Cockroaches are infamous for their ability to survive and thrive in even the most inhospitable conditions: believe it or not, they can survive after losing their heads, hold their breath underwater for 30 minutes or more, and go without food for up to one month. Unfortunately, roaches’ hardiness means that they can be extraordinarily difficult to evict from your home or business. If you are experiencing an infestation, you can count on Seitz Bros. to help eliminate it, as our technicians have many years of experience with roach control.

What You Need to Know About Cockroaches

There are thousands of species of roaches around the globe, but the four that you are most likely to encounter in the northeastern United States are the German cockroach, the Oriental cockroach, the American cockroach, and the Brown-Banded cockroach. The German cockroach is the smallest of the group at only ½ to ⅝ inches long, while the American cockroach is the largest at over 1 and ½ inches long. Only American cockroaches and male Brown-Banded cockroaches have the ability to fly, and no species is venomous or stings. Roach bites are rare.

Behavior

Roaches are quick—at top speed, they can move at more than three miles per hour, or the equivalent of 50 lengths of its body every second! They tend to be active during the night, when they’re less likely to be disturbed, and prefer to spend time in dark areas. Since roaches can only survive a few days without water, they are likely to settle into wet, humid areas, like your bathroom or kitchen. One of the reasons that infestations grow so quickly is that roaches are innately social creatures: they use cuticular hydrocarbons to communicate with each other and establish large communities. Roaches do not thrive in isolation.

Health Risks

In addition to being unpleasant-looking, cockroaches harbor pathogens that may cause disease. Once they take up residence in a building, they will spread germs and bacteria throughout, including around food preparation areas. In addition, some allergy-sufferers may experience a reaction from being exposed to the roaches themselves, their saliva, their waste, and the skin that they shed. You should take care to thoroughly clean and disinfect any areas of your home where roaches may be lurking and discard any food that they might have contaminated.

Detecting an Infestation and Treating for Cockroaches

Some of the most common signs of an infestation will appear in plain sight: you may see the roaches themselves, notice droppings, or spot clusters of anywhere from 10 to 50 eggs known as oothecae. Many people report turning on a light in a room and noticing a cluster of cockroaches scatter out of sight. Another common side effect of a roach problem is a distinct oily, pungent odor.

There are several effective ways to make your home or commercial inhospitable to roaches, such as practicing proper sanitation procedures and keeping food in sealed containers so that it is not out in the open and easily accessible. In addition, there are a few roach control methods that you can try to mitigate a problem once the pests have already found their way in, which include setting traps, placing glue strips in strategic places and even sprinkling boric acid powder. If you choose the latter method and you have children or pets in your home, however, it’s best to exercise caution, since the powder can be easily displaced.

While do-it-yourself methods may reduce the size of your infestation, it is best to call a professional for a quick and effective solution. The longer that a roach problem persists, the larger it will become, even if you are setting traps or taking other action. Our technicians are well-practiced in helping to get rid of roaches, and we offer a free quote on all of our services. Plus, we offer many different appointment slots and will work to accommodate your schedule. Don’t hesitate to call Seitz Bros. at (570) 783-5593 to schedule service!