Cockroaches

Is there any more hated creature on earth than the cockroach?

Cockroaches are among the most universally despised insects in the world, and for good reasons:

• Cockroaches are known or suspected to be implicated in the spread of many diseases, including Salmonella, E. Coli, Hepatitis E, diarrhea, and dysentery; and they may play a role in the transmission of pneumonia.

• Roaches and their shed skins and by-products have been found to cause increased rates of asthma and allergies among inner-city children.

• Cockroaches emit a nauseating odor and contaminate our food with their droppings and filth.

• Their secretive habits, high reproductive rates, and impressive ability to develop resistance to pesticides make cockroaches among the most challenging household pests to control.

Common Cockroach Species

	German Cockroaches are the most common cockroaches infesting homes and businesses in the United States and much of the world. Adults are about 5/8 of an inch in length. They are reddish-brown in overall color and have a distinct longitudinal stripe on the top of the pronotum. German cockroaches favor warm areas close by ready sources of food and water. Adults German cockroaches have wings and appear to possess the musculature necessary for flight, but they don't fly.
	American Cockroaches are sometimes incorrectly called "water bugs" or "palmetto bugs." They're about an inch and a half in length, on average, and predominantly brownish in color with a pale margin around the edges of the pronotum. Adult American cockroaches are capable of flight, but they seldom fly. American cockroaches tend to favor dark, secluded areas such as basements, crawl spaces, steam tunnels, boiler rooms, manholes, rubble foundations and, during the warmer months, exterior trash storage areas.
	Brown-banded Cockroaches prefer dryer conditions than German cockroaches. They can often be found in closets, night tables, inside electronic equipment, and behind peeling wallpaper. They are brown in color, with two light-colored bands running transversely across the wings and the abdomen. Brown-banded cockroaches will eat almost anything, but they prefer starchy foods. Adults of both sexes have wings, but only the males fly.
	Oriental Cockroaches are dark brown or black. Adult males are about an inch in length; females are slightly longer. The wings of adult males extend about three-quarters down the abdomen, but the females (shown on the left) have only small wing pads; and neither sex is capable of flight. Oriental cockroaches tend to be outdoor pests when the weather is warm, but they move inside when the weather gets cold. They dark, warm places like basements, sewers, storm drains, manholes, utility chaseways, and crawl spaces.

Cockroach Control

The first step in addressing any cockroach problem is sanitation. This means doing a thorough clean up to remove sources of food, water, and harborage. Be especially careful about things like paper bags, cardboard boxes, and other refuse that can provide roaches with a protected place to live.

Choosing an Exterminator

At Buckingham Pest Control, we're experts in diagnosing and treating even the most stubborn cockroach problems. We have access to the latest products and the most advanced techniques to quickly and effectively treat even severe cockroach infestations. Buckingham Pest Control, Inc. Serves the Greater St. Louis, Missouri area. To see how we can help you solve your roach problem or any other pest problem, contact us.