Just the title is enough to probably make you shudder. Cockroaches are some of the most “yuck-worthy” bugs on the planet. While they’re normally associated with dirt and filth, cockroaches also like to hang out in beautiful gardens and on palm trees.
There are more than 4,000 kinds of cockroaches living on planet earth today. You’ll find them anywhere there are people, on every continent.
This article takes a look at cockroaches in our region, how to keep them out of a building, and how to spot the signs of an infestation.
All About Roaches
Cockroaches are flat oval bugs with antennae and six legs. Roaches like to come out at night and they prefer warm environments close to food and water. You’ll find them hanging out in a kitchen or bathroom because they’re also attracted to the humidity found in these environments.
Cockroaches carry a lot of disease which they pick up on the spines of their legs. When they crawl over carrion or rotting debris, they pick up all kinds of bad germs that they then transfer to food or other places where humans hang out. Pest World says they’ve been linked to 33 types of bacteria, six types of parasitic worms, and about seven human pathogens. Cockroaches have also been linked to allergies and asthma.
Three of the most common cockroaches that Preventive Pest finds in homes and businesses in the Las Vegas area include:
- The German Cockroach While researchers have yet to determine if these roaches speak German, we do know they certainly do love a good plate of Wienerschnitzel. The German cockroach can be about a ½ inch in size up to 5/8 inches. They are light brown and have two dark stripes on their back. Not that you’ll be able to see this – the German cockroach scurries pretty quickly and, like all roaches, is most active at night. These cockroaches are particularly voracious and will feed on just about anything, including toothpaste.
- The American Cockroach This is the largest of the roach family, frequently called palmetto bugs in the desert, where they proliferate. The American cockroach is reddish brown and can grow more than two inches long. They have wings and can fly, but only for short lengths. Because these bugs are so large, they’re sometimes easier to spot. They also leave behind larger droppings that make signs of an infestation more apparent.
- The Oriental Cockroach These are large, shiny bugs that love hanging out near drainage and sewer areas. They love sewers but will come into a home or business looking for water. They can live for a month without food but can only go a couple weeks without water. Just one of these creatures can produce up to 200 offspring in their short lifetime, which exactly why, once you have an infestation, it can really get out of control.
Keeping a scrupulously clean household or business is the best way to prevent a cockroach infestation in Las Vegas. If the problem has already gotten established, it’s imperative that you call Preventive Pest for help; these bugs are experts at surviving your best attempts for destroying them.
Call Preventive Pest or sign-up now for a long-term pest prevention control program that can your home or office stay cleaner and bug-free.