Why Can't I Get Rid Of Roaches On My Honolulu Property?

When you think of disgusting bugs, cockroaches might be the first thing that comes to mind. Just the sight of these pests is enough to make your stomach turn, but getting rid of them is often easier said than done. So, why can’t you get rid of roaches on your Honolulu property?

Types Of Cockroaches In Honolulu

There are three common types of cockroaches found in Honolulu. They may be different in appearance, but they all cause similar problems for property owners.

American Cockroaches

The largest of the pest cockroaches, American cockroaches can grow up to two inches in length. They can be recognized for their reddish-brown color and trademark figure-eight pattern on the back of the head.

Surinam Cockroaches

These roaches grow to about one inch in length and have a dark brown body with a shiny black head. They often enter homes with potted plants and greenhouse items.

German Cockroaches

Considered the worst type of roach to have because of their small size, German cockroaches measure between 1/2" and 5/8" in length and are light brown in color with two dark vertical stripes.

Roaches are resilient pests that can survive most hardships that other animals can’t. They can survive for a month without food and at least a week without water. It’s also estimated that a cockroach can live for seven days without its head. These bugs aren’t just tough to get rid of, and they’re plain tough to kill.

What Makes Roaches So Dangerous?

It’s easy to be grossed out by the way roaches look, but these pests are even grosser than most people realize. Cockroaches hang out in the most disgusting environments imaginable. Garbage dumpsters full of rotten food, filthy bathrooms, and putrid sewers are just a few of the nauseating places you’re likely to encounter cockroaches. When they come indoors, cockroaches carry all the nasty pathogens and parasites they picked up along the way.

Roaches can contaminate your home or business with E. coli and salmonella bacteria and have been known to cause dysentery and gastroenteritis. In some cases, cockroaches may even transmit hookworm parasites. Besides spreading disease, cockroaches can also destroy property and belongings. Paper documents, clothing, and books are all targets for hungry cockroaches.

Severe cockroach infestations may even cause allergic reactions. As they congregate, roaches release pheromones that attract other roaches and produce saliva, and shed skin that mingles in the air. This debris can irritate the lungs and skin, leading to asthma and eczema in some instances.

Why Is It So Difficult To Get Rid Of Cockroaches?

Cockroaches have evolved to be difficult to get rid of. Their rounded body shape allows them to easily slip under cracks to places where you can’t reach them and even offers them some crush resistance. Some cockroaches have even demonstrated immunity to store-bought pesticides.

Roaches are also able to reproduce rapidly, drastically increasing their numbers and making total extermination that much more difficult. A single female cockroach can lay as many as 300 eggs in one year. We mentioned that cockroaches can go for a month without eating, but not because they’re picky eaters. Roaches are hard to get rid of because they will eat almost anything from pet hair to soap or even dead skin.

It’s no secret that roaches are dangerous to have on your Honolulu property. That’s why if you’ve got cockroaches, the best way to deal with the problem is with help from the home pest control experts at Pest Tech Hawaii. Our roach removal services will eliminate dangerous cockroaches at the source and prevent them from returning. Get in touch with us today.