It can be a frightening sight to see cockroaches in your home. These bugs are some of the most feared home-invading insects in Illinois. They rarely bite, don't have a stinger, and are non-venomous, but that doesn't stop millions of people from being instantly terrified as soon as they lay eyes on these disgusting creatures.
If you have cockroaches in your home, you could also have invisible bacteria and dangerous pathogens around your house. At Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators, our experienced Rock Island pest control specialists know the best way to keep you safe from these harmful bugs.
Types Of Cockroaches: Identifying Common Species
Many types of cockroaches roam around this part of the state. While they all may look similar, if you pay close attention, you will see that many roaches have their own set of characteristics that makes them unique. Here is a look at the various types of cockroaches that you are likely to see in and around your home:
- Oriental Cockroach: These roaches are about 1 inch long and have shiny dark-colored bodies. Many people also call them "water bugs" because you commonly find them around water.
- Brown-banded cockroach: This roach usually only measures about 1/2 inch long. They typically have dark brown bodies with two tan or light-brown bands that stretch across their backs. The male brown-banded roach has a pair of wings on its back and can fly. The females cannot fly but do have a pair of underdeveloped wings on their bodies.
- American cockroach: This is one of the bigger roach species found in this area. The American cockroach can measure 1 1/4 to 2 1/8 inches long. They typically have brown bodies with a yellow mark on the back of their head in the shape of a figure-eight.
- German cockroach: This is one of the more common roaches in homes. They usually measure around 5/8 inches long and have tan, oval-shaped bodies. The most distinguishing characteristic of the German cockroach is the two dark lines that run vertically down its back. Both males and females have wings and can fly, but it is rare to see them in flight. They prefer to run to their destination instead.
- Pennsylvania wood cockroach: This type of cockroach has a medium-brown-colored body that resembles the color of wood. The female Pennsylvania wood cockroach is small and usually only 1/2 inch long. The males are longer and can measure over 1 inch long. Males also have a large pair of wings on their back that allow them to fly. While the female roaches also have wings, their wings are too small to fly.
When any of these cockroaches enter your home, it doesn't take long for a severe cockroach infestation to develop; this is why effective cockroach control in Illinois is so important.
Health Risks Of Roaches: The Dangers Of Cockroach Infestations
Cockroaches are filthy bugs that crawl through garbage, sewers, and other disgusting areas. During their lifetime, cockroaches will pick up a wide range of bacteria, viruses, and diseases. They could transfer these harmful pathogens to you if they crawl around your food or leave their urine and feces around your home. Some illnesses you could catch from a cockroach include salmonellosis, cholera, dysentery, E.coli infection, and gastroenteritis.
Professional Roach Extermination: Call The Experts Right Away
Roaches lay egg sacs called ootheca. There can be around 30 baby cockroaches in one ootheca. An adult female cockroach will typically lay one egg sac each month; if you have two cockroaches in your home now, you could have over a hundred roaming through your home in months. Early intervention is the key to preventing a severe cockroach infestation in your home. You should call a professional roach control specialist at the first sign of cockroaches in your home.
Preventing Cockroach Infestations: Tips For A Roach-Free Home
Some of the things that you can do to prevent roaches from coming into your home in the first place include:
- Sealing any openings around your home
- Keeping all pantry food in sealable containers
- Have a tight-fitting lid on your outdoor trash cans
If you are struggling to keep roaches out of your Rock Island home, call the professionals at Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators today. We can stop these disgusting bugs in their tracks and prevent them from ever coming back.