Cockroach Extermination

Providing Cockroach Control Solutions Across Wisconsin, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Iowa

Cockroaches are the kind of creature that would seem more suited for a sci-fi movie than a suburban apartment. It is believed that cockroaches were on this earth over 280 million years ago and their survival skills may allow them to stick around for quite a while longer. They are thigmotropic, meaning they like the feel of something solid against their bodies, preferably on all sides. Roaches purposefully seek out cracks and crevices, allowing them to stay hidden. They can detect approaching threats by shifts in the air current. Once they sense a threat, they can scurry away at speeds up to 80 cm per second and can change direction in full stride.

Cockroaches in your home? Call Spidexx today at 855-925-3550!

Where Did I Get Cockroaches From?

Cockroaches are often blamed on poor housekeeping. Keeping floors, kitchens, and bathrooms clean is an important step in reducing cockroach food sources, however, cockroaches may still get inside for other reasons and cause an infestation. A number of pests can enter a home via infested items brought inside, cracks and gaps in the exterior, drains or sewer pipes, and some species of cockroaches can fly inside when attracted to lights.

What Is the Danger of Cockroaches?

Despite being one of the most common pest problems, cockroaches are also among the most stubborn. The insects hide in many different places, breed quickly, have a very high reproductive potential, and may become resistant to pesticides.

Often, cockroaches contaminate food with E. Coli or Salmonella bacteria, so they shouldn't be ignored. The presence of cockroach feces and dead roach parts can even cause allergies and asthma.

Is it Possible to Get Rid of Cockroaches in a Short Period of Time?

Infestations of cockroaches can take from a few weeks to several months to eliminate. Cockroaches are often resistant to over-the-counter products. Several home extermination methods may not work on these pests because of their adaptability.

What is the Lifecycle of a Cockroach?

Before becoming adults, cockroaches go through egg and nymphal stages. During egg production, female cockroaches produce resilient egg cases called oothecas. Each species of cockroach has a different number of nymphs contained in its oothecae. Likewise, the amount of time it takes for eggs to hatch into nymphs varies between species and depends on environmental factors.

Egg

Egg cases, or oothecae, are produced by female cockroaches. The oothecae contain many eggs, which are enveloped by a protein substance which gradually becomes a strong, protective shell. Some cockroach species drop their egg cases, whereas others carry them until they hatch.

Nymph

Combined pressure caused by the hatchlings within causes cockroach eggs to hatch. The immature form of this cockroach is known as a nymph or baby cockroach after emerging from the egg case. Nymphs are initially bright white in color. By absorbing air, they will grow larger and become harder and darker over time.

During each successive molt, cockroach nymphs turn grayish-brown. It may take a year for a nymph to develop into an adult. Nymphs of cockroaches are similar to their adults. Molting occurs in cockroach nymphs. Following their final molt, they become adults.

Adult

A cockroach reaches adulthood once the nymphal stage is complete. By their size and presence of wings, adults of many species can be distinguished from nymphs. Even adult Madagascar hissing cockroaches lack wings, however.

What is the Best Way to Control Cockroaches?

A cockroach infestation can wreak havoc on your home. Following are some tips for winning the war against cockroaches:

• Entering the Home: From the outside, cockroaches can enter your home through cracks, crevices, vents, sewer and drain pipes. It's even in our grocery bags, boxes, purses, and on our person!
• Ideal Place to Live: Cockroaches breed well in your home, which makes it an ideal breeding ground for them. All year long, they can feed, warm, drink, and build nests.
• Quick Multipliers: The cockroach reproduces rapidly. Many more can hide behind your walls and multiply for every one you see.
• Evasive: The cockroach is nocturnal, so if you see one, you haven't seen them all. There may be fewer cockroaches during the day because they were forced out by overcrowding, a sign of a severe infestation.
• Side Effects: Asthma and allergies can be aggravated by the debris created by cast-off cockroach skins, dead bodies, and droppings, especially in children.
• DIY Effectiveness: The do-it-yourself method is ineffective: Cockroaches are better at hiding than you are at finding them, and their eggs are naturally protected from most over-the-counter insecticides. Cockroach control can be challenging without the right equipment, materials, and know-how.

As if all of that was not enough to ensure their survival, they can live for weeks without their head. This is mostly due to the fact that they have an open circulatory system. Basically, as long as the wound is able to clot normally, they will not bleed out. They will die a few weeks after losing their head from dehydration more than likely. They are the epitome of a scavenger, eating anything from soap to grease to wall paper paste to leather to book bindings. They’ll even eat hair. A cockroach infestation is nearly impossible to eradicate without the use of a pest control expert.