February's Pest of the Month – Roaches

Roaches are often referred to as waterbugs. These bugs enter homes and commercial kitchens in search of food, water, and shelter.

Habits

• Enter through cracks and crevices
•  Enter by way of boxes, containers, etc.
•  Commonly found in areas with water such as kitchens and bathrooms

Different Species

• American Cockroach
•  Smoky Brown Cockroach
•  Brownbanded Cockroach
•  German Cockroach
•  Oriental Cockroach

Threats

• Cockroaches have been reported to spread at least 33 kinds of bacteria, six kinds of parasitic worms, and at least seven other kinds of human pathogens
•  Cockroach allergens trigger allergic reactions
•  Have shown to cause asthma in children
•  Pick up germs while crawling though decaying matter or sewage and carry those germs onto foods or other surfaces

Prevention

• Reduce moisture by fixing leaky drains and pipes, properly ventilate basements and crawlspaces
• Brush all firewood before bringing it into your home – many insects lay eggs on firewood
• Clean kitchen counters regularly of spills and crumbs
• Clean dishes immediately after use
• Vacuum often
• Keep garbage in sealed containers and dispose often
• Keep food seals and stored properly
• Seal cracks and crevices that roaches could use as entry points into a structure

Other Pests to Look Out for

• House Mice
• Rats
• Bed Bugs