While you’re probably aware that cockroaches are disgusting pests that you don’t want in your home, there are many things about cockroaches you might not have heard. First of all, did you know that there are around 4,500 different species of cockroaches in the world? While this number is staggering, there are luckily only a few species of cockroaches in Las Vegas, Nevada that invade homes.
Of these species, the German cockroach is the most common one to get inside both home and business. While they aren’t a large cockroach species, growing to about ⅝ of an inch long, they can still cause major issues for home and business owners in the area.
In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about identifying German cockroaches, preventing them, and removing them.
What Do German Cockroaches Look Like?
Like other species of cockroaches, German cockroaches have long, oval-shaped bodies, six legs, and wings that lie flat on their backs. German cockroaches tend to be just half an inch in length with tan to light brown bodies. Aside from their size, one way to distinguish them is the two parallel stripes behind their heads. However, it's important to keep in mind that these roaches are experts at avoiding detection so it's important to look for other signs of their presence.
All The Problems German Cockroaches Cause
Cockroaches are not just gross to look at, and while most people know they are unsanitary, they are even more dangerous than you might have heard.
Just like many other cockroach species, the German cockroach can spread many different pathogens. Some of these can lead to severe illnesses including salmonella, E.coli, cholera, and gastroenteritis. While not all infestations will lead to serious illness, there is always that risk. So, it’s best to try and keep cockroaches away in the first place.
In addition, once German cockroaches establish themselves inside a home or business, they are very difficult to remove. They can reproduce quickly, and hide in many out of sight areas including small cracks in walls. Because of this, they often go unnoticed until their population is overflowing. And, they are also resistant to many pesticides which makes them hard to truly eliminate.
German Cockroach Prevention Steps
One of the best ways to protect your property from German cockroaches is to take steps to prevent them. While preventive measures aren’t completely foolproof, they can make your house or business less appealing to these unsanitary pests.
Here are some of the best ways to keep cockroaches away:
- Keep kitchen areas cleaned, which includes wiping up food and drink spills, sweeping, mopping, and doing dishes often.
- Store pet food indoors and in airtight containers.
- Reduce excess humidity by using a dehumidifier and fixing leaky faucets.
- Make it harder for cockroaches to get inside by filling up holes and cracks in walls and foundations with foam and caulk.
- Regularly take out the trash.
What Should You Do If You Already Have An Infestation?
If you’re already dealing with German cockroaches, the best way to remove them is by contacting the experts at Anderson Pest Control. Our trained technicians can effectively remove any cockroach infestation, no matter how severe. And, we can also provide ongoing residential and commercial pest control plans to keep these nasty creatures from coming back.
Discover more about our cockroach control options by giving us a call today. We even offer free estimates, so contact us right away to get started!