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What Are Cockroaches?

Most people are familiar with the cockroach and the fact that they do not want them living inside of their home. Cockroaches are insects that have oval-shaped bodies, and while many have wings, most are not great at flying. You can usually identify different cockroach species by their size and specific color and color pattern. The German cockroach is one of the smallest species of household invading roach; they have dark stripes on their back behind their head. In contrast, the American cockroach is the largest species of household-invading cockroach, and has a yellow figure-8 pattern on its back. In addition to German and American cockroaches, other species that frequently invade our spaces in Knoxville include Oriental cockroaches, smokybrown cockroaches, and brown-banded cockroaches.

Are cockroaches dangerous?

Before moving into your home or business, cockroaches were traveling through trash, sewers, around drains, and across the ground. Roaches are dangerous insects, for a number of reasons:

Cockroaches carry on their bodies and legs bacteria, human pathogens, viruses, and parasites.
Infections caused by cockroaches include dysentery, salmonellosis, cholera, and gastroenteritis.
They will contaminate food and surfaces with their excrement and saliva.
Their presence creates unpleasant odors and damages the taste of food.
Cockroaches will chew on or stain with their excrement food packages, upholstery, clothing, curtains, walls, and floors.

Why do I have a cockroach problem?

Cockroaches have become a problem for you because they are easily adaptable and live in a variety of environments. Cockroaches are an issue whether you live in the suburbs, country, or city and can find their way into any structure in a variety of ways:

Cockroaches won’t hesitate to crawl through openings in the foundation or exterior walls of your structure.
Open windows and doors give cockroaches an open invitation to live in your home with your family.
They move inside through drains and vents.
Cockroaches hitchhike inside on things like packages, bags, suitcases, and other belongings.
They move from apartment to apartment using pipes as a highway system.

Where will I find cockroaches?

Cockroaches are frequent invaders of both homes and businesses. They will take advantage of any outdoor or indoor space that provides them with appropriate shelter and easy access to food. They are scavengers and will eat almost anything they find. Cockroaches will feed on crumbs from the floor, a whole cake left on the counter, or toothpaste in the bathroom.

Cockroaches use their six legs to scurry from place to place. Most species prefer the dark, and when lights switch on, they scatter back to their hiding spots. Many people find they have cockroaches after walking into the kitchen or bathroom in the middle of the night and turning on the light. Some of their most common hiding spots include cracks in walls or floors, in storage areas (basements or closets), under sinks, around floor drains, behind wall voids, or in crawlspaces. Some species do prefer to live in dry locations like attics or the upper parts of cabinets.

How do I get rid of cockroaches?

The task of eliminating cockroaches from your Tennessee property should be left to a professional. At Colonial Pest Control, we have 50 years of combined pest control experience. We know pests and how to eliminate them from properties once and for all!

We guarantee our results and take pride in treating our customers like family. We are a local company dedicated to using only the most efficient, cutting-edge services possible. If you are looking for exceptional pest solutions for your Colonial Pest Control today!

How can I prevent cockroaches in the future?

In addition to our professional pest control services, take the time necessary to implement these easy-to-execute prevention tips:

Good sanitation practices are the best way to avoid problems with cockroaches. Remove trash from your home daily, wash dishes daily, regularly vacuum, mop, and wipe down counters.
Focus on keeping them away from food. Keep tight lids on trash cans, keep food in the fridge or containers with airtight lids, pick up uneaten pet food, and keep garden areas clean.
Eat only in the kitchen or dining areas of your home.
Repair entry points that allow cockroaches into your house. Seal up cracks in the foundation, use expanding foam to seal gaps around wires and pipes, and place mesh covers over open vents or drains.
Remove items from your yard where roaches can take shelter. Get rid of leaf piles, fallen trees, and excess woodpiles.
Since cockroaches feed at night, it is a good idea to pick up uneaten pet food each evening.