Where do Cockroaches Come From?
Cockroaches are a common problem for homes and businesses, infesting food storage areas and spreading germs such as salmonella and E.Coli. In some cases, their feces can also cause or worsen asthma. These pesky little beasts are hard to kill, making cockroach control challenging. But where do cockroaches come from, and do you need a cockroach exterminator to get rid of them?
Take Care What You Bring Into Your Home!
A common way for cockroaches to enter your home is from neighboring properties, usually via holes in floors or walls. The areas around water pipes and electrical cables are particularly vulnerable. However, the biggest risk comes from what you bring into your home voluntarily. When you buy food from a disreputable business that has an infestation, eggs or young cockroaches can be present in the packaging or even the food itself.
Secondhand goods are another way that cockroaches may enter your home. This is a particular problem with electrical goods. The cockroaches are attracted to the heat when these items are in use; they crawl in and lay their eggs which then go undetected until they hatch in your home, beginning the cycle that leads to a significant infestation.
As with most pests, prevention is better than a cure. Take care to buy your foodstuffs from only reputable businesses and avoid secondhand electrical goods of unknown origin if you can. You can also lessen the chances of an infestation by ensuring all your food is stored well in tightly sealed containers and taking care to clean up any spills as quickly as possible.
The Cockroach Lifecycle
All cockroaches begin life as an egg. The females lay between 10 and 50 eggs in a case they leave in warm, humid places. You might find these small leathery items under your stove or sink, in your pantry, or attached to walls and ceilings. If it's warm, they begin to hatch in as little as 14 days or up to 100 days if the temperature is low.
The emerging cockroach is known as a nymph. They are tiny at this stage and often hard to spot. Over the next one to three months (again, dependent on climate), they undergo several molts when they shed their skin as they grow. The nymph will be a pale white color when they first molt, then fade to grey, brown, or tan. Once they undergo their final molt, they are an adult, ready to reproduce and begin the cycle again.
Get Rid of Your Cockroach Problem Today
The lifecycle of the cockroach is relatively long, meaning they can go unnoticed as they grow, and before you know it, there are thousands of them in your home. This means cockroach control can be a real challenge, best left to a professional cockroach exterminator.
So, if you suspect that you have a cockroach infestation because you've spotted egg cases or adult cockroaches, get a free estimate from Viking Pest Control today.
