Cockroaches are nocturnal creatures, so you'll most likely spot them late at night, especially if you walk into your kitchen and turn on the light. If you do see them during the day, it's usually because roach overcrowding has forced them out into the open, so chances are you've got a pretty large roach
When it comes to roaches, there's usually more than what's visible hiding in your home. If you spot one of these pesky insects, it's best to call your local Terminix technician right away to get rid of the cockroaches. There are, however, some steps you can take to prevent a cockroach infestation.
If the cockroach is an American Cockroach, Oriental Cockroach or Smokybrown Cockroach, you shouldn't be too worried. These roach species are occasional invaders and actually prefer to live outdoors. When they enter your home, it's often by accident or there is available food and water.
Inspect Your House Immediately
Seeing a single cockroach is an indication that you might have several cockroaches at home so when you see one, immediately inspect your home.
Cockroaches are common insect pests found all over the world. Familiar to most people, cockroaches are very resourceful insects that can live, eat, and breed in your home without you even knowing it.
Citronella
Citronella not only works great for repelling mosquitos but also cockroaches. While the candles don't work well against roaches, you can use citronella oil as a deterrent. You can mix it with water and use it as a spray or simply wipe down areas with the diluted mixture.
Roaches are most active at night, during which time they forage for food and mate. Outdoor cockroaches in the northern United States enter a period of hibernation in winter, experiencing a suspended state of development in autumn.
Does that seem like something you want to ignore? But even if asthma isn't a concern, cockroaches have also been implicated in the passage of several different pathogens, diseases and bacteria. You don't want these critters around you.
And even seeing one roach every few months could mean your house has a cockroach infestation. The only thing that can worsen this occasional spotting is seeing a roach out and about during the daytime. Because that means there's overcrowding of roaches somewhere inside your house, you must take action right now!
Number Of Roaches In An Infestation. You might be seeing two to ten cockroaches in a day. But if it exceeds ten, you should start worrying. This may be an indication that you're not only having a cockroach problem but an infestation.
Vinegar is a natural household ingredient that can repel and kill cockroaches. Fill a spray bottle with equal parts vinegar and water, and then spray it directly onto the roaches when spotted. The strong odour and acidity of vinegar can be effective in eliminating them instantly.
While it is possible for cockroaches to crawl on people as they sleep, the likelihood of one entering your mouth is extremely low since they are afraid of humans. Cockroaches are generally more attracted to food sources, water, and dark, secluded places.
As it turns out, the root of that fear often traces back to some traumatic experience in life, such as witnessing your mother scream at the sight of a roach. Often, that fear forms early, around the age of four or five.
Once a roach has found and consumed bait, it typically dies within 1-3 days. A substantial reduction in the infestation overall should be apparent within a few weeks. With cockroach baits, it usually is not necessary to empty kitchen cabinets or cover food preparation surfaces before treatment.
Look for Shed Skin and Egg Casings
One of the most obvious signs of an active cockroach nest is shed skin, which cockroaches molt as they grow. Another sign is egg casings, which look like small brown capsules. Look for these items near baseboards, cupboards, and other areas where roaches might be nesting.
Each species of cockroach has their own estimated lifespan but on average, cockroaches live for about one year. Factors such as food supply, habitat and climate affect lifespan. American cockroaches can live for about one year while German cockroaches are estimated to live for about 100 days.
German cockroach: A German cockroach lifespan is about three months. They will repeatedly reproduce during that time, producing a new generation around every 60 days. This can lead to thousands of ready-to-mate cockroaches, and ultimately, a population growth of millions within a year.
Roaches lay their eggs in any safe place that is damp or hidden. They like to be close to food while still being far enough away from human reach. American roach eggs: Female American cockroaches glue their oothecae to hard surfaces, like your cupboards, or cardboard near a food source.
They can get into your home in grocery bags, cardboard boxes, luggage, furniture, or appliances. They can also get in through the plumbing, sewers or drains. They can travel over from your neighbor's home into yours, too.
Squashing a cockroach can spread disease
Indeed, salmonella, staphylococcus and streptococcus are some of the illnesses that cockroaches can cause, in addition to dysentery, diarrhoea, cholera and typhoid fever.
One of the best methods for how to keep roaches away is to clean up food scraps, including tiny crumbs that you might overlook at a glance. Armed with a broom and a vacuum, give your floors a thorough cleaning regularly. Make sure to pull appliances away from the wall to clean underneath them.
Cockroaches are drawn to all kinds of things you might find in your laundry room: Dirty clothes often have remnants of food, sugary drinks, sweet-smelling perfumes, or even dried skin on them, which can attract cockroaches. Body odors can also attract cockroaches, even when we can't smell them ourselves.
To keep roaches out of your bedroom, you would take the same steps that you would to keep them out of other parts of your home, including: Keep your sleeping quarters free of food and moisture. Reduce clutter. Regularly empty your trash.
Cockroach bite marks may be between 1–4 millimeters in diameter. Based on the physiology of their mouthparts, cockroach bites may appear as red, raised bumps on the skin—similar to bed bug bites or mosquito bites but slightly larger.