The Cockroach is one of the most despised pests we encounter in Oklahoma. There is evidence that the Roach has been around for at least 200 million years. Anything that can survive 200 million years has to be tough, and roaches are a formidable pest that most often requires a professional to eliminate the problem.
Most Common Roaches In Oklahoma
The most common Cockroaches in Oklahoma are the German Cockroach, American Cockroach, Brown-banded Cockroach, and the Oriental Cockroach.
German Cockroaches
These are the roaches you find in homes and businesses in your kitchens and bathrooms most of the time. The German Cockroach can grow to between ½ and 5/8 inch and are light tan to brown in color and have two stripes that may look like an equal sign running from the back of its head to its wings. German roaches have wings but do not fly.
Any time someone says they have a roach problem in Oklahoma, it’s 95 percent of the time a German Cockroach problem. The German Cockroach is most often associated with asthma attacks because of their shed skin and feces that they leave everywhere. Not only do they cause asthma attacks, but they have been known to lower your immune system for various reasons we will list below.
American Cockroach
These roaches are also very common in Oklahoma and the United States, as you can tell by the name. These nasty creatures are dark brown to a dark reddish-brown in color. The edges of their thorax are usually faded yellow in color, and some say you can see a figure 8 on their back. These roaches are very large in size and can grow to between 2 to 3 inches. American Cockroaches have wings and can fly if they want, making them extra creepy. This Cockroach likes to be in dark and moist places when in a home. So you may find them in basements, bathrooms, or under your house if it has a crawl space.
Brown-banded Cockroaches
This roach is a mixture of tan, brown, black, and yellow in color. They are known to fly when approached. These roaches are found in different parts of Oklahoma but are not as common as other roaches. A lot of the time, they can be found in outbuildings or attics.
Oriental Cockroaches
Are also common in Oklahoma but are not usually found inside homes because they prefer damp areas. The Oriental Cockroach has a nasty, foul smell to them and has a shiny or greasy look to them. They have wings but can not fly, so that’s a plus.
Do Cockroaches Cause Health Problems?
Roaches can be very dangerous to your health. They can carry bacteria, viruses, and parasites on their legs and feces. As they crawl around your home, they crawl over food, dishes, silverware, toothbrushes, and other surfaces and contaminate them. Some of the most common signs of a roach infestation are asthma attacks, lowered immune system, gastroenteritis, and diarrhea. If you have a roach problem and have any of these symptoms, it may be a good idea to call a professional and get rid of these nasty creatures.
Here at Healthy Homes, we know how to get rid of your roaches safely but effectively. According to the EPA, cockroaches carry bacteria that can cause salmonella, staphylococcus, and streptococcus if deposited in food. Additionally, cockroach feces, skin shedding, and saliva can cause asthma and allergies, especially in children and the elderly.
How Can You Detect Cockroaches?
- Spotting a live one or two is a good sign that you have a problem. Most of the time, you will find them at night. If you can spot one or two roaches, then there is a pretty good chance you have a whole mess of them.
- Cockroaches have a high metabolism which causes them to produce a lot of feces. The feces is black and may appear as black specks. You may find their feces in cabinets, around hinges, refrigerator seals, and several other places.
- Cockroaches produce egg sacs known as ootheca. You may find an egg sack with young inside or an empty egg sac casing in secluded areas. These egg sacs are a dark brown to a light tan color. Signs of these sacs are an excellent sign of a roach problem.
- Cockroaches have a nasty, musty odor and the German Cockroach is probably the worst. When a roach dies and begins to decompose, the smell worsens. The smell can alter the taste of food. Most people can recognize the smell as a roach problem, but if not, you should call a professional.
- Cockroaches also shed their skin. So if you find empty roach skins in different places, this also is a good sign of a roach problem.
Can You Control Cockroaches Yourself?
If you have an infestation of roaches, please don’t try to kill them yourself. Sometimes this creates such a mess for professionals. The best way to totally eliminate roaches is to use non-repellent baits and poisons used in a way that one does not throw the other off its effectiveness. If a homeowner comes in and sprays a repellent in places where we would need to use a non-repellent, it won’t be as effective, and the problem lasts longer.
We have seen people poison themselves and make their homes unsafe, trying to control those nasty roaches. Sometimes people will spend more on dangerous chemicals than they would if they just called a professional. It’s not impossible to kill them yourself, and we have seen people do it, but usually, the cost they spend on chemicals is pretty close to what a professional would have charged anyway.
How Did I Get Cockroaches?
Cockroaches can come from almost anywhere. You can bring them home from Wal-Mart, furniture stores, used electronics, friends, and even your neighbors. They can hitch a ride from boxes, bags, or anything they can hide in or on. You may never know where they came from, but that’s not important. What is important is getting rid of them and keeping them away. Call us for a custom quote for your home or business.
Do Roaches Like Dirty Houses?
Cockroaches love dirty houses. That doesn’t mean you won’t get them if you’re clean because very clean people with very clean houses get them all the time. However, a dirty house means many hiding places, breeding places, and plenty of food sources. Because dirty houses provide such a great opportunity for the roaches, they multiply faster and thrive better than they would in a clean place.
If your home is dirty and you have dirty dishes, controlling the cockroaches is more challenging, and treatments may not keep them from coming back. Don’t get us wrong, we do not judge anyone, and we know things happen and circumstances can come into play with this. But we have to be honest and tell you that if you clean your home and keep your dishes clean, it will help out.
How Do We Control Roaches?
At Healthy Homes Exterminating, we don’t have a one-size-fits-all method for controlling roaches. Each house or business is different, and each roach problem may be different, so each job is custom to each customer. We do not offer one price or one method for everyone because that can lead to problems with the safety or effectiveness of the treatment. Instead, we use non-repellent baits that the roaches eat and share with the others to eliminate the colony. We also use chemical sprays and dust in certain areas to control the Cockroaches.
How Do You Prepare For A Roach Treatment?
If you want a fast and effective Cockroach treatment, it’s best to follow the instructions below because these steps will help ensure that these nasty pests have nowhere to hide and nothing to eat but what we give them.
- Clean all dishes and put them away.
- Clean all kitchen and bathroom counters and surfaces.
- Bag up and take out all trash.
- Pick up clothes and other clutter from the floors in all rooms.
- Have the dishwasher empty.
- Make sure all food they can get to in cabinets is bagged or in containers.
- Buy pest control guy a steak dinner at Texas Roadhouse! No, this last one was a joke, or was it?
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to call us. Here at Healthy Homes Exterminating, we have over 20+ years of experience, and all technicians have been background checked and must be well-trained professionals.