Cockroach Identification Guide

What are cockroaches?

Cockroaches are nocturnal insects that hide during the day. These pests are difficult to identify in small numbers because they are most active when we are sleeping. When infestations grow larger, or food becomes scarce, you are more likely to see them out and about during the day. If you see cockroaches in your home, call Assurance Pest Solutions immediately.

Cockroaches are opportunistic scavengers and will find a way onto any property that offers them food, water, and shelter. Oval-shaped insects with long antennae, cockroaches are known for being poor fliers. The cockroach's only means of defense is their quick movements. Whenever cockroaches feel threatened, they use their six legs to scurry out of the way quickly.

The most common household-invading roaches living in Massachusetts and across the United States are German cockroaches, American cockroaches, Oriental cockroaches, and brown-banded cockroaches.

Are cockroaches dangerous?

The presence of cockroaches is linked to asthma and other allergies. A cockroach's shed skin and excrement trigger allergies after becoming airborne or making contact with a person's skin. Cockroaches carry various bacteria and pathogens on their bodies that allow them to spread things like salmonellosis, gastroenteritis, dysentery, and E. Coli. They also contaminate the food stored in our homes as they crawl over counters and through cabinets and pantries foraging for things to eat.

Why do I have a cockroach problem?

In general, cockroaches are good climbers and will crawl up any surface. Their flexible exoskeleton allows them to move through the narrowest spaces they find while climbing interior or exterior walls. In addition to moving indoors on their own, people also transport cockroaches into structures in things like used appliances or electronics, upholstered furniture, potted plants, or storage boxes.

Being prolific breeders means that just a few cockroaches moving into a home or business can quickly lead to a large-scale infestation. Cockroaches can become a problem anywhere, whether they move in on their own or hitchhike in. The best way to handle an infestation is to reach out to a pest control professional for immediate help.

Where will I find cockroaches?

Cockroaches forage for food in garbage piles, sewers, garden areas, pet food bowls, and any indoor space that prepares or stores food. Many roach species are also attracted to water, so properties with underlying water issues like leaky pipes or fixtures or poor drainage also attract cockroaches.

German, Oriental, and American cockroaches prefer to live in warm, damp areas near food. In our homes, populations of cockroaches develop in the backs of drawers and cabinets, in the cracks of walls near pipes, behind appliances, and in damp basements.

The brown-banded cockroach differs slightly from most cockroaches because they prefer to live in warm, dry areas. Spaces behind wood trim, the tops of cabinets, and inside cabinets are places where people discover these roaches.

How do I get rid of cockroaches?

Cockroaches are an unwelcome sight in your Waltham, Massachusetts home or business. At Assurance Pest Solutions, we understand how important it is to quickly eliminate these pests and provide prompt and reliable pest solutions.

Our locally owned and operated company understands our area's unique pest pressures and how to provide long-term solutions for home pest control and commercial pest control. To learn more about working with our knowledgeable staff to rid your property of cockroaches, reach out to Assurance Pest Solutions today!

How can I prevent cockroaches in the future?

If you live in Waltham, Newton, Needham, or surrounding areas, Assurance Pest Solutions can help you maintain a property that is free of cockroaches. In addition to our pest control solutions, the following tips will help prevent cockroach problems:

• Inspect boxes, plant pots, deliveries, and used items for cockroaches before bringing them into your home.
• Immediately repair leaky pipes.
• Inspect areas under sinks and behind refrigerators for leaks regularly.
• Keep kitchen areas free of food debris by regularly sweeping floors and wiping down counters.
• Store dry goods in containers with airtight lids and fruits and vegetables in the refrigerator.
• Keep your home free of the clutter where cockroaches can hide, paying particular attention to basements, closets, pantries, cabinets, and drawers.
• Cockroaches move inside through any openings they discover. Regularly inspect your home's exterior and seal any openings you find using caulk or another sealant.