Cockroach Identification

Cockroaches are scavenging insects that, much to our dismay, are regular visitors to our Texas homes and businesses. Cockroaches have oval bodies that are dark in color and have an oily appearance. Their heads are much smaller than their bodies and have a shield-like cover over them. On the top of the heads are antennae that are as long or longer than their bodies.

Cockroaches have wings, but most prefer to move using their six spiny legs to run from place to place. A little-known fact is that cockroaches are considered one of the world's fastest insects! The American cockroach, smoky brown cockroach, and German cockroach are examples of roaches you are most likely to run into in your Texas yard, kitchen, pantry, or basement.

Cockroaches can't resist foraging for food in unsanitary places like dumpsters, trash cans, sewers, drains, compost, and piles of decaying organic matter. As they feed, they come into contact with a lot of bacteria, pathogens, and parasites.

When these pests get into our homes, they will quickly contaminate food, counters, tables, and other surfaces through direct contact or saliva and feces.

Another big issue with having cockroaches in your house is that as they shed their skins and produce large amounts of excrement; their presence will trigger allergies and asthma attacks. Also, the pheromones that cockroaches produce are often unpleasant smelling and may even affect the taste of food stored within your home.

There are thousands of species of cockroaches living worldwide, with most of them living in forests, jungles, and deserts. However, a small percentage of all cockroach species have discovered the benefits of living close to people. Our homes and businesses, provide roaches with the food and moisture they need to survive.

The following things will catch a roaches eye and make them think your home is where they want to live:

• Leaky pipes
• Poor ventilation
• Pooling water around your home's foundation
• Open trash cans
• Compost piles
• Pet food
• Outdoor eating areas

Some cockroaches live outside and find their way inside on their own while searching for food and water, while others have adapted to living mainly indoors with people.

American cockroaches prefer to live in warm, dark, wet areas and are common in sewers, around drains, in garden areas under mulch, or behind tree bark. Inside homes, they hide in damp, dark places like basements, crawl spaces, basements, and kitchens.

We often see smoky brown cockroaches walking around garden beds, doorways, windowsills, and porches. When they move inside, they will gravitate to attics, crawl spaces, basements, and kitchens. These roaches are attracted to lights, and you see them gathering around outdoor light fixtures and, inside our homes, around lamps and televisions.

German cockroaches are a species that have adapted to living indoors with people in our homes and businesses. They move from place to place inside things like boxes, deliveries, and secondhand furniture or appliances. Inside our homes, these tiny roaches squeeze their flat bodies into small cracks and crevices, drawers, cabinets, behind appliances, and spaces behind window or door trim. German cockroaches also live in naturally humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms.

Never try to tackle a cockroach infestation on your own. These pests are prolific breeders and have adapted to living with people. Without the help of a professional, eliminating a cockroach infestation is impossible. Partner with our professionals and put in place the services needed to eliminate cockroaches from your home and prevent them from becoming a problem in the future.

At Proactive Pest Services, our long-term solutions are what you need to maintain a house that is free of common household pests. We are committed to always going above and beyond to provide the most thorough and comprehensive pest services possible.

"Protecting What's Important" and providing families with the comfort of knowing that their homes are pest-free is our daily mission! To learn more about controlling and eliminating cockroaches through our pest control offerings, reach out to us today.

Take action to prevent problems with cockroaches by partnering with the professionals at Proactive Pest Services and implementing our helpful prevention tips. The cockroach's flat body allows them to squeeze through the smallest spaces, making it necessary to inspect the exterior of your home and sealing any openings discovered.

• Address leaky pipes, clogged gutters and downspouts, and low-lying areas that provide the moisture that attracts cockroaches.
• Always inspect things like boxes, potted plants, furniture, and appliances for cockroaches before bringing them into your home.
• While it's impossible to remove every crumb of food from your home, do your best to keep kitchen and dining areas free of as much food debris as possible. Regularly vacuum and wipe down tables and counters.