From their creepy appearance to the odd survival tactics they exhibit, cockroaches pose an ick-factor, but they can also pose health risks to humans if they find a way inside your home or business.

How many cockroaches to you need to see before taking action? One? Two? More? From their creepy appearance to their weird survival tactics, cockroaches have a certain ick-factor few other pests can match.

But they’re not just gross. They can also pose serious health risks if they find a way inside your residence or business.

Because of their well-deserved reputation as a danger to people, commercial establishments are especially interested in keeping roaches away. Just one online review mentioning cockroaches will dampen business…even shut them down if the health department learns about it.

Cockroaches are known to spread thirty-three kinds of bacteria, six kinds of parasitic worms, and at least seven other human pathogens. They often pick up germs as they crawl through decaying matter and sewage. Germs drop off as they crawl elsewhere, such as areas where food is prepared.

Roaches also ingest germs as they feed on trash. These germs grow stronger inside the roach, making them more resistant to cleaning agents, water, sunlight, and air.

Recent studies reveal cockroach allergens are the source of many reactions in children. They are also a known cause of asthma in children. These allergens build up in deposits of droppings, secretions, skins they’ve shed, and their dead bodies.

In the United States we primarily see four species: American cockroaches, the Oriental cockroaches, Brown Banded cockroaches and German cockroaches. They prefer warm, humid environments close to food and water sources. They frequently hitchhike in grocery bags, cardboard boxes and secondhand appliances.

You are most likely to find cockroaches crawling around bathrooms or kitchens. They’re fond of heat sources like the space under your refrigerator or dishwasher. We’ve also seen them inside places you might not expect, like televisions.

When cockroaches first appear, act quickly! Where there’s one, others are almost assuredly nearby. To eliminate them, you can try these formulas:

Boric acid roach bait: Mix equal parts powdered sugar, flour, and boric acid. Sprinkle where cockroaches usually gather: in the back of cabinets, under the sink, behind appliances, and in dark and moist areas

Warning: boric acid can pose respiratory problems. It isn’t safe to inhale.I recommend wearing gloves and a mask while measuring and mixing. Do not apply inside homes where children or pets can come in contact with the mix. The best use is around the perimeter of your home (remember the kids and pets!), under the house, in your attic, or in a lightly-used basement.

Baking soda and powdered sugar: A safer alternative uses equal parts baking soda and powdered sugar. You can sprinkle throughout your home with less concern regarding children or pets.

Did you know cockroaches…

• Are one of the oldest insects on earth? Their fossils date back 200 million years!
• Crawl on six legs, have wings and two antennae?
• Like dark, damp places with a plentiful food supply?
• Hide warm, dark spaces during the day?
• Feed on a variety of foods? They especially like starchy and sugary materials, including soap, glue and toothpaste!
• Usually forage at night?
• Can survive over month without food…but less than two weeks without water?
• Have an acrid odor that may permeate items they touch?
• Can transmit food poisoning, cholera, dysentery, salmonellosis and strep?
• Are a major health concern for asthmatic children?*
• Can produce two million offspring in a year? 350,000 offspring are born during an “average” breeding season!
• Are found around the world.

If you’re experiencing trouble with these disease carriers, KC Pest Control can help! Call or text us at (405) 679-8729. We’ve had lots of experience rescuing both homes and businesses from cockroaches and other pests!

* According to studies by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the New England Journal of Medicine.