What You Ought To Know About German Cockroaches In Western Massachusetts

Do you know that all cockroaches are not created equal? It's true. Some are far worse than others. There are some cockroaches, like the wood cockroach, that can't live inside your home and are not known to spread disease. Some cockroaches are known to spread disease but never go inside man-made structures. Fortunately, there are only a handful of species that spread disease and infest man-made structures permanently. In this group of cockroaches, guess which species is the worst? Yup. The German cockroach. Here's what you ought to know about German cockroaches in Western Massachusetts.

The Worst Cockroach Ever

German cockroaches are the most common cockroach pest in the entire world. They are highly adaptable and able to tolerate the dry conditions found inside our homes and businesses. While these roaches can be found in any structure, they prefer to live in structures that have available food sources, such as restaurants, and residences.

How big is a German cockroach?

This is one of the smallest cockroach species. An adult German cockroach will be between ½ an inch and ⅔ of an inch long. Nymphs are much smaller. A newly hatched nymph is so small that it is able to easily pass through the tiny holes in your electrical outlet. Good luck keeping these cockroaches out!

What does a German cockroach look like?

This is a tan colored roach with a dark colored equal sign on its back. It has two long antennae, six legs, and tiny spines on its legs.

Do German cockroaches fly?

While a German cockroach has functional wings, it prefers to run. You won't see these insects flying around inside your home. But, on a hot day, they may use their wings to get into places you wouldn't expect.

What diseases do German cockroaches spread?

These cockroaches eat rotting organic matter and the feces of animals, so it isn't surprising that they are linked to the spread of more than 33 bacterial illnesses, 7 pathogens, and 6 parasitic worms. The most common illness associated with these roaches is salmonellosis.

How do I prevent German cockroaches from getting into my home?

It's difficult. As we've already hinted at, German cockroaches are hard to keep out. They're small insects. And they're able to compact their bodies to become even smaller. This, combined with their desire to be squished into tight spaces, make German cockroaches hard to exclude. The only way to effectively get control of cockroaches is to apply pest control products. These should be selected and administered by a licensed pest control professional. At American Pest Solutions, we use EPA approved products and field-tested pest control methods to locate, eliminate, and exclude cockroaches. This is the best way to prevent German cockroaches from getting into your home.

How do I reduce my chances of having an infestation?

There are some things you can do to prevent cockroaches from getting in. If you're able and willing to roll your sleeves up and do some work, you can have a big impact on cockroach populations, and make it far more difficult for German cockroaches to infest your home.

• Remove clutter from your lawn. Cockroaches hide under clutter to protect themselves from the sun.

• Move piles away from your exterior. Cockroaches love tight spaces. They'll find many hiding places in a wood pile or a rock pile.

• Rake leaves up. Leaves provide a moist cockroach habitat underneath.

• Remove anything from your yard that is rotting. Cockroaches prefer rotting food.

• Remove animal dung. If you have a dog, cockroaches will feed on their droppings. If you use fertilizer for your landscaping, cockroaches can be drawn to the opened bag inside your shed.

• Mix your compost properly. If you have a compost heap that smells, you can bet that it is attracting cockroaches to your home.

• Remove trash weekly. If trash sits in your receptacles for more than a week, they can begin to smell. This will draw cockroaches in. Wash your receptacles to remove the scent of rotting organic matter.

• Seal every gap, crack, hole, or tear in your exterior. Don't give those cockroaches the smallest entry point.

Cockroach Control

Do you have a roach problem? Reach out to American Pest Solutions and get the help you need. We know what is required to keep German cockroaches, and other pest cockroach species, out of your West Massachusetts home.