FIVE THINGS EVERY HOMEOWNER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT COCKROACHES

There are some pretty interesting facts you can learn about cockroaches by searching the internet. You can find out that cockroaches can resist high levels of radiation and that they are likely to be one of the few creatures that will survive a global thermonuclear war. You can learn that drowning a cockroach is extremely difficult because they can hold their breath for over a half an hour, or that a roach can survive for around a week without its head because it breathes through its body. While these are neat facts, they're not going to help you protect your family from these dirty pests⁠—but here are some that will.

Cockroaches Are A Health Threat

We all know cockroaches are filthy but you might not know the half of it. Are you aware that cockroaches are linked to the spread of 33 kinds of bacteria, 2 of the most widely recognized being Salmonella and E. coli? When these insects get into a man-made structure, that quickly presents a health risk.

Do you know that cockroaches can spread 6 types of parasitic worms? They go by names like tapeworm, roundworm, hookworm, pinworm, whipworm, and other variations of these. When cockroaches get into stored food, they can do more than taint it in a way that will cause diarrhea or vomiting. They can introduce these worms which are able to live in the intestinal tract of humans and create a whole host of medical issues.

If the above was not enough reason to not want cockroaches around, they are also vectors for pathogenic agents. There is some debate regarding how many pathogens are known to be carried by cockroaches, but some estimate there to be as many as 40.

Cockroaches Are Resourceful

A roach can compact its body to squeeze through gaps much thinner than their height. They can scale walls and walk across ceilings that seem smooth to the naked eye. Some roaches are even able to fly. If you're trying to keep this insect out of your home, you're going to have a hard time doing it without some form of pest control product. And, when cockroaches get inside, newly hatched roaches can be small enough to slip through the holes in your wall outlet. That means, they're going to have no problem spreading.

Cockroaches Are Hard To Kill

Radiation isn't the only thing that cockroaches are able to resist. They have the ability to grow a tolerance for pesticides. This resistance to insecticide makes them a challenge to control without training and experience in modern pest management protocols. Plus, killing cockroaches doesn't arrest a cockroach infestation. You can kill cockroaches all day, every day, and still have these insects crawling around inside your home.

Cockroaches Are Nocturnal

This fact alone is not going to help you all that much, but understanding what cockroaches do while you're sleeping might inspire you to get your infestation taken care of immediately.

Roaches are drawn to the open mouths of sleeping humans. They are known to crawl up to get a drink of saliva from adults and children--and are especially drawn to the smell of milk on a baby's lips.

Cockroaches Bite

Though these insects are not prone to bite, they can and will bite when food resources are low or their populations grow too large for available food. Bites usually occur on eyelids because roaches prefer the dead skin found around lashes, and those bites tend to swell quickly due to bacteria introduced into the wound from the biting cockroach.

The Good News

You don't have to live with cockroaches or the health threats they present. When you have ongoing pest control service for the perimeter of your home, and professional cockroach extermination, your home can be roach-free. And, while you're having your home protected from cockroaches, your pest service plan will also protect you from a whole host of other harmful and destructive pests.

If you live in South Carolina, find out if you're in our service area and schedule a free inspection for your home. You can't go wrong with Aiken Pest Control⁠—but don't take our word for it. Ask our customers who have given us 5 out 5 stars on Google, check out our A+ rating at the Better Business Bureau, or learn about the QualityPro seal of excellence we earned from the National Pest Management Association. Don't let those cockroaches win, contact Aiken today.