Cockroaches
Cockroaches
Cockroaches are disease-carrying, nocturnal, highly reproductive insects.
They travel along water pipes and hide in tight, warm places like electrical outlets,
kitchens, refrigerator motors, and under coffee makers.
What do they look like?
Adult cockroaches are pale brown with 2 dark stripes on their head; babies (called nymphs) are nearly all black. They have an oval shaped, flattened body, two long antennae that sweep around their bodies, and they have wings but do not fly. Adults are between 1/2" to 5/8" long; babies are smaller.
What do they eat?
Cockroaches will eat almost anything including paper products and all kinds
of food.
How do they get into my home?
In (sub)tropical areas with 'open houses' they just walk or fly in.
Cockroaches are always brought into a home; they do not arise because of sanitation problems, although poor sanitation can make the problem worse.
They may be brought into a home in groceries, bags, boxes, clothing, laundry, etc.
Where do they hide?
_ Cockroaches do not like light, and therefore they hide in dark places including the voids behind walls, under large appliances, in appliance motors, and in electrical outlets. If you have seen any roaches out in the open, there could be many more in hiding that you do not see.
I've only seen a few. Should I worry?
_ Cockroaches are nocturnal, and come out at night in search of food. Therefore, seeing roaches in the day, even if only a few, indicates a much larger problem. It might be worthwhile to set up "roach hotels" to monitor the problem. When the roaches come out at night, a few will get caught in the traps. This will help you determine whether or not you have a severe problem.
What kind of damage do they do?
_ Cockroaches carry disease, and therefore their presence should be taken seriously. It is the roach droppings that contain pathogens, and these droppings may be distributed anywhere. In particular, when the roaches are out in search of food at night, they may track their dropping across countertops, fruit bowls, a loaf of bread, or cutlery, to name a few.
What can I do about them?
Because cockroaches live in hard to get at places, and because of the seriousness of the problem, it is important to have a professional treat the problem.
_ If you are living in a rented house, do not hesitate to report the problem to the owner or property manager. The problem will worsen if treatment is delayed, and severe infestations are much more difficult to eliminate.
_ If you are living in a multiple dwelling such as a condominium or apartment, check with your neighbors above, below, and beside you to help determine the spread of and/or the severity of the situation. Do not hesitate to contact your property manager or strata council to get treatment started.
