Just the mere thought of a cockroach in your office or home is enough to make you want to scream. Cockroaches are those uninvited guests that are associated with filth and disease. And who wants to stay in a home or work in an office that is filthy or infested with pests?

Cockroaches are more than just a nuisance and more than disease carriers – they can cause extensive damage to property. So, let’s discuss their resilience and where they hide and then how to get rid of these disgusting pests.

Beyond disgusting

Cockroaches are carriers of a variety of pathogens, like bacteria, viruses and parasites. They spread diseases like salmonella, E coli and dysentery – gastrointestinal diseases. When they crawl over foodstuffs, they leave behind harmful microbes that can make us sick. These microbes are found in their droppings, shed skins and saliva and can cause allergies and asthma. Children and sensitive people are particularly at risk.

More than spreading unwanted diseases are the damage that these freaky insects can cause to property. These hardcore insects can chew through cardboard, leather, electrical wiring and other materials, which can cause costly repairs and even fire hazards. Not to mention that their creepy appearance creates an unpleasant place to stay and work in. This can even cause stress and discomfort is some people.

Hiding spots

We might not always realise how many hiding spots there are in our homes and offices which are ideal for cockroaches to live and breed in. As these nasty critters tend to stay hidden during the day and only come out at night to play, they prefer dark, warm and humid places. Here are some places where they might find their perfect hiding spots:

1.      Kitchen and pantry – this is where we prepare and cook our food, store our foodstuff and sometimes even enjoy our meals. No wonder then that they are drawn to these rooms. They will hide under sinks, inside cabinets, behind appliances, in cracks and crevices and little spaces where you might not even consider.

2.      Bathroom – these rooms are normally warm and humid, and of course have water. They will comfortably hide behind toilets, under sinks and in the bath, basin and shower drains.

3.      Basements and crawl spaces – these areas tend to be dark and damp – ideal for cockroaches to call it their home. They will easily live in boxes, clutter and even inside walls.

4.      Furniture and electronics – just the thought that cockroaches will enjoy your couch as much as you do, can be devastating. But the dark areas in couches are ideal for them to hide during the day. And when you tend to eat snacks on the couch while you watch a movie or read a book – you may also unintentionally feed nasty critters with the minute spills of your snacks. Cockroaches will even live inside TVs and computers where it gets warm.

5.      Office spaces – there are so many living areas for cockroaches that are ideal for them. They often hide in dark rooms, under desks, inside drawers, inside electrical outlets and storage areas. They are particularly fond of clutter of paper and cardboard.

Ideal environment

So, why do cockroaches prefer these hiding places? They live in places that provides them with whatever they need to survive, which include food, water, warmth and shelter. Kitchens and bathrooms provide access to food scraps and water, while undisturbed spaces behind appliances, inside cabinets and within walls create safe havens for them to reproduce.

Why home remedies don’t work

We may think that using home remedies will help to save costs, but they are often not effective. Common home remedies like boric acid, baking soda, essential oils and diatomaceous earth don’t work for reasons like:

1.      Limited reach – the products don’t penetrate the hidden and hard-to-reach breeding and living areas of these insects. This means that you don’t get rid of the larger infestation.

2.      Resistance – these critters are highly adaptable and have developed resistance to many common products. And that is why home remedies may not work anymore.

3.      Incomplete elimination – cockroach reproduce rapidly, which means the entire population, include the eggs need to be eradicated to get rid of these pests.

4.      Health risks – Some home remedies can actually cause health risks to people and the pets. Boric acid, for example, is very harmful and essential oils can cause allergic reactions.

Spotting an infestation

The sooner you detect and eliminate a cockroach infestation, the better. Here are some signs to look out for:

1.      Droppings – cockroach droppings are small and look like black pepper or coffee grounds. You can find them where the pests are active, like baseboards, inside cabinets and near food sources.

2.      Egg cases – the eggs of cockroaches are brown and shaped like capsules. You might find them in hidden, dark areas, such as behind furniture, pantry corners and inside kitchen cabinets.

3.      Shed skins – as these pests grow, they shed their skins. This is definitely a sign that cockroaches invaded your personal or office space.

4.      Musty odour – when there is an intrusion of cockroaches in your home, there might also be a musty odour. This is formed by the pheromones they release to communicate with each other.

5.      Sightings – seeing a cockroach during the day is normally a sign that you have a severe infestation and that their hiding spaces are overcrowded.

6.      Smear marks – brown, irregular smear marks are often a sign of cockroaches being present. These marks are created when they crawl across the walls, floors and surfaces.

Effective control measures

Once you suspect that cockroaches have invaded your space, call the experts, like Premium Pest Control. We have the knowledge, the products and the know-how on where to find these insects, how and where to treat which areas and what the ideal maintenance is for these pests. Contact us today.

In a nutshell

Forget about outdated home remedies. Get the experts who understand their breeding and living behaviours and know how to get rid of them for good. Getting the professionals will help you to save money and frustration in the long run.