One of the most common concerns among homeowners in Houston is the presence of cockroaches. These scavenging insects carry a large assortment of dangerous diseases, which they often inadvertently transmit to people by infesting our food storage. They can get into almost anywhere, making cockroach control quite difficult but obviously important. In order to maintain the most effective pest control in Houston, it helps to be well educated on the potential foes you'll face, and a cockroach infestation is no exception. This post will outline everything you need to know about cockroaches, including the best way to get rid of cockroaches for good.
What Do Cockroaches In Your Houston Home Look Like?
Cockroaches are small insects that excel at stealth and evasion. Most people are familiar with these common pests, but it helps to be able to distinguish exactly which type of cockroach you might have spotted in your Houston home. Here are the three most common types of cockroach species infesting homes in our area and some easy ways to identify each one at a glance:
American cockroach: The largest species of domestic roach, this insect is between 1 and 2 inches long, with a dark reddish-brown carapace and wings which they can use to fly short distances. Besides its size, the biggest distinguishing factor is the yellow band surrounding its head.
German cockroach: The most common species of domestic roach due to its exceptionally prolific breeding cycle, this insect is only about 1/2 an inch long. It's usually light brown and rarely flies despite having wings. The easiest way to identify it is by the pair of vertical black stripes on the back of its head.
Oriental cockroach: Also known as the waterbug, this roach is about 1 inch long, with a shiny black carapace. Oriental roaches earned their alternate name for being especially attracted to areas of high moisture or humidity.
Why Are Cockroaches Dangerous?
Besides being a general nuisance, these insects pose quite a few health concerns, especially if an infestation has grown large enough. Some people ask, "Do cockroaches bite?" The answer is yes, they can, but that isn't the main concern with a cockroach infestation. These insects prowl some extremely unsanitary places before finding their way into your kitchen. Every type of cockroach carries a wide array of dangerous pathogens that they pick up on their legs from scavenging in carrion, sewage, and garbage. Those pathogens end up in your kitchen, on food, and cooking surfaces. Here are just a few of the diseases cockroaches carry:
Salmonella
E. coli
Dysentery
Cholera
Why Is It So Hard To Get Rid Of Cockroaches?
The main factors that make a cockroach infestation so troublesome are their size, numbers, and fast reproductive cycle. Cockroaches are incredibly persistent scavengers and will stop at nothing to take advantage of the rich food and warmth within your home. They can hide just about anywhere, come in swarms, and once they establish themselves, they can breed and sustain their numbers very efficiently. That's why cockroach control is so important.
The Secret To Effective Cockroach Control
The best means of cockroach prevention is professional home pest treatment. The experts at H-Town Home Services can take care of everything for you. Don't let these prolific pests take root in your home, with all of the disease and unnecessary stress they bring with them. Whether you're fighting off a cockroach infestation and need help now or want to guarantee you never will, reach out to H-Town Home Services, and find out why so many other homeowners in Houston trust us for all of their pest control needs.
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