Sep 9, 2015 | Going Green, Pest Control
Roaches are often a source of confusion for a lot of homeowners. Where are they coming from? Why do I have them? Does it mean my house isn’t clean? How do I get rid of them and how do I prevent them? The answers to these questions largely depend on what kind of roaches you’re seeing. If you’re seeing large roaches, infrequently and at this time of the year, it’s most likely in the American Cockroach family. A more severe infestation is usually characterized by smaller roaches, seen frequently, usually in kitchens but often throughout the house in more severe cases. These roaches, German Cockroaches, are much harder to get rid of and often require a professional, monthly treatment by an exterminator. Find out more on German cockroach infestations here. For more on American roach prevention, keep reading.
It’s likely that you’re seeing these large roaches due to the changing of seasons, the abundance of rain, or from providing a food source to roaches, attracting them to your home. The good news: American cockroaches are easy to get rid of and prevent if the right pest control approach is taken.
Here are 5 things you can do at home to get rid of roaches and prevent them from coming back:
1. Keep floors clean – sweep, vacuum and mop often.
2. Don’t leave food out. Keep counter tops, floors, stovetops, & microwaves clean of debris and seal any leftover food in containers, including pet food.
3. Take out the trash. Leaving garbage in and around your home will definitely attract all kinds of roaches. Take it out often and keep it away from your home’s exterior.
4. Seal gaps, holes, cracks and crevices. If you’re not sure how to find these, contact your local pest control company. A professional will inspect your home and identify & correct potential entry points.
5. Treat. In order to get rid of existing roach infestations, an eco-friendly pest control treatment is recommended, consisting of interior and exterior applications – targeted for American roach elimination – and an ongoing prevention program which usually involves quarterly exterior treatments.
Request a Free Pest Control Quote
For more on roach pest control in your area, click on the links below.
Atlanta Roach Control
Savannah Roach Control
Nashville Roach Control
Chattanooga Roach Control
Apr 29, 2014 | Uncategorized
Could Roaches Be Used to Cure Human Diseases?
Cockroaches serve no other purpose than to gross us out, right? Not anymore! New research was conducted using roaches as a guinea pig for new technology. Scientists injected the roaches with nanobots, tiny robots that can be programed to carry out a task. This is the first step towards using nanobots to help cure human diseases sometime in the future. The nanobots were labeled with a fluorescent marker so they would glow to let the researchers track their progress, and they performed exactly as they should. The nanobots look like DNA, which is how it was injected into the roaches, and then it unfolded and moved to the target area as programmed.
Advances in modern science and medicine aside, roaches are still high on the gross out meter for most people.
Does this new science help your roach “gross out meter”?
Katherine King
[email protected]
Apr 29, 2013 | Pest Control
Now that it’s pollen season, many people are suffering sneezing, coughing and discomfort due to an allergy to different pollen types. Though many people know that this triggers allergies within them, they may not know that various household pests can also contribute to allergies. Additionally, those who have asthma may suffer to pests such as cockroaches or mice being in home because these pests can spread strong asthma triggers.
PestWorld.org provides facts about pests and asthma, as well as a ‘First Responder PSA’ that highlights the risk that household pests can put us at when we are indoors. For instance, 63% of American homes contain allergens from cockroaches, but if the home is located in an urban area, it can even reach 98%! Additionally, mice can spread asthma triggers found in 82% of homes. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, patients with cockroach allergies develop acute asthma attacks after inhaling cockroach allergens. Allergens can come from not only the actual body of the pest, but also its saliva and feces.
If you are experiencing minor symptoms such as, the AAFA recommends the use of antihistamines, decongestants and anti-inflammatory medications. An effective means to reduce the chance of exposure to pest allergens is using regular treatment through a pest control company. Northwest Exterminating offers services that eliminates and reduces the occurrence of a wide array of household pests including mice and cockroaches.
Sources:
http://www.pestworld.org/multimedia-center/first-responder-psa/
http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=9&sub=22&cont=312
Feb 20, 2013 | Uncategorized
Also known as Palmetto Bugs or Waterbugs, American Cockroaches are the largest cockroach in the U.S. American Cockroaches are considered one of the fastest running insects; they often dart out of sight when someone enters a room, and can fit into small spaces despite their large size. They have been known to fly, but it’s rare.
Identification
- Reddish brown in color and have a yellowish pattern on the back of their head
- 1.5 to 2 inches in length
- Oval
Environment
- Usually lives in dark, damp areas such as sewers, storm drains, steam tunnels, and outdoors in landscaping and tree holes
- Prefer warm, dark, humid environments in homes such as wall voids, crawl spaces, basements, utility rooms, or attics
- Typically feed on decaying organic matter and a variety of other foods
- Also commonly found in larger commercial buildings such as restaurants, grocery stores, food processing plants, and hospitals
- Infest food storage and food preparation areas
Threats
- Have been known to spread up to 33 kinds of bacteria, 6 kinds of parasitic worms, and at least 7 other kinds of human pathogens
- Carry germs from decaying matter or sewage onto food or food surfaces
- Not common in homes
- May move indoors during colder months seeking warmer temperatures and food through openings in the foundation
Treatment
- Vacuum often
- Keep food in tightly sealed containers
- Take out garbage often. Dispose of garbage in tightly sealed bags in a tightly secured container outside of the home
- Seal off cracks and crevices that can be used as entrances into your home
- Granular bait formulations in attics and crawl spaces
- Dust in attic and crawl spaces
- Perimeter spray treatments
- Perimeter granular bait treatments
If you spot evidence of cockroaches call a licensed pest professional like Northwest Exterminating as soon as possible. American cockroaches can lay 10 or more egg cases, each containing 14-16 eggs. You don’t want this infestation to get out of hand.
Feb 8, 2013 | Uncategorized
Our pest of the month for February is the roach. Sometimes it may seem like no matter what you use against them, whether it is insect repellant or the closest cleaning solution you can find, nothing keeps a roach down! Some claims even say that a nuclear explosion couldn’t even take roaches out. Though we don’t profess to have products stronger than something nuclear physicists can whip up, we do manage to handle roaches and other pests with our natural, green products.
So that leaves the question, are roaches truly capable of surviving nuclear explosions? The answer is – possibly! According to MythBusters, 10 percent of cockroaches exposed to the amount of radioactive gamma rays equivalent to the bomb at Hiroshima survived after exposure. It may be due to their simple bodies and slower cell cycles. Roaches lose their cells about once a week at most whereas some human cells constantly split up. However, just like all other life forms, if the radiation was great enough, roaches would not be able to survive.
As stated earlier, Northwest Exterminating has environmentally friendly products that handle your pest control needs. You don’t have to worry about exposure to harmful chemicals as we treat your home for pests. If you have a pest problem, we’ve got the solution! Call Northwest today.
Melissa Brown
[email protected]
Source:
http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/mythbusters-database/cockroaches-survive-nuclear-explosion.htm
