American cockroaches are from Africa and the Middle East and were brought to America by traders. American cockroaches prefer sweets but will eat almost anything they can find, including paper, wallpaper, hides, stuffed animals, book bindings, boots, hair, and many other things.
Dangers American Cockroaches Pose
Cockroaches pose two dangers to people living with them. First, they can carry salmonellosis, typhoid fever, cholera, gastroenteritis, dysentery, listeriosis, giardia, and E. coli infection. They spread these diseases when they walk over food, food preparation surfaces, and utensils used to eat the food. American cockroaches eat a lot of food, but they foul much more than they eat with urine, feces, and possibly the diseases mentioned above. This is why cockroaches are not permitted in restaurants or commercial buildings. The health inspector can shut you down if they find cockroaches. Your reputation will take a hit it might not be able to recover from.
Second, cockroaches' shed skins, eggshells, egg purses, urine, and feces dry out and become dust, which people breathe. Children are especially affected. Children who live with cockroaches are more likely to develop asthma and allergies. Children with asthma who live with cockroaches are hospitalized more often than children with asthma who do not live with cockroaches.
Preventing American Cockroaches
Preventing American cockroaches is possible. Because of their flat bodies, American cockroaches can get in through very small cracks in the foundation or walls. They spend 75% of their time hiding in these small cracks and openings. They can also ride in with plants, packages, boxes, and other things brought into the house.
Prevention is two-fold: exclusion and sanitation. Here are some tips for both:
- Inspect everything that enters your house for cockroaches.
- Caulk all cracks in the foundation and outer walls.
- Caulk around openings where pipes, cables, and electrical wires enter the house.
- Repair any water leaks in and around the house.
- Clean up spilled food and liquids immediately.
- Do not leave dirty dishes in the sink.
- Put food in roach-proof containers of plastic, glass, or metal.
- Pick up pet food when the pet is through eating.
- Clean up clutter, such as old newspapers and magazines.
Hire A Professional To Help
Once cockroaches move in, it is very hard to get them to leave. DIY efforts are not usually successful. American cockroaches get into cracks and areas so small that pesticides do not penetrate them and kill the roaches. Over-the-counter pesticides and baits are dangerous to families and pets but probably won’t kill many roaches. You need to hire a professional to get rid of American cockroaches quickly and safely.
Guaranteed Pest Service of Oklahoma can help. When you contact us, our technician will come and inspect your home, inside and out. We will then develop a home pest control plan to get rid of all your pests, including cockroaches, with pet and kid-friendly treatments. After we treat your home or building, we will follow up to make sure there are no more problems. We offer one-time treatments, monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly treatments to keep your house free of cockroaches and other pests. Call Guaranteed Pest Service of Oklahoma today and get rid of those American roaches. We also offer commercial pest management services for local businesses.
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