Cockroaches elicit disgust like no other insect. Something about the way they move and their association with filth makes them particularly gross. Unlike the random spider or earwig who may just wander in, cockroaches can infest your home in large numbers to gain easy access to food and water.
Tough Bugs
Cockroaches are some of the toughest insects out there. Cockroaches would be the only thing left after a nuclear explosion, as they can survive 15 times the levels of radiation that we can! Furthermore, they can live an entire week without their head…only eventually dying due to dehydration (they breath out their sides, not with their mouth!).
Population Explosion!
Not only are they tough, but they reproduce very quickly with a typical female (depending on species of course) able to lay 30-40 eggs in a single egg case, which means 300+ in her lifetime! Then consider that those nymphs will quickly grow up and start laying their own eggs, and you can see how a cockroach population can explode in a short amount of time!
Diet
Cockroaches are classified as “opportunistic omnivores” which means they’ll pretty much eat anything, but their favorite foods are starchy, sugary, and greasy foods like bread, candy, and meat. This is why they’re so attracted to kitchens because the grease under the stove is very attractive to them, however, they’re also after moisture which is why they’re also often found under the dishwasher. So even if you keep your kitchen spotless it’s still possible to get cockroaches if an appliance is leaking or otherwise creating an environment with a lot of moisture.
Types of Cockroaches
Not all cockroaches are the same. The roaches that infest kitchens are German Cockroaches, meanwhile their larger cousins the American and Oriental Cockroaches, generally prefer to stay outside and will only wander into your home and garage without necessarily nesting there. This is why it’s important to control moisture levels outside. Only water as much as your plants need with your watering systems to avoid making standing puddles, and check valve boxes and ensure there aren’t any leaks. Inside just keep your kitchen as clean as possible, which may require you to pull out your stove and fridge and clean underneath once in a while.
Get Rid of Them!
However, as clean and tidy as you make things, you may still have issues with these nasty bugs. If you find yourself running into cockroaches, let us help. Call Newby’s Pest • Lawn • Weeds at 435-586-7337 today and we’ll send them packing, or click the button below to schedule online:
