You’re probably aware cockroaches aren’t harmless. At best, they’re ugly and can scare you. They often frighten us with their flying and fast running. At worst, they can make your home or business an unsafe place to be. These insects reproduce at lightning speed and can spread diseases.

St. Louis residents should be concerned about their loved ones, employees or customers having to take a trip to the hospital. Not to mention losing profits, or having an establishment closed for being considered unsanitary. It’s important to know exactly how dangerous cockroaches can be. That way, you can better prepare to prevent or eliminate them with Arenz Pest Management.

What Threats Do St. Louis Cockroaches Pose?

Cockroaches crawl around with illness-causing bacteria on their bodies. Also, they pick up germs on their leg spines as they move through sewers, pipes, ground dirt, garbage and more. When they get to your food and interior surfaces, they can taint it. This is especially likely when they release waste. Issues they can create include:

• E. Coli, salmonella and other pathogens
• Viruses
• Asthmatic and/or allergic reactions
• Gastroenteritis
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Diarrhea

As if putting human health in jeopardy wasn’t enough, cockroaches can ruin your property too. Some classes destroy paper, wood and/or clothing. Roaches common in St. Louis are American, German, brown-banded, and oriental. American cockroaches can be up to three inches long and are mahogany colored. The German types vary in size, from 1/2 to ⅝ of an inch long. They have horizontal stripes on their heads and are brown or tan. The young also have stripes but are black. Brown-banded cockroaches are 1/2 of an inch long. As their name suggests, they have tan and brown bands on their bodies. The black or reddish-brown oriental kind is close to an inch long.

Once indoors, cockroaches will go for ceilings, kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms. Garbage, toiletries, and pantry items are some of the things they’ll feed on. You'll know you have an infestation if you detect the following:

• Droppings: American cockroach droppings are ridged and have blunt ends. German pellets resemble pepper. The black or brown fecal matter of brown-banded roaches is smudged or speckled. You’re liable to find droppings in or around drawers, surfaces, door frames, ceiling fixtures, and floor corners.
• Eggs: Cockroach eggs are black, tan, red, or brown. They can be as small as 1/4 of an inch, or as big as an inch. Check your bathrooms, kitchens, and basements for them.
• Odor: Roaches let out a chemical to communicate, this causes a “musty” smell. This chemical can change the taste and scent of the food they inhabit.

How Can You Prevent Roaches?

Take these actions to ensure your property is less of a target for roaches:

• Close gaps around walls, utilities, windows, and doors. Roaches can crawl through tiny holes.
• Place sweeps on exterior doors.
• Address moisture issues, such as leaks, to reduce water sources.
• Clean dishes and cycle out the trash regularly.
• Put garbage and food in air-tight containers.
• Promptly clean food spills.
• Maintain greenery and have it distanced from your building.
• Inspect packages, bags, and flowers before bringing them inside.

How Can Arenz Pest Management Help With Roaches?

At Arenz Pest Management we use industrial-quality products. Our sprays, gels, traps and other items are sure to get roaches gone. That goes for other critters too.

You won’t have to worry about being affected by hazardous chemicals, either. Everything we use is eco-friendly. Our treatment methods are easy on the environment, but hard on pests. We pride ourselves on our safe and ethical practices.

Prioritize your health and that of those you care about, and call us today!

Tags: cockroaches | cockroach identification | cockroach control |

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