Luxe Pest Control
Cockroach Control
Long Island Cockroach Control Services
Most pests have a season in which they are most active. However, cockroaches do not have a season. They are active all year round and are among the most common pests infesting homes and apartments all over the country. Constantly on the lookout for food, cockroaches are a particular problem in kitchens and where food is prepared or stored. Cockroaches contaminate food, kitchen utensils, and other household items and leave an unpleasant odor.
Since cockroaches move quickly from where they find shelter to where the food is, they can transfer bacteria that cause food poisoning and other illnesses. Many people are also allergic to cockroach excrement and their shed skins. Cockroach-produced allergens may cause congestion, sneezing, and watery eyes, as well as life-threatening bronchial inflammation (asthma) characterized by recurrent cough, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. Asthma triggered by cockroaches is prevalent among children living in densely populated housing conditions. Did you know that most people allergic to chocolate are not allergic to the chocolate but parts of cockroaches that get mixed in with the chocolate during the production process?
Your Home is the Perfect Cockroach Breeding Ground
Cockroaches are on the lookout for warmth, food, and shelter, and your home has it all. All it takes is a small crack or crevice for a cockroach to get through, and they are in your home looking for a place to hide and for a food source. Hiding places and food are abundant, and once you have unchecked and untreated cockroaches, they will procreate and multiply exponentially.
In New York, American and German Cockroaches are extremely common. However, there is a new leader in the field. The Turkestan Cockroach is now the most common cockroach in New York and throughout the United States.
Like American cockroaches, Turkestan roaches are primarily outdoor insects. They thrive in warm, relatively dry climates and don’t typically live in houses. Most of the time, they’ll stay outside, building colonies in sheltered areas in and around your yard. Cockroaches are attracted to the light, warmth, and food available in your home. Once they are in your home, they start to reproduce. Cockroaches reproduce prolifically, with each female reaching adulthood very quickly and producing up to 350 baby cockroaches throughout her 18-month lifespan. Turkestan Cockroaches reproduce so fast that they are forcing Oriental Cockroaches out of entire regions!
It is believed that Turkestan Cockroaches came to the United States aboard ships in 1978 and have since established themselves as the dominant species in the United States.
Cockroaches are a Health Hazard
Cockroaches are not known to be aggressive, especially Turkestan cockroaches. However, cockroaches live in and crawl through the dirtiest places around and are known vectors for many different illnesses. Cockroaches move freely from building to building or from drains, gardens, sewers, and latrines to human habitations. Since they feed on human feces and human food, they can spread germs that cause disease. Cockroaches are not usually the leading cause of diseases, but they play a significant role in spreading various diseases, from food poisoning to severe illnesses. In addition, cockroaches are known to carry organisms that cause:
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diarrhea
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dysentery
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cholera
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leprosy
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plague
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typhoid fever
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viral diseases such as poliomyelitis
In addition, they carry the eggs of parasitic worms and may cause allergic reactions, including dermatitis, itching, swelling of the eyelids, and more serious respiratory conditions.
Signs of a Cockroach Infestation
Since cockroaches are such prolific breeders, it is essential to catch an infestation early. There are signs you can look for. First, you should realize that if your neighbors have cockroaches, chances are that you do as well, so listen for issues around your neighborhood. Other signs are:
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Cockroach droppings - Cockroaches leave behind a dust of black droppings less than 1mm wide and varying lengths.
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Smear marks - Check for spots on horizontal surfaces and at wall-floor junctions where cockroaches are active. If water is abundant, cockroaches produce brown and irregularly shaped smear marks.
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Egg capsules - Cockroaches lay their eggs in a capsule containing multiple eggs. The capsule is unique for each species of cockroach.
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Shed skin - Look for this evidence in locations you suspect they are sheltering. Cockroaches shed nymphal skins 5-8 times as they mature into adulthood.
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Damage - Look for unusual signs of damage, not just on food packaging. Cockroaches will attack organic goods, including leather and books.
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Unusual odor - An established cockroach infestation produces a lingering and unpleasant musty smell that taints items with which they come in contact.
Contact Luxe Pest Control
You do not want to mess around with cockroaches. At the first sign of cockroaches, give us a call. We will eradicate your current infestation and set up regular visits to keep them from returning.
