When cockroaches get into your home, you're going to have questions. Lots of questions. Perhaps the biggest question of all is, "Why do I have cockroaches?" Today, as we share what it takes to get rid of a cockroach infestation in Honolulu, we'll answer some of the many questions we get regarding these, often mysterious, household pests. Starting with the big question of "why" you have cockroaches. The simple answer is that you have entry points in the exterior of your home. Cockroaches don't gnaw on wood or chew through weatherstripping. They need an opening to exploit. As you consider how to get rid of cockroaches, you can't neglect to seal your exterior. If you do, you won't get complete control. New roaches will enter your home to replace the roaches you take out with your control efforts. A complete solution requires effective exterior protection. One of the benefits of professional pest control in Honolulu is that you get exterior treatments to keep roaches and other pests out of your home. If you don't have a cockroach problem yet, there is no time like the present to do what is needed to keep those pests out. Contact Pest Tech Hawaii and learn about our residential pest control service backed by our Pest-Free Guarantee! With that said, let's take a look at the problem of roaches.
Clear Signs You Have A Cockroach Problem
The first issue with cockroaches in Honolulu is that they can infest your home for months or even years without revealing themselves. They hide from view, even at night. When you start to see them openly, it is evidence that you now have thousands of them hiding in the voids of your home. There are many reasons this is a problem. Cockroaches can make you sick. They aggravate asthma symptoms and infestations increase hospitalizations for symptoms associated with asthma. They chew holes in clothing and paper products. They contaminate areas with their fecal matter. And, perhaps the most important fact to consider, is that cockroaches reproduce quickly. A question we hear often is, "How many eggs does a cockroach lay? Each egg pouch (called an ootheca) can have as many as 48 eggs inside. A female can produce about one of these ootheca every month after mating. As the eggs hatch, more females are produced, and even more eggs are created. That is why it is so important to catch warning signs early. One of the first warning signs to look for is their oothecae.
- Pouches: Most cockroaches lay brownish-red ootheca. German cockroaches produce ootheca with orange coloration, but they carry theirs with them. You can search dark secluded spaces for the brownish-red pouches in your home.
- Roaches: Obviously, seeing cockroaches in your home is a clear sign that you have a cockroach problem. Don't wait to see them. Get your flashlight and go looking for them. Check your attic. Check underneath and behind appliances. Look in your cabinets. Check hidden places in your garage. If you see oval insects with six spiny legs, two long antennae, and two tiny cerci on the abdomen, you've found roaches.
- Droppings: When you don't see roaches, you can still know you have a cockroach problem because these insects leave their black excrement everywhere they roam. If you find the tiny black specks of roach droppings, clean them up. Doing so will help in two ways. If you have an active infestation, more roach droppings will appear and you'll see that you have activity. You'll also remove a strong attractant. Cockroaches are drawn to the excrement left by other roaches.
- Skins: Cockroaches shed their skins as they develop. You can find these skins in your home as evidence of a roach infestation. A cockroach's skin may look exactly like a cockroach, only without the roach inside. More often, remnants or pieces are found because roaches consume the shed skins.
- White Insects: You may catch a glimpse of a white insect skittering away into a hiding place. If you do, you've likely seen a nymph that just shed its skin.
There are other methods for detecting cockroaches, but these are the most definitive. Now, let's look at the health hazards associated with cockroaches, and, more importantly, how all-natural cockroach control methods help to mitigate the risks.
Why Cockroach Infestations Are Such A Health Hazard
We get a surprising number of questions about the dangers of cockroaches. The one that perhaps sums them all up best is, "Can cockroaches hurt you?" Yes, they have the potential to hurt you. But you have a lot of control over how much they're allowed to hurt you.
Here are a few facts you should know.
- The main issue with cockroaches is that they are attracted to unsanitary conditions. If you keep your home clean and your garbage protected, you can reduce the risk of roaches spreading harmful bacteria. Make sure to clean all unsanitary places, particularly your bathroom.
- Cockroaches can spread diseases, such as cholera, listeriosis, and leprosy. One reason for this is their exposure to and consumption of fecal matter. When you keep pet waste cleaned up in your yard and cat waste covered in litter boxes, it can help to reduce disease risks.
- Cockroaches increase the risk of serious asthmatic symptoms. Their shed parts, saliva, and feces all play a role. If you clean up areas cockroaches have contaminated, you can reduce the risks. It isn't easy work, so we recommend also getting professional cockroach control while you're at it, so you don't have to do this hard job again.
As you can see, it is best to not have cockroaches in your Honolulu home, and it is important to detect them early and take proactive measures to avoid an infestation. Let's look at cockroach control and examine some of the challenges of DIY roach pest control.
Why It Is So Hard To Get Rid Of Cockroaches On Your Own?
We have a fun question that goes with this section. The reason cockroaches are so hard to control probably has a lot to do with the answer. What is the question? It is, "Do cockroaches have brains?" What do you think? Do those little insect pests have brains in their noggins? Well, actually, they have two brains, roughly speaking. A cockroach has one brain inside its little insect head and another on its back near the abdomen. The one on its back isn't as much a brain as it is a cluster of nerves, but it does some things a brain would do. One impressive thing it does is it allows a cockroach to function even after decapitation. Although, it doesn't function for long. Within a week, the roach will eventually die of thirst. But still, a week of functioning without a head is pretty impressive. Okay. What does all of this have to do with cockroach control?
A cockroach has an advanced physiology that makes it a formidable pest to control. Those brains help them detect treated surfaces and avoid control products. Cockroaches learn what foods are safe and what foods are not, such as roach control baits. They communicate with each other in complex ways using pheromones and teach each other about hazards in their environment.
Along with their brains, they have an adaptive body. A cockroach can develop a new exoskeleton that protects them from harmful materials they've come in contact with in their habitat, allowing them to grow an immunity to control materials. They also have adaptive taste receptors. Some populations of German cockroaches have offspring born with a distaste for certain roach baits. That is impressive!
These are only some of the reasons cockroaches are hard to control. But they are more than enough to demonstrate the problem. When you're having trouble with cockroaches, it is best to contact Pest Tech Hawaii for professional cockroach control services in Honolulu.
Call The Pros To Eliminate Cockroaches In Your Home
When you contact Pest Tech Hawaii, there are a few things you can expect. We perform a thorough and professional inspection, identifying the cockroaches in your home and tracking their activity. We select products that are known to work for the species and administer them appropriately in your home. We use products and methods that allow us to track roach activity and evaluate the success of the control strategy. The treatments we perform are multi-faceted, providing comprehensive control. When we're done, you won't have to wonder if you still have cockroaches hiding in your home.
When you want results-based cockroach control for your home, Pest Tech Hawaii is the right choice. And remember that you don't have to wait until you're dealing with these unsanitary pests in your home. We offer year-round pest control service for your yard and exterior. The routine treatments and pest management we provide keep cockroaches, and many other common Hawaii pests, from getting into your home in the first place. Would you like to learn more about our service options? We'd love to speak with you. Contact us by phone or connect with us through our contact page. We're here to help.