Cockroaches Can Trigger Allergies & Asthma

When cockroaches overtake a particular area, they are likely to contaminate food and food preparation surfaces, destroy certain materials like fabric and paper, and leave unpleasant stains and odors on any surface they come into contact with.

Both American and German cockroaches have been known to spread harmful bacteria which can lead to serious diseases if they come into contact with human habitations. Indeed, they’ve been implicated in the spread of diseases like typhoid, dysentery, food poisoning, and hepatitis. Likewise, large cockroach infestations have occasionally been known to cause allergies and increase the risk of asthma in some people. Most experts agree that the severity of a cockroach infestation can be tied directly to housing disrepair and sanitary conditions.

Controlling a cockroach infestation is a tricky proposition because there’s virtually no end to their hiding places. However, it should be noted that cockroaches are tropical and prefer warm areas that have easy access to water. You can use this information to narrow down the possible hiding places, and then begin to limit their access to food and water.

If cockroaches maintain unlimited access to food, bait traps, which are a primary means of cockroach control, will most likely be ineffective. Likewise, insect repellents and commercially available sprays on their own will not be enough to eliminate an entire infestation. Naturally, knowing which species of cockroach will aid in bringing a swift end to the infestation, as different species of cockroaches have subtly different behavior. This information will allow pest control professionals to place traps, repellents, and insecticides with as much accuracy and effectiveness as possible.

A vital step in eliminating cockroaches from a given area is to maintain a degree of cleanliness and sanitation. Cockroaches will reinvade as long as an area is suitable to them, meaning that as long as an area has enough food and water to support their needs, then will return to a spot they had just been driven away from, despite any previous measures to dispel them.

Various pesticides and sprays are on the market for use against cockroaches, but they are only partly effective and will only temporarily suppress a tenacious cockroach population. Some devices, such as ultrasound-emitting repellents, are patently ineffective and should be avoided. Traps may be effective against smaller populations, but care should be taken to place them where cockroaches will encounter them while foraging. Many pest control professionals recommend placing them at the junctions of floors and walls wherever suspected cockroach activity occurs.

Cantu Pest & Termite is proud to be the first company in Texas to offer a Cantu Green Service to our customers in search of a more prevention-based solution to their pest removal while minimizing the use of pesticides.

If cockroaches or other pests have made unwanted appearances around your home or business, call Cantu Pest & Termite and schedule an appointment today with one of our friendly, experienced cockroach removal experts.