German cockroaches are likely the worst type of cockroach you can get in your Lexington home because of their breeding habits. These roaches breed faster than any other cockroach variety, so killing them off is more challenging. It’s like a game of Whack-A-Mole. You whack one roach, and ten more pop up to take its place. Luckily, you can do a few things to help make your Lexington pest control plan more effective against German cockroaches.
How To Identify German Cockroaches
German cockroach identification is easy because these roaches have several distinctions from other common roach varieties. First off, German cockroaches are smaller than most other pest roach varieties like the Oriental cockroach and especially the massive American cockroach. German cockroaches are also tan to light brown, so they’re lighter in color than American, Oriental, and Brownbanded roaches.
Finally, German cockroaches also have a pair of distinct stripes that run from the back of their heads to the base of their wings, so if you find a small, tan roach with a couple of parallel stripes at the front of its body, congratulations! You’ve got yourself a German cockroach.
German Cockroaches And Food-Borne Pathogens
Seeing German cockroaches is a big deal. You might not think so, but if you’re seeing live cockroaches crawling around, it’s a good sign you have a serious infestation because cockroaches try to avoid direct contact with people. So if you see one German cockroach, there’s a whole host you’re not seeing.
Any size infestation of German cockroaches is a problem, but large infestations can make you seriously ill. German cockroaches crawl through horrible places like sewers and garbage dumps, and they bring all the pathogens they pick up in these places right into your home with them. That means they’re tracking germs all over your food with their nasty feet – not to mention they’re pooping and drooling all over your food stores. These roaches are known or suspected to spread dozens of pathogens, most of them food-borne. They should be called germy cockroaches instead of German cockroaches.
Step-By-Step Guide To Getting Rid Of German Roaches
At-home cockroach control products don’t often work. Roaches have developed high resistance to most O.T.C. pesticides, but it’s also quite tricky for most homeowners to find and effectively expose roaches to these toxins. That’s why prevention is the best thing you can do to get rid of these roaches. The good news is there’s plenty you can do in that department:
- Seal up all potential roach entryways, like cracks or holes in your home’s exterior.
- Keep pantry foods stored in airtight containers to mask smells.
- Vacuum frequently to suck up crumbs roaches could use for food.
- Never leave dirty dishes of any kind sitting out – not even in the sink.
- Clean up the clutter that cockroaches could use for hiding spots.
- Cover all garbage on your property with tight lids at all times.
Following these roach prevention measures can help ensure you avoid winding up with a roach infestation in the first place.
How Professional Cockroach Control Can Help
If you have an existing infestation of German cockroaches, don’t waste your time with homemade German cockroach treatments that don’t work and have the potential to expose you to dangerous toxins. Instead, call the pest control experts here at The Original Bugman Pest Elimination! We know how to put all the pests in your nest to rest – including German roaches! Don’t wait; call or click today.
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