Expert Techniques For Effective Cockroach Elimination For Kittitas County Homes

If we're being honest, cockroaches are a bit icky—to put it nicely, roaches are unsanitary insects. It is best to keep them out of your home, of course, but what can you do if they've already gotten inside? 

The first step is understanding what to expect from the roaches in your home. Join Prosite today as we explore the ways to identify common cockroaches in Kittitas County, how each is different, and show you what you can do to drive them out. We'll also share expert tips for cockroach prevention so you can keep roaches out of your house permanently. As always, your Prosite team is here for you. We can answer your questions and provide you with service options.

When you need professional cockroach control in Kittitas County, you can trust Prosite for industry-leading solutions.

Types Of Roaches Common To The Area

There are several roach species in Washington state, but only a few that commonly infest homes. Before we discuss the specific species, let's quickly look at how to identify a cockroach:

• Cockroaches have six legs, like other insects. These legs have tiny spines on them. While they're not the only insects with spiny legs, it is the first visual characteristic to look for because it is obvious.
• Cockroaches have two tiny appendages called cerci. These little appendages are at the end of the abdomen and stick out on each side. 
• Cockroaches have long antennae; these antennae sometimes curl around and run along the sides of certain roach species.
• Cockroaches start life as nymphs, not larvae. That means they come out of their eggs looking like cockroaches. But newly hatched nymphs are sometimes a different color than the adults, depending on the species.

Now that you have an idea of what cockroaches look like, let's consider the different species. They come in four basic colors: Reddish-brown, black, and tan, and some have bands of brown and yellow.

• German cockroaches are the worst cockroach pests in our area. They're also the worst cockroach pests in the entire world. Being the worst pest is good and bad. On the good side, German cockroaches often spend their whole lives indoors, which means they only pick up the bacteria in your home. If you keep a clean house, these roaches will have fewer "dirty" things to touch. On the bad side, they are exceedingly difficult to eliminate and breed quickly.
• Brown-banded cockroaches are just below German roaches when it comes to their ability to infest structures. The reason they do so well indoors is that they can tolerate dry conditions. As with German roaches, brown-banded cockroaches are less likely to pick up dangerous pathogens when living in a cleaner environment, such as your house. 
• Oriental cockroaches are the dirtiest cockroaches in our area. Once again, there is a good side and a bad side. On the good side, these roaches prefer to live indoors. They'll go in and out of your home. If you take steps to remove indoor attractants and seal your exterior, you may stop an infestation. On the bad side, they get into exceptionally dirty things outside and track harmful germs in with them.
• American cockroaches are middle-of-the-road roaches. These insects prefer damp environments. Depending on the indoor environment, they may not tolerate living inside a dry home. If you control moisture and other factors, you may drive these roaches out. As for their ability to make you sick, they're a bit more harmful than German cockroaches because of their propensity to go in and out of structures—and also due to their inclination to live in sewers and drains.       

Now that you know the culprits, it is time to talk about their relationship with unsanitary conditions. The more you know about how roaches make you sick, the better your chances of staying healthy and happy. Here's what you need to know.

Why It's Dangerous To Have Cockroaches In Your Home

Cockroaches gravitate to grungy things. It's not a pleasant topic, but it is one you should know something about so that you can guard against illnesses. Consider these risk factors related to cockroach activity in your home:

• Cockroaches eat fecal matter and are attracted to humid bathrooms. They are also attracted to toothbrushes because they eat toothpaste.
• Cockroaches eat decaying organic matter in trash receptacles. They're also fast-moving insects that can climb walls and squeeze through tight spaces. They can quickly get into dish and silverware cabinets.
• Cockroaches climb in drains and feed on organic matter in garbage disposal drains. They come out at night and can crawl across counters and cutting boards.
• Cockroaches feed on cardboard and paper. When they make holes in food packages, they can contaminate the food stored inside.
• Cockroaches leave their excrement on surfaces as they explore their environment. Cleaning up soiled areas can help reduce illnesses.
• Cockroaches drop allergens as they move about inside infested spaces. These are known to aggravate asthma symptoms and present a medical risk for individuals with asthma. Routine vacuuming can reduce the impact.

In most cases, cockroaches will cause stomach ailments with symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. But serious illnesses are possible as well. Cockroaches spread germs, such as salmonella, E. coli, and giardia. They are associated with cholera, typhoid fever, listeriosis, and other diseases and can cause staph infections, strep throat, and conjunctivitis.

Now that you understand a bit about how cockroaches can make you sick, let's look at how to deter cockroaches inside your home and give them reasons to leave. We'll give you specific tips to control cockroaches.