Cockroaches are a common problem throughout the United States. Once they make themselves comfortable in your home, it can be hard to get rid of them. Not only can they snack on your food, they can damage your walls, personal items and electronics. If that wasn’t bad enough, some species of cockroaches can spread diseases to you and your family. Missouri is home to several different types of cockroaches that your Lake of the Ozarks pest control company can help you get rid of:
American Cockroaches
As adults, American Cockroaches can grow to be slightly bigger than three inches long. They are typically reddish brown or mahogany colored, with the area behind their heads outlined with a yellow band. Both males and females can fly. These cockroaches normally live outdoors and prefer warm, damp areas like flower beds or under mulch. However, they will come inside to find food and water. If they are inside, you can find them in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms and basements. Because these cockroaches are often found in sewers, it is important that you take care of getting rid of this species of cockroaches as they can spread diseases, contaminate our food, and cause allergies and asthma.
Oriental Cockroaches
Adult oriental cockroaches are very different in appearance. The adult male oriental cockroaches are smaller than females at a little under an inch long. The females can grow to be one and a quarter inch long. Both male and female oriental cockroaches are typically reddish-brown or black in color. The males do have small wings, while the females lack wings. However, neither males or females are capable of flight. These cockroaches typically live outside, but if available, they will live beneath porches and in between walls and crawlspaces. They often infest homes in the summer months keeping towards the lower levels of homes and gathering near water sources.
German Cockroaches
German Cockroaches are light brown or tan, with two black horizontal stripes located behind the head. They grow to be a little over a half an inch long. The nymphs are much darker in color but still feature the black stripes. While these cockroaches do have wings, they rarely fly as they choose to run away from danger. They are often found indoors with the preference for the warmer and humid areas like kitchens or bathrooms. They can come inside when bags, boxes or cardboard containers are brought indoors. Their small size allows them to hide efficiently and they have few predators. This allows their populations to grow rapidly and requires professional treatment to effectively get rid of them.
Brown Banded Cockroaches
Brown Banded Cockroaches are one of the smallest invasive cockroaches at just under a half an inch long as adults. They are light brown or tan in color, with bands on the wings of the adults and across the body of the nymphs. Unlike the German cockroaches, these cockroaches tend to hide out in less humid and warmer areas of the home like the ceilings, attics or in and around appliance motors. They are typically nocturnal, but it is not uncommon to spot them looking for food in the daytime. It is important to get rid of these insects quickly as they are known to carry harmful bacteria and have been linked to asthma and allergies.
Get Rid of Your Cockroach Infestation with A B Pest Control & Insulation
Identifying the correct species is the first step in addressing a cockroach infestation. The way you manage one species is seldom effective when applied to another species. It is best to contact a professional pest control company at the Lake of the Ozarks if you have a cockroach infestation. This will assure the problem is properly taken care of the first time. A B Pest Control & Insulation is here to help with all your pest control needs. If you need help with any type of insect infestation, call us at 573-964-1100 today.
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