Cockroaches have been around for a long time and can be found in large numbers worldwide. Scientists estimate that cockroaches have been on earth for almost 300 million years, and there are over 4,000 different species of cockroaches. While their creepy appearance is bad enough, it only gets worse as you learn more about these roaches. For example, roaches can survive for a week without their head, hold their breath for nearly an hour, go without food for an entire month, and run 3 miles per hour. These pests adapt to survive and are very difficult to get rid of.
Here in Anaheim, there are four common cockroaches that we see. These species are the American cockroach, the German cockroach, the brown-banded cockroach, and today’s subject, the Oriental cockroach. Read on to learn more about these dangerous pests, how to identify Oriental cockroaches, and how professional pest control in Anaheim from A-1 Bonded Termite can help keep all types of cockroaches out of your home.
Oriental Cockroach Identification Guide
Few people in Anaheim are interested in getting close enough to a cockroach to look at it in close detail. However, if you looked closely at each of the roaches in our area, you would notice some differences between the Oriental cockroach and the other species of cockroaches in Anaheim. The Oriental cockroach sets itself apart with its dark, shiny coloring. These insects are usually black, but some may be a reddish-brown color.
Male and female Oriental cockroaches are very different from one another, making it even more challenging to identify these roaches. On average, they are about an inch long, the males being the smaller of the two. Male Oriental cockroaches have shorter, ¾” length wings that expose their abdominal area. Females are larger and have large wing pads covering their body's upper half in place of wings. Neither male nor female Oriental cockroaches can fly.
Why Oriental Cockroaches Are A Major Health Risk
Having Oriental cockroaches in your home would be bad enough even if they were harmless, but that isn’t the case. The good news about Oriental cockroaches is that they don’t bite. However, they are definitely still dangerous.
Roaches live in filthy conditions, walking over garbage, animal feces, and dead animal carcasses, where they pick up dangerous bacteria on their legs. When these pests enter your home, they will spread this bacteria from their legs to your floors, tables, food preparation surfaces, and any food they get into.
Oriental cockroaches carry at least 33 different types of bacteria, including E. coli and Salmonella. They can also spread six kinds of parasitic worms and seven other deadly human pathogens. Cockroach allergens can also trigger breathing problems and asthma attacks in people who are sensitive to them, like children and the elderly.
Why It Is So Difficult To Get Rid Of Oriental Cockroaches
If you’re dealing with an Oriental cockroach infestation in your Anaheim home, you may be tempted to try to treat it yourself. Unfortunately, DIY cockroach control is largely ineffective and can leave you continually exposed to the dangers of Oriental cockroaches.
Oriental cockroaches are tough to eliminate from your home because they are experts at hiding. They prefer to live in the dark, damp, unused, and sometimes unreachable areas of your house. You can kill a few roaches with sprays and traps, but unless you get to the root of the infestation, Oriental cockroaches will keep coming back to threaten your family and peace of mind.
What Is The Best Way To Get Rid Of Oriental Cockroaches?
Since Oriental cockroaches are so dangerous, you don’t want them around your home. The best way to get rid of roaches is to prevent them from getting in at all, using some of these cockroach prevention tips:
- Keep your home as clean as possible
- Don’t let dishes pile up in the sink
- Store food, including pet food, in sealed, airtight containers
- Seal cracks and crevices around your home, paying attention to the small gaps where pipes and other utilities enter your home
The best option for preventing Oriental cockroaches is to work with A-1 Bonded Termite for cockroach control in Anaheim.
If you are already dealing with an active infestation, call us immediately. We know exactly where to look and will work quickly to get to the root of your infestation, removing the roaches you can see and the ones you can’t.
Whether you are dealing with an active infestation or want to ensure your home remains cockroach-free, A-1 Bonded Termite can help. Our home pest control specialists will protect you and your family from Oriental cockroaches and all the issues they can cause. Call us today to get started!