Question: what Paleozoic Era creature has survived every type of natural catastrophe to become a common household pest in the 21st century? If you answered “the cockroach,” you’d be right! Despite floods, droughts, famine and fire, these seemingly indestructible insects have managed to thrive essentially unchanged since prehistoric times.

Modern scientists have identified about 5,000 cockroach species, but only a few types are considered household pests. These “nuisance species” have adapted better than others to living with humans, and often make their way into houses where they have access to food, water, and shelter. (They apparently know a good thing when they see it!)

German cockroaches (Blattella germanica), American cockroaches (Periplaneta americana), Brown-banded cockroaches (Supella longipalpa), and Oriental cockroaches (Blatta orientalis) are four types that often cohabit with humans.

Of these, German cockroaches are a particular concern because of their high reproductive potential. In just one year a single female can give rise to three or four generations numbering over 10 million. Talk about an infestation! 

American cockroaches enjoy living in human habitats, but they’re equally at home in sewer systems. The roach on your kitchen counter may have been crawling through the wastewater line a few hours before. Pretty gross, right?! 

Brown-banded and Oriental cockroaches don’t have exactly squeaky-clean images, either.

No type of creature can exist for millennia without having some extraordinary traits. Roaches are no exception:

• Cockroaches can hold their breath for up to 40 minutes, so don’t think putting them in the toilet or sink will kill them.
  
• They can run about five feet per second. Proportionally, that’s three times as fast as a cheetah! No wonder they’re so hard to step on!
  
• Roaches prefer real food, but will eat almost anything with nutrients, such as starch-based paints, wallpaper paste, envelope glue, and bar soaps. Consequently, they’re almost impossible to “starve out.”
  
• They possess an exceptional ability for carrying dangerous diseases including Salmonella typhimurium, Entamoeba histolytica, and the poliomyelitis virus.
  
• Finally, cockroaches are incredibly stealthy (they’re kinda like the ninjas of the insect world!) They go to great lengths to remain undetected. Most will only venture into the open when it’s dark and humans are not present. In fact…

You may not see an actual insect until an infestation is well underway. But cockroaches are not totally undetectable; they leave telltale signs. Cockroach feces are relatively easy to spot. Look for small, dark, pepper-like bits on countertops, in drawers, behind refrigerators, around toilets, and under sinks. Pay very close attention to dark, wet environments…roaches love to breed in them. 

If you find deposits or see a roach, carefully clean the area with soap and disinfectant to prevent germs from spreading. Then draw up a plan to get rid of the unwanted invaders. The pest control proverb “if you see one, more are hiding” is almost always true. Because of their prolific nature, time is of the essence!

Seeing a single insect in the kitchen is your cue to act. If you see multiple roaches…or if you see them outside of your kitchen…and especially if you see roaches during the day…you have a major problem. Don’t let the problem get out of control! Call or text us at (405) 679-8729. We can skillfully and effectively rid you of your pest problems.