Cockroaches are among the most common insects. They are believed to have been on the earth for 350 million years and are showing no signs of slowing down. They are the most adaptive and successful of all insect groups with over 3500 species worldwide. Five major species affect the majority of U.S. households and include the American Cockroach, Oriental Cockroach, Brown Banded Cockroach, Smokey Brown Cockroach, and finally the most common and infesting pest, the German Cockroach.
Cockroaches produce odorous secretions from their bodies that affect food flavor, cause nausea, cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, dysentery, and asthma. They have been found to carry disease-producing organisms, such as bacteria, on their legs and bodies, which are deposited on household items as the roaches travel. During the development from egg to adulthhod, the cockroach will shed their skins, which contain a number of allergens. These allergens can be mild to deadly with symptoms ranging from watery eyes to death. In cases of death there was usually a preexisting condition such as lung disease or asthma which was triggered by the roach allergens.
Understanding the biology and behavior of the roach is essential in eliminating the pest from your home and requires the attention of an experienced professional. It is sometimes impossible to eliminate the pest completely and managing the level of infestation is a more realistic outcome. With that in mind, here are some steps to help you achieve your goal. Each roach species is different and will require different approaches and techniques to control and eliminate pest activity. Here are some general tips for control in your home.
The first step is to inspect the home to identify where the roaches are living. In 99% of cases the roaches will be living in areas which we cannot see, or inside of walls or small cracks. The German Cockroach likes to be covered at all times and will squeeze into small openings and cracks as to be completely surrounded. For information on performing an inspection please read: factoidz.com/exterminating-pests-around-the-home-non-chemical-pest-control-that-works/. After following these steps, place glueboards in areas where activity is suspected. Cockroaches usually feed and travel at night, so placing glubards before bedtime is essential. The more glue boards you place, the better your chance of determining where roaches are harboring and traveling. Inspect the home as thoroughly as possible, paying close attention to the kitchen area and all small cracks and crevices. Roaches will also be attracted to heat, and will live in computers, tv’s, stereos, appliances, and alarm clocks.
The second step of the treatment phase is sanitation. Sanitation efforts will stress the cockroaches and lead to better control results. The key elements are to eliminate food sources, harborages, and moisture. German Cockroaches usuly live within three to four feet of a moisture source and tend to drink freaquently. Make sure to clean the home well, focusing once again on the small cracks and crevises of the structure as well as its contents. Attention to detail is important here and will determine your sucess or failure. The motor on a refridgerator is a common place of infestation due to the heat and drip pan which provide harborage, food, and water for roach populations. Seal this area off using adhesive and a fine screen. Place all food items in air tight bags even if they are already factory sealed to prevent contamination.
The third step is to eliminate the existing infestation and this can be handled in several ways. If you have not determined the source of the infestation, a can of compressed air (duster) and a small hand-vacuum will come in handy. Use the small straw on your canned air, and place it in small holes and cracks before spraying. Keep the small hand-vac handy as this technique wil cause hiding pests to flee. Perform this technique throughout the entire home starting with the kitchen and bathroom areas. If food is stored or consumed elsewhere, focus on those areas as well. Remember to empty the vacuum into a large sealable bag when full. Temperature contol is very effective but cannot be used often due to the extreme range. The use of heat over120 degrees F. for several hours; or cold at 0 degrees F. for 60 minutes; or very cool at 32 degrees F. for several hours will eliminate all life cycles of the German cockroach including the egg. This method is extremely sucessfull in eliminating pests from small items such as dvd players, alarm clocks, toasters etc. Simply place these items into sealable bags before freezing and freeze overnight. Infested clothes items, old books, boxes and pillows should be incinerated or steamed.
Although all the methods listed above have proven successful in controlling pests, most will eliminate only 90-95% of cockroach populations. There will always be pests hiding in areas not accessible to humans. Please consider the use of baits after these steps have been followed. Baits are most effective in situations where pests are hiding due to their ablilty to draw or attract feeding. If there is a hole or crack which you suspect to be a pest entryway or harbor, place some bait. You will soon notice a huge difference in pest population.
In recent years, there has been a large movement in electrical, radio wave, and microvibrational pest control devices which have no scientific evidnce of working. Please do not be fooled by infomercials and late-night cable promises of "easy pest control". If pest control was easy we would not call them pests.
