No one likes cockroaches in the house. The little scavengers are agile and stealthy, as well as carriers of all kinds of pathogenic microorganisms, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. They’ve been known to transmit infections such as salmonellosis, cholera, dysentery, streptococcus, and others. Bottom-line, they’re dirty! And they find their way into some of the most well-kept homes.
“They’ll find food—even if they have to eat each other!”
Cockroaches can survive up to a week without water and a month without food. While roaches will feed off of just about anything, they’re especially attracted to alcohol, more specifically, beer. And as with scorpions, they are also cannibals. They’ll find food—even if they have to eat each other!
Cockroaches are also quite durable. For example, they can run around without their heads for up to a week and go without oxygen for roughly 40 minutes!
Contact us today for top-rated cockroach pest control. Schedule an appointment today.
Why Cockroaches Are a Threat
Aside from being mini-transporters for bacteria, cockroaches can trigger asthma and allergies in many people through their feces and decomposed bodies. If you’re kitchen and bathroom counters aren’t disinfected continuously, you could be being exposed to contaminated feces without even knowing it.
Here’s something else Phoenix residents don’t usually consider; if you’re already dealing with scorpion and/or spider infestations, roaches will only compound the problem by being an additional food source for these pests.
Prevention Tips
We’re big advocates of pest prevention. Below are some practical steps you can take to prevent cockroach infestations.
- Deny roaches access to food, water, and shelter. Seems pretty straightforward, but it can be tougher than people think—depending on their home’s layout.
- Stash dry foods in sealed containers or plastic bags. Never leave food sitting out on countertops. Also, never leave liquids in sinks, bathtubs, showers, or open containers.
- Clean up food debris and scraps from under appliances (refrigerator, stove, toaster, etc.). Also, empty garbage cans and bins daily.
- Remove (or hide) pet food from floor-level areas before going to bed.
- Rinse cans, bottles, or containers before putting them in the recycling bins, especially empty soda or juice containers.
- De-clutter your home—inside and out. Cockroaches release a hormone in their droppings that communicate to other roaches, “We’ve found a home!”
Conclusion
We hope that this short article was helpful. Cockroaches are more than gross to look at; they’re a bacteria-carrying pest that’s also food for other pests.
Urban Desert Pest Control provides top-rated cockroach extermination for Anthem, Ahwatukee, Avondale, Buckeye, Carefree, Cave Creek, Chandler, El Mirage, Glendale, Goodyear, Laveen, Litchfield Park, Mesa, New River, Paradise Valley, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sun City, Sun City West, Surprise, Tempe, and Tolleson residents.
