Cockroach - Cockroach

If you would like to learn more on getting rid of the cockroaches in your home and what to expect, Get this 50 page special report plus a free insect identification guide.

Types of cockroaches that enter our homes

There are five basic types of cockroaches that enter our homes. Cockroach identification is very important in cockroach control.

• American Cockroach
• Smokeybrown Cockroach
• Oriental Cockroach
• Brown banded Cockroach
• German Cockroach

The American Cockroach is probably the largest of all five. The American cockroach has a yellow band across its head. The smokey brown cockroach can be just a little smaller than the American Cockroach and is a dark brown or Mahoney in color. The Oriental cockroach is about the size of the smokey brown cockroach or maybe just a little smaller and is a dark brown or black. These are the three larger cockroaches ranging in size from 1 inch to 1½ inch in size.

The two smaller cockroaches ranging in size from ½ to 5/8 inch are the German cockroach and the brown banded cockroach. The two somewhat look alike. The German cockroach is probably the most persistant cockroach found in the United States. You'll find these German cockroaches mostly in the kitchen area or around a water source such as bathrooms. They will infest inside your cabinets and other cracks and crevices. Its best to eliminate the German cockroach as soon as possible or you will have a house full of them in no time.

German Cockroaches

German cockroaches can become an enormous problem if something is not done to control them. Did you know that one German cockroach egg capsule can contain 20 to 40 small baby cockroaches when hatched.

The German cockroach is the most persistant cockroach found in the United States. The reason for this, and the reason this cockroach multiplies so quickly is that the egg capsule is carried during is complete life cycle. The German cockroach only releases the egg capsule when the babies are ready to emerge, thus increasing the life cycle of the German cockroach. Most other cockroaches paste their egg capsule to a surface which makes it vulnerable to environmental conditions and other predators thus reducing their life expectancy.

German cockroaches normally live inside as opposed to the American cockroaches and the other large cockroaches that live outside and come inside for food and shelter. The German cockroach is usually brought into your home in a grocery sack or some other way. Lets say you know someone that has German cockroaches in their home, or maybe you don't know that they have them. They come to visit you and boom, you have a house full of cockroaches. German cockroaches as with other types of cockroaches can be brought in in boxes, purses, clothing, furniture (especially used furniture) or anything else.

Asian Cockroaches

Asian cockroaches are almost identical to German cockroaches and have spread to infest the southeastern United States. The Asian cockroach infests yards and outdoor areas around homes, unlike the German cockroach which normally infests indoors only. The Asian cockroaches are good flyers and will enter into homes readily, especially in the late afternoon and early evening when you are enjoying your leisurely time.

Asian cockroaches are very susceptible to most pesticides. Granular baits are very effective outdoors. Perimeter treatments of homes are not very effective because Asian cockroaches are good flyers and can fly 120 feet or more and infest lawns and wooded areas.

What cockroaches eat and their health hazards

Cockroaches will eat almost anything, from book bindings, paper, food and even human flesh. Did you know that doctors in some inner city areas report that one-half of the foreign objects they remove from children's ears are cockroaches and that Cockroaches have been identified as a common cause of asthma. Health experts say inhalation of cockroach feces and body fragments, particularly among inner-city children, has resulted in an explosion of asthma cases in the past two decades. It is believed that the cockroach may be a carrier for a range of bacteria, including salmonella, staphylococcus and streptococcus.

How to get rid of cockroaches

There are sprays, baits and bait stations. Sprays work well for contact kill but they won't get rid of your cockroaches. Cockroaches will sense the smells and go back into the wall and cracks and crevices and stay away from these sprays until they are gone. Baits seem to work best. I've been treating for german roaches for about 15 years now and all the sprays do is rid your home of these pests for a short period of time. Sure, you're going to kill a few. I've cleaned many homes of German roaches and baits work best. You can call a professional but be careful. Not all companies are honest.

If you do it yourself than here's what you can do. Go to your local hardware store, home center or even Walgreen's and buy some ®Combat roach bait gel. It usually comes in a syringe or tube and apply this gel in all cracks and crevices in your home. All kitchen cabinets ( you don't have to empty your cabinets ). Just apply it in tiny dots about the size of a BB and no larger than a pea. Apply it to all corners of your cabinets and anywhere else you see roaches.

Even boric acid works well. If you have a heavy infestation open up all your electrical switch plate covers and apply in the wall through the switch plate covers.

If you would like to learn more on getting rid of the cockroaches in your home and what to expect, Get this 50 page special report plus a free insect identification guide.