If you've glimpsed a roach in your house, just know that it is probably not alone. Seeing one cockroach doesn't necessarily mean an infestation, but is usually an indication of a bigger problem.
Because we've already covered some other types of roaches on the blog recently, we're going to focus our energy on this guy: The Brown-Banded Cockroach. Keep in mind, however, that a lot of what we discuss in this article (with the exception of the specific description) pertains not just to this nasty pest, but to all varieties of roaches that we get here in Central Virginia, including the German Roach, American Roach, Oriental Roach and Wood Roach.
Let's first talk about identifying a Brown-Banded Roach and then we'll get into the most important parts: if they are harmful and how to get rid of them.
What Do Brown-Banded Roaches Look Like?
As you can guess from their name, brown-banded roaches are: brown and look like roaches.
Specifically, they've got two light brown bands across a darker brown body. They have the typical short, wide oval body of a roach with six legs, two antennae and wings. Brown banded cockroaches are relatively small, only getting to be about a half inch in length.
These cockroaches need less water than some other local species, which means they may choose to live in wider areas of your homes, rather than sticking to basements or kitchens. They avoid light and also prefer warmer temperatures, thriving in the high 70°F to low 90°F ranges, so they enjoy dark, warm places (such as under your bed). Because of their reduced need for water, preference for warmer temperatures, and small size, you'll be more likely to find these cockroaches in areas like upper cabinets, in and around electronics (like appliance motors), and inside furniture.
These pests can live for the better part of the year, with females laying around a dozen eggs in a capsule about every two weeks. This allows for extensive population increases in a short period of time. Meaning that if you've seen one, you've likely got a lot more coming.
Are Brown-Banded Roaches Harmful?
As with all roaches, this variety carries multiple diseases, pathogens, allergens, and parasites. As they crawl around your trash and sewage, then around your house, furniture, and on your food, they will leave behind traces of these harmful and sometimes dangerous health issues. Additionally, having an infestation of brown-banded roaches can trigger mild-to-severe allergies and cause asthma attacks, particularly in children.
Additionally, roaches can cause damage to clothing, furniture, curtains, and anything else with fabric coverings; as well as other personal belongings - and most especially food items.
How Do I Get Rid of Roaches
Cockroaches are notoriously hard to kill. In addition to their tough exoskeletons, quick reflexes, and extreme adaptability, roaches have a lot else going for them in the durability game. "They can regrow lost legs. They make their own antibiotics. And they have an almost supernatural sense of smell." (NBC News) Roaches can reproduce quickly, adapt and survive in extreme environments, and have a wide diet.
Roaches also have natural detoxification, which means they can withstand certain poisons and toxins. Because of this, natural remedies are insufficient and even many DIY chemicals that you can buy yourself at the store are ineffective on their own against these ridiculously resilient pests.
Squashing them is difficult and taking limbs off isn't enough to kill. Spraying for them on your own may yield no result and simply delay getting on top of the infestation, allowing it time to grow. The best thing for roaches is a professional pest control company that uses the mostly safe, effective, and approved products commercially available.
Because it's always easier to stop a problem before it takes hold, maintaining a year-round pest control barrier is the best way to protect your home and family. Remember, these creatures handle the winter temperatures just fine but would prefer to be in your house. They won't die off, they'll just try even hard to come inside.
We have all the tools you need to help you keep roaches from infesting your living spaces, or help you eradicate them if you're already glimpsing them on your property. Call us today, we'd love to help!
For even more information on roaches, check out our last blog post on roaches.
To learn more about other pests we have in the Richmond area, look at our pest library.
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