Here’s What You Need To Know About Roaches

Roaches in America are common household pests. Their presence in a house has often been associated with a lack of proper hygiene. However, that is not always the case. Mostly, they invade homes where food is readily available. And if there is an additional advantage of having excellent hiding spots, they multiply.

So then, for a better grasp on cockroach control, there are some facts you should know about them. First, you should know to differentiate the German and American cockroaches, understand how dangerous they are, and also why roaches fly and some don’t.

Are German and American coaches the same?

Obviously, they are not. But, did you know that German roaches aren’t originally from Germany? Neither are American roaches originally from America. But interestingly, in America, you’re likely to come across more German roaches in your home. And the second most common is the American roach. Here are their differences:

German Cockroaches (Blattella germanica). German roaches (also known as “kitchen roaches”) are the most common cockroach species in homes and apartments. They are small, lighter brown cockroaches, about 1/2″ to 5/8″ in length. They live practically their entire lives indoors, and have two distinct stripes running down their bodies. Since German cockroaches love kitchens so much, one concern you should have as a homeowner is their bacteria-ridden presence in and around food and areas designated for food preparation.

American cockroaches (Blattidae). American roaches (also known as “Palmetto bugs”) are quite a bit larger than their German counterparts (1-1/2″ to 2″ in length), and reddish-brown to dark brown in color, with yellowish stripes around their circumference. They are the largest cockroach species in the U.S. They are the second most common cockroaches indoors. These cockroaches spend most of their time outdoors, especially in warm, humid climates…Read more from Maggies Farm Products…

Are American Roaches dangerous?

Roaches are a dreadful sight. Most people can remember their mother screaming at one when she sees it in the kitchen. Her screams often were followed by a series of slapping things around in pursuit. For others, it was just the scare of seeing a cockroach show up without warning when they turn on the lights at night. Such invasion of privacy is scary. But here’s some more reasons why they are dangerous:

Great question! We say yes. While American Cockroaches do not sting or bite, they are known carriers of disease. This is because, like they do not fuss about their diets, they also are not picky about their living environments.

Cockroaches live in damp, dark, safe environment. These environments include sewers, crawl spaces, and dumpsters. While lounging in a rotting pool of garbage and decay doesn’t sound like a holiday to us humans, roaches are happy to roll around in the muck and, subsequently, carry harmful bacteria, mold, and germ particles into your home. Read more from Dial One…

And do all roaches fly?

Have you ever seen a cockroach flying? In fact, most roaches have wings but only a few are good at flying as adults. The German cockroaches have wings but don’t necessarily fly; they only do shortfalls with their wings helping them. But why don’t they all fly?

The matter may simply be due to physics. Most cockroaches have a large body mass compared to their wing size. This means flying is not easy for them – it is hard for them to maneuver and they can not usually fly for very long distances. All of this adds up to a preference to crawl to its destination over flying.

Cockroaches will mostly likely fly if they feel there is a threat and they need to get away quickly. They also might use their wings like gliders if they happen to be in a high place and need to get down to a lower place. This allows them to get down more easily than by falling. But in North America, if you see cockroaches, you are more than likely going to see them running around on the floor and not in the air. Read more from Ehrlich…

But no matter the species of roaches infesting your home, you don’t have to live in fear. Backyard Bug Patrol is here for you. We are expert roach eliminators. Our methods are environmentally friendly while giving a true pest-free home. Call us today!!