One of the worst feelings is seeing a cockroach scurry across your kitchen counter or up your bathroom wall. Roaches are one of the most common house pests world wide. Here in Texas, the heat can bring in cockroaches looking for a dark, damp place to escape. They can often contaminate food products and carry harmful bacteria and worms. Some signs of cockroaches within your home are feces and egg capsules. If you think there might be cockroaches in your home, the next step is to identify which species they are.
What Kinds of Cockroaches Are There?
Did you know there are about 4,600 cockroach species in the world? Luckily, only about 30 species live in areas with humans. The most common species of cockroaches in Texas are the American cockroach, German cockroach, Oriental cockroach, and the flying cockroach. Each species is unique and can create different problems in your house.
American Cockroaches
Also known as waterbugs and wood roaches, American cockroaches are reddish brown and have tan markings on the back of their head. They have thin, long antennae and oval-shaped bodies. Out of all common roach species, the American cockroach is the largest, with an average length of 1.5 inches (3.81 cm). American roaches prefer dark, warm areas with a lot of moisture, which is why they are typically spotted in kitchens and bathrooms. Our pest technicians in Tomball, have been seeing American Cockroaches as one of the most common types of roaches in Texas!
German Cockroaches
These roaches are the smallest of the common roaches found in Texas. Their average size is about 0.13 inches (0.33 cm), and they are light brown in color. They do have small wings, but they cannot fly with them. Instead, they use their wings to glide away in the face of danger. Because of their small size, German cockroaches are one of the hardest roaches to exterminate and one of the most common pests worldwide. German roaches can often be spotted in kitchen pantries, in bathrooms, and hiding within cardboard boxes. Though these roaches may be small, German cockroaches can carry harmful diseases and even cause allergy issues.
Oriental Cockroaches – Big Black Cockroaches
Did you spot a big black cockroach and wonder what on Earth it was!? The Oriental roach is often called a black beetle because of its shiny, black body. They also have non-functional wings. While females are larger, with an average length of one inch, they have much smaller wings than the males, which cover almost all of their abdomen. Unlike the other common roaches, Oriental cockroaches mostly live outside in gardens and inside garbage cans. When the weather becomes too hot for them, Oriental cockroaches head inside to find cooler air and moisture. They hide in basements, crawl spaces, and even walls. Because these roaches like to stay out of sight, they can be harder to find.
Flying Cockroaches
A majority of cockroaches have wings but cannot fly; however, flying cockroaches can actually put their wings to use. There are only a handful of cockroach species that can fly. The few roaches that can fly usually only do so to escape threats, as they are poor flyers. Nevertheless, a pair of capable wings makes these pests even more of a nuisance. Because of their increased mobility, it is easier for flying roaches to spread germs throughout the house.
How to Prevent Cockroaches In Your Home
Cockroaches are one of the most detested pests worldwide and, unfortunately, are one of the most common. No one wants to find one inside of their home. Not only can they spread diseases, but they can also cause allergy problems and asthma in young children.
So how can you keep them out of your home? The best way to prevent cockroaches is to deprive them of resources. Here are some easy steps you can take to keep them from calling your house their home:
- Take out the garbage. Regularly taking out the trash can get rid of the smells roaches are attracted to.
- Tight lids. Keeping lids on your garbage bins and keeping food contained can also eliminate odors and keep cockroaches out.
- Routinely clean. Wiping down countertops, sweeping, and vacuuming removes any excess food that roaches are after.
- Stop the leaks. Leaky sinks create water build-up. Fix the leaks to deprive roaches of an easy water source.
- Eliminate excess moisture. Make sure your basement and crawl spaces are properly ventilated.
- Seal your pipes. Roaches can crawl through small cracks around your pipes and get inside your house. Patch up the cracks around your pipes to prevent pest entry.
- Recycle unused cardboard. Roaches love to use cardboard as a hiding place. Not only is it good for the environment, but getting rid of cardboard can deprive roaches of a safe space to hide.
How Do I Get Rid of Cockroaches In Texas?
Cockroaches are hard pests to get rid of. Home remedies and DIY kits often only deal with part of the problem and can be harmful. The best way to get rid of roaches efficiently and effectively is to call the professionals. At EnviroCon Pest Control, our certified entomologists will work hard to get to the root of your roach problem and put a stop to the infestation. We use family-friendly products that are good for you and the environment because we believe that we can get great results with less chemicals. We have a 24-hour phone line and offer same-day services, meaning you never have to worry about the creepy feelings that roaches give. If you’re looking for the done for you solution, then check out our exterminators in Katy services!