Cockroaches are troublesome pests for many Spokane homeowners. They have a bad reputation, and for good reasons. They’re unsanitary, they hide all over your kitchen, and they’re hard to kill. If you’re struggling to deal with a cockroach infestation in Spokane, give Backwoods Pest Control a call. We design our Spokane pest control services to suit your individual needs, not some product quota. Contact us today to learn more about how we’ll keep cockroaches out of your home for good.
Types Of Cockroaches You Can Find In Spokane
Cockroaches are common pests in Spokane homes, and there are a few different species that you might find in your house. Brown-banded cockroaches are about half an inch long and dark brown. They have two lighter brown bands, or stripes, on their backs. Brown-banded roaches are more likely to be in higher locations than other cockroaches. Male brown-banded cockroaches can fly.
German cockroaches are also about half an inch long. They’re light brown with two darker brown stripes behind their heads. These roaches have wings, but they rarely fly. German cockroaches are often found in kitchens and bathrooms; they prefer warm, humid areas.
Oriental cockroaches are a little bigger, around an inch long, and shiny black. Oriental cockroaches are sometimes called “waterbugs” because they really thrive around water. Other cockroach species like humidity, but oriental roaches take it to another level.
Identifying cockroaches is important, but sightings are not the only sign of an infestation. In fact, cockroaches tend to avoid light and people, so you’ll want to keep an eye out for other indications of cockroaches in your home. Cockroach droppings look like small, dark specks – similar to black pepper. They might also be smeared. Roaches lay egg capsules, which may be yellowish or brown, depending on the species. You might also find shed, molted skins lying around. When cockroaches gather in larger numbers, they emit a musty odor you may notice.
Cockroaches Trigger Allergies And Spread Disease
Cockroaches thrive in unsanitary conditions, such as sewers, where they pick up many human pathogens. They then deposit these pathogens in your home as they travel through, leading to health concerns such as salmonellosis, cholera, dysentery, and E. coli infections. This is especially concerning because cockroaches are often found in kitchens, where they contaminate food and cooking surfaces.
Some people also have asthma or allergies triggered by cockroaches’ saliva, shed skin, and fecal matter. This is most common in children, but adults can also suffer. Because cockroaches can be so harmful, it’s important that cockroach infestations are taken care of as soon as possible. It’s also important to sanitize your home as much as possible once you identify an infestation.
Why It Is So Hard To Get Rid Of Roaches On Your Own
There are a few reasons why do-it-yourself treatments don’t usually work for cockroaches. For one, roaches reproduce quickly, and it doesn’t take long for eggs to become egg-laying adults. Populations grow exponentially. And, since cockroaches like to hide, the infestation can increase significantly before you even see one of these insects. Roaches are also very durable. They have strong exoskeletons that can withstand a lot of force. They can even survive for a week after losing their heads. So, although you definitely can find home remedies for cockroach infestations, they probably won’t work very well. Instead, try to set up your home to prevent a cockroach infestation in the first place. You can do this by:
- Sealing any cracks in the walls.
- Keeping your home, especially the kitchen, as clean and sanitary as possible.
- Repairing anything that’s causing excess moisture or pooling water.
- Installing screens over drains and vents.
- Disposing of garbage properly.
Cockroaches are flat. They can slide through very small spaces. By covering up cracks or filling in gaps, you limit the ways roaches can enter your home and the places they can hide. Mesh screens also help with this; they’ll keep roaches from crawling through drains and vents. Cockroaches prefer to live in humid environments. Leaky pipes, air conditioning units, or poorly ventilated rooms create this ideal environment. Cockroaches are attracted to food and waste; keeping your kitchen clean and food put away makes your home less enticing to roaches.
These tips can help keep cockroaches away, but treating an infestation should be left in the hands of a professional home pest control company.
Professional Cockroach Control Is The Best Solution
Backwoods Pest Control specializes in keeping your Spokane home free of pests. After inspecting your home, we’ll create a treatment plan that’s specially designed to fit your needs. Our pest control for cockroaches works to treat both the interior and exterior of your home, which gets rid of the infestation and keeps them from coming back. All it takes is one phone call, and you can have a home totally free of cockroaches. Contact Backwoods Pest Control today to learn more about Spokane cockroach control.