While none of us want to end up in a Kafkaesque situation where we become far too familiar with cockroaches, some people might not realize exactly how dangerous cockroaches are.
In Franza Kafka’s famous story, “The Metamorphosis,” a young man wakes up as a cockroach. While this isn’t something you need to worry about happening to you, you could wake up to a cockroach infestation.
What exactly does a cockroach infestation look like? How do you identify cockroaches? How do you prevent them? What can you do to get rid of them? We’ll answer all this and more to help you keep your Norfolk home safe.
The Cockroaches In Your Home
In Norfolk, there are a few species of cockroaches we could be talking about. The most common cockroaches in homes are Asian cockroaches, brown-banded cockroaches, German cockroaches, and American cockroaches.
They range in color from yellow to brown to reddish. German cockroaches are the smallest, and American cockroaches are the largest, growing up to two inches.
These species are all nocturnal, meaning you’re most likely to see them in the evening or at night. They can run incredibly fast and while most species don't fly, they can use their wings to glide.
Reasons To Stop Cockroaches
Now that you’ve been reminded what a cockroach is, here’s an important reminder of why you need to keep them out of your home.
Cockroaches are omnivores and will eat just about anything, but they favor decaying food. Imagine a night in the life of a cockroach. It may start in a damp corner under the sink. The cockroach will emerge to find food. It may wander around the bathroom first, looking for any messes and crawling around the toilet.
It may then find the garbage and spend some time crawling around rotting food and eating. During this endeavor the cockroach will likely pick up dangerous pathogens and bacteria from the trash. It will then carry those pathogens throughout the rest of its path, through your kitchen or across your bedroom floor.
Cockroaches spread bacteria and contaminate food and cooking surfaces. As if this isn’t enough, they are also known to worsen the symptoms of people who suffer from asthma and allergies.
Preventing Cockroaches
If you haven’t seen any cockroaches in your home, you should take some preventative steps. Here are three ways to keep cockroaches away:
- Eliminate moisture. Cockroaches love moisture, so use a dehumidifier, clean spills, and fix leaks.
- Limit food access. Roaches come into homes in search of food. Keep them out by sealing garbage in airtight containers, properly storing all food, including pet food, and cleaning up any spills.
- Prevent entry. Finally, keep cockroaches out by checking the exterior of your home for holes and cracks that might be inviting roaches and other pests inside.
Cockroach Infestations
If you see even one cockroach in your home, it can be the sign of an infestation. These pests are good at hiding, so where there is one, there are sure to be more.
At the first sign of cockroaches, call PESTOUT to get them out. We can secure your home with long-lasting results that will keep you and your family safe from cockroaches and the pathogens they carry. Don’t deal with these dirty, difficult pests alone; let PESTOUT help.