Roaches: Uncovering Fact vs Fiction

Roaches have a way of sending chills up our spine every time we see one. Why do we often loathe these fearsome creatures? And are they really an insect to be feared?

Our team at Thompson Brothers is here to help separate fact from fiction, help you understand why roaches seek shelter in our home, and how to get rid of them in your home.

Get rid of roaches

First of all, let’s start with a little broader understanding of these stealthy insects.

Roaches: Hardier than Humans

Believe it or not, there are thousands of cockroach species in the world, but only one percent (approximately 30 types) are considered “pests,” including the American, German, Oriental and brown-banded cockroaches.

Roaches have been around since dinosaurs roamed the Earth over 200 million years ago, and there have even been roach fossils found that pre-date dinosaurs!

That fact alone illustrates that roaches are pretty hardy creatures that can withstand the test of time. You may have heard that “cockroaches could withstand a nuclear war,” but this isn’t true. They can, however, withstand up to 10 times more radiation than a human can! Additionally, they can survive for up to a week without water and a month without food. With a healthy supply of food in their system, roaches can live up to 15 months!

All of this is evidence that roaches are hardy little fellas.

The Problem with Roaches

So now that we have a better understanding of roaches, let’s highlight why they are a problem. We’ve established that they have a way of freaking people out in the middle of the night. This is likely because they are nocturnal, can move fast (up to 4 mph), and frankly are sizeable little creatures.

Aside from being somewhat big, fast, and scary (for some), roaches can bring problems into your home including:

• Cockroaches produce a protein that can be hazardous to people, particularly those with asthma.
• They carry bacteria and pathogens that can spread to humans from contact with food or food surfaces. These can cause illnesses such as cholera, dysentery, diarrhea, and even typhoid fever.

Sometimes people are fearful that roaches could bite them. This is extremely unlikely. In very rare cases, a roach in dire need of something to eat may just be looking for something to nibble on.

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What Attracts Roaches?

Roaches are often looking for any source of food. They are not the least bit picky. Roaches will eat anything from plant matter and garbage to crumbs and dead skin cells.

It’s a common myth that roaches enter only “dirty homes.” This is not true. They’ll enter any home that they can access through cracks or crevices, and once there, they will snack on any crumb they can find.

This is why it’s important to make sure all possible entrances and cracks are sealed, and yes…that you keep your kitchen and other food-surface areas as clean as possible.

Call the Professionals at Thompson Brothers

Cockroaches are often very difficult to get rid of with simple home traps or repellents. Because of this, they can reproduce quickly and can get out of control in the blink of an eye.

Our experienced cockroach exterminators at Thompson Brothers can help you identify the problem areas and create a plan using one of our multiple professional methods to help eradicate roaches from your home.

Call us today to learn more about how Thompson Brothers can help with any roach issues in your home.

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