Have you seen a cockroach? Have you gone into the bathroom early in the morning and found one clinging to a wall or hiding on the floor? Have you opened a storage room, attic, or closet and found one inside a box, container, or stored furniture? There are many ways you may catch a cockroach. What does it mean if you've found one cockroach in your apartment or house? Are there more? Is it time to call a licensed professional? If you have questions about cockroaches or pest control in The Woodlands, this short article will get you going in the right direction. We'll look at common pest roaches in our area, how they differ, how they can impact your health, and what to do about them. We'll dig into detection, control, and prevention so you have all you need to get cockroaches out and keep them out. If that sounds like a plan, let's get started!

Types Of Roaches Common To The Area

When dealing with cockroaches, it is helpful to know the kinds of roaches we have in The Woodlands. Each species is a bit different. Some are worse than others. You may have roaches that aren't happy to live in clean environments, and you can deter them with sanitation. You may have roaches that require high levels of humidity or moisture and won't live in a home that feels dry to them. You may have cockroaches that do well outdoors and only enter homes occasionally. The type of roaches on your property can impact how you deal with them.

• Oriental Cockroach: If you see roaches that appear entirely black, it is likely you have oriental cockroaches – though some nymphs of other species are entirely black at first. An adult oriental cockroach is about one inch long, which is much larger than nymphs. If you have oriental cockroaches, there are two things you should know about them. First, they are known for being highly unsanitary and may present a greater health concern than roaches of other species. And second, they require high levels of moisture and are not well suited to living indoors.
• Australian Cockroaches: If you see a large cockroach with a yellow marking on its back, between the head and wings, you may have these roaches, or you may have American cockroaches. The primary difference between the two is that Australian cockroaches are smaller. A full-grown Australian cockroach is about 1 ¼ inches long. If you have these roaches, we have some good news for you. They rarely live indoors. They're preferred habitat is outdoors. You may not have an infestation if you've only seen one and you've gotten rid of it.
• American Cockroaches: These are the largest cockroaches that get into homes in The Woodlands. Like Australian cockroaches, this species has a yellow marking on its back, between its head and wings, but the mark on American cockroaches is uniquely different in shape and looks almost like a figure eight. An adult American cockroach can grow up to 2 ⅛ inches long. Their Australian cousins are only around half this size. The primary thing to know about American cockroaches is that they prefer humid spaces. A dry home may drive them back outdoors. These roaches can live both inside and out. Whether or not they'll leave is dependent on several other factors, such as available food resources, entry points, darkness, etc.
• Smokybrown Cockroaches: This is another common outdoor roach species. If you find a dark, glossy-brown cockroach with a tint of mahogany, it is likely a smokybrown cockroach. You may not have a full infestation. Consider humid spaces within your home to minimize roach activity and apply moisture control and exclusions to keep these roaches out.
• German Cockroaches: This species is widely considered the worst in the world. If you see small, tan roaches with two parallel black stripes on their backs, these are the pests you have in your home. If this is the case, it is time to contact a licensed pest control service provider. Why? Because German cockroaches are resistant to conventional treatment materials. These insects love to live indoors. Since they are so common, we've thrown everything at them but the kitchen sink. As they have come in contact with harmful materials, they have adapted their physiology to protect themselves. They have strong and more resistant exoskeletons, and some populations are born with bait aversion. What's worse is that German cockroaches only grow to be around a half-inch in length. Their small size allows them to hide in out of the way places, and they have some of the fastest reproduction rates of area cockroaches.  

Cockroach identification is sometimes tricky. Remember that All-Safe Pest & Termites is available to help you. Send us a picture from your phone or contact us to request an inspection and pest evaluation. We're here to help.

Roaches Trigger Allergies And Spread Diseases

A common question we get is, "What diseases do cockroaches carry?" There is no simple answer to this question. Every cockroach that crawls around inside your home is not going to carry all of the diseases roaches are known to carry. Sharing the list would only scare you. It is far better to consider how they make you sick.

• Roaches pick up and spread germs. These can make you ill.
• Roaches pick up microscopic worms. These can lead to greater stomach ailments.
• Roaches leave their fecal matter in the places they explore. These are a disease concern as cockroaches eat unsanitary things.
• Roaches leave their body parts in areas of infestation. These contain allergy-triggering proteins that exacerbate asthma symptoms and increase hospitalizations.
• Roaches contaminate food and surfaces around your home.

The primary issue with cockroaches is that they are unhygienic. These insects aren't bothered by unsanitary environments; in fact, they are attracted to them. When you find roaches in your Woodlands home, it is best to get rid of them as soon as possible. What is the best way to get rid of cockroaches in The Woodlands? Our recommendation is to contact a professional if you want to get rid of them completely.

Call The Pros To Completely Get Rid Of Roaches

How is professional cockroach control in The Woodlands different from doing it yourself? You can probably guess simply by considering the word professional. What does it mean to be professional? It means it is our profession to deal with pests. We learn about them. We experience them on a daily basis. We work together in our industry to share what works and what doesn't. And, of course, we take advantage of up-to-date science regarding these pests. If you want to know that the cockroaches in your home are gone completely, there is no better way than to hire a trained and experienced professional.

For help with cockroach removal in The Woodlands, contact All-Safe Pest & Termite. While we specialize in termite control, our technicians have advanced training for all of the pests we deal with in our area, and they deal with cockroaches all the time. We'll let you know what cockroaches you have and suggest the most trusted control solutions for your specific species. It is easy to get information. Our contact page is a simple and stress-free way to contact us and learn about cockroach control services in The Woodlands.

Five Tips To Prevent Future Roach Problems In Your Home

Once the cockroaches in your home are gone, how do you keep them out? What works to prevent future roach problems? There is much we can say on this topic, but today, we're going to boil it all down into our top five tips.

1. Sanitation: As we pointed out, most pest roaches don't like clean environments. Keep receptacles clean, store food in covered containers, keep recycling items clean, remove pet waste in your yard, and take other steps to keep things clean.
2. Moisture: We touched on this. Cockroaches are drawn to damp habitats and areas of high humidity. You can reduce moisture near your home by keeping your gutters clean, fixing leaks, using dehumidifiers, and trimming landscape vegetation.  
3. Clutter: Cockroaches are drawn to tight spaces. Their preference is organic hiding places within brush piles, stacked wood, leaves, plant clippings, etc. They'll also hide in junk piles, underneath wood pallets, and general yard clutter.
4. Openings: A cockroach can't help but explore every gap, crack, and hole in your exterior. Inspect your exterior, make repairs, and fill in any gaps you find. No hole is too small for a cockroach, so be sure to get them all.
5. Treatments: Cockroaches aren't easy to exclude. It helps to apply a liquid crack and crevice treatment to your foundation to keep them out. A licensed pest control technician is equipped to select and apply these materials in a structured and routine manner to achieve the best results.

Are you in The Woodlands? If so, contact All-Safe Pest & Termite for advice and service options. We use industry-leading control solutions to keep cockroaches, and many other pests, out of homes and businesses. We can help you select a smart and sustainable solution for your property. Reach out to us today for assistance and to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in The Woodlands.

I have been with them for several years. They are always responsive if any issues arise, and are completely on top of our quarterly treatments. I love it, because I don’t have…

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