Cockroach Identification & Prevention

What are cockroaches?

Cockroaches are scavengers that have a distinctive oval-shaped body, long antennae, and are typically dark in color with a greasy appearance. Most species have wings, but most are not capable of flight; instead, they scurry from place to place using their six spiny covered legs.

Though there are thousands of roaches living worldwide, only a handful have become regular visitors to our residential and commercial properties.

Some of the most common roaches that people in Las Vegas run into include the following.

• German cockroach: A small tannish-brown roach with two dark parallel lines between the head and thorax.
• American cockroach: A large reddish-brown roach with a pale yellow figure-eight-like mark right behind the head.
• Turkestan cockroach: A small dark brown to jet black roach with cream-colored markings along the body’s edge and behind the head.
• Oriental cockroach: A shiny black roach with an elongated, pill-shaped body.

Are cockroaches dangerous?

Cockroaches can spread bacteria and pathogens because they spend their time in less than sanitary areas, whether they are inside your home or living outdoors. Some of a cockroach’s regular hangouts are garbage bins, drains, sewers, and toilets.

As they travel throughout your home, they will contaminate food and surfaces with things that can make people quite ill, including:

• Salmonella
• Gastroenteritis
• E. Coli
• Dysentery

The presence of cockroaches is also a factor in people developing allergies and asthma attacks. A cockroach infestation also creates a mysterious unpleasant odor that can affect the taste of food in your home.

Why do I have a cockroach problem?

The Las Vegas area is densely populated. The more people and buildings around to provide cockroaches with the food, moisture, and shelter, the more of a problem you will have with these pests.

If cockroaches have found a way into your home, they will leave behind the following signs:

• Piles of rice-like shaped droppings on the floor, in drawers, in cabinets, and in other areas of your home where they are gathering
• Brown smear marks on the floor or walls
• Piles of shed skins or small white eggshells

Cockroaches are not social insects, but they do live together in large groups. Their prolific breeding habits mean that a few cockroaches can quickly turn into a large-scale infestation that will be difficult to control and eliminate.

Where will I find cockroaches?

Cockroaches prefer to live in damp, warm areas and take up residence in areas of a home that provide them with food and moisture. Kitchens and bathrooms are some of their favorite hangouts. During the day, they will hide behind cabinets, in wall voids, behind wood trim, in drawers, and clutter. At night they will emerge to forage for food.

Oriental cockroaches and Turkestan cockroaches are often found living outside and move indoors while searching for food or moisture. Some of their most common entry points include cracks in the foundation, drains, vents, and spaces they discover under doors. Once inside, if their basic needs are met, they will stay and quickly become a big problem.

German cockroaches live primarily indoors, and they find their way into new homes and businesses by hitchhiking. After crawling into things like boxes, appliances, or onto pieces of furniture, they move to wherever these items end up. In multi-unit buildings, German cockroaches and other species will move between units through floors and wall voids and along wires and pipes.

How do I get rid of cockroaches?

Cockroaches are a source of frustration for home and business owners year-round. They can find their way into our structures any time of the year. At Anderson Pest Control, we understand how frustrating cockroaches are. We offer excellent customer service and effective, ethical pest control solutions to eliminate cockroaches and prevent them from returning. Our family-owned company aims to protect Las Vegas families and businesses from the dangers and damages cockroaches can cause.

Using Integrated Pest Management (IPM), we combine our proven pest control methods with our knowledge of the biology and habits of the pests we treat to provide our customers with a long-term pest solution. If you are ready to learn more about our residential or commercial cockroach control solutions, reach out to Anderson Pest Control today!

How can I prevent cockroaches in the future?

In addition to our home pest control and commercial pest control services, protect your property from pests with the following prevention tips:

• Eliminate as much moisture as possible by repairing leaky pipes and air conditioners, as well as dripping faucets.
• Keep basements or crawl spaces well ventilated.
• Get rid of access points into your home by sealing holes in the foundation, installing door sweeps, placing covers over vents and drains, and installing weatherstripping around windows and doors.
• Regularly remove trash from your home and store it in a container with a locking lid.
• Store trash cans away from the outside walls of your home.
• Keep your kitchen free of food debris and sticky spills.
• Store food in the fridge or containers with airtight lids, never out in the open on tables or counters.