted to the smell of decaying milk on the breath of sleeping babies.
Do you see how it works?
Cockroaches are drawn to filthy things and filthy places. They eat feces. They get into tight spaces within your kitchen that are hard to clean. All of this exposes them to harmful organisms. Then, cockroaches spread organisms around your home to places you don't expect will be dirty. This exposes you. Because of this behavior, cockroaches are very dirty houseguests. Studies have revealed that cockroaches can spread over 33 forms of harmful bacteria, at least 7 human pathogens, and they have been found to carry 6 specific parasitic worms. If all this isn't enough, a link has been found between cockroaches and Asthma symptoms. Homes with cockroach infestations have a higher number of hospital visitations due to Asthma-related symptoms.
How bad are cockroaches?
They are as bad as the cockroaches in the rest of the country. You should definitely have them exterminated and excluded from your home at the first sign of cockroach activity. This is where we can help. The pest control professionals at Alta Pest Control use advanced pest control methods and EPA-approved products to get control of cockroaches. Reach out to us today to schedule a visit. We're standing by to help.
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