Do you have cockroaches at home, or at your business establishment? If you say yes, then don’t you know that cockroaches bite? And that they’re notorious disease carriers? According to pest control experts, cockroaches are considered to be dangerous because they’re a major allergen source, and a serious asthma trigger. They also carry certain viruses and bacteria which can cause major illnesses, if left on food. So, if you’re looking for innovative and effective cockroach control tips and ideas, as well as a reliable cockroach service Ipswich, and then read on to learn more.
Do Cockroaches Bite?
According to the world Health Organization (WHO), cockroaches are unhygienic scavengers in human settlements. They love feasting on leftover food, whether it’s on tables or on garbage bins and landfills.
And, the same global health agency stresses that cockroaches do bite, but in a different way though. Instead, these critters scratch the person with their heavy leg spines, and since they carry lots of viruses and bacteria, a simple cockroach scratch could potentially become infected.
Cockroaches and Diseases
As mentioned earlier, cockroaches can carry viruses and bacteria even though there’s little evidence linking these critters and specific disease outbreaks. But, according to the environmental protection agency, cockroaches carry bacteria which, if deposited on food, can indeed cause diseases like staphylococcus, streptococcus and salmonella.
The WHO also stresses that cockroaches have been known all throughout history to have been carriers of intestinal diseases like diarrhea, typhoid fever and dysentery, which have killed millions of people worldwide.
And, according to an article published in the journal Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Research in 2012, cockroaches are actually one of the most common sources of indoor allergens, which would spur many homeowners to call the local cockroach service Ipswich.
It’s believed that the enzymes found in the excrement, shedding body parts, saliva and eggs of cockroaches can cause varying degrees of allergic reactions in many individuals. In fact, children are more prone to cockroach allergies than adults.
The national pest management association also says that 63% of homes in the west contain cockroach allergens. That number actually rises to around 78% to 98% in urban area homes.
To effectively deal with cockroach allergy symptoms, your physician may recommend over-the-counter medications like decongestants, antihistamines or nasal corticosteroid sprays. And, to fully eliminate this threat, it would be best to contact a professional cockroach service Ipswich.
The other prescription medications that work best against cockroach allergies also include cromolyn sodium, leukotriene receptor antagonists and desensitization treatments. If you have an asthma, your doctor may also prescribe bronchodilators or anti-inflammatory meds.
How to Effectively Get Rid of Cockroaches
So, how do you try to effectively rid your home or business establishment of nasty, dirty cockroaches? Along with the help of a professional cockroach service Ipswich, you can actually considerably reduce the cockroach population in your home or commercial property, by limiting their access to food, water and shelter.
To do this you will need to do the following steps. These include sealing entry points like cracks in floors and walls. You also need to fix leaky pipes, and keep typically damp areas dry.
You could also use cockroach traps and baits, tightly cover all garbage containers, store food in air-tight containers, clean dirty dishes regularly, clean pet food bowls, and sweep food crumbs from tables, counters, stovetops and floors.
In addition, you also need to wipe up spills quickly, vacuum and mop floors regularly, clean around and under furniture that’s rarely move (at least annually), as well as clear out clutter from storage closets, shelves and drawers.
Other Helpful, Yet Simple, Cockroach Prevention Tips
When it comes to effective cockroach prevention, your strategy should be a two-fold move.
Like, first take away anything which might be drawing these nasty critters into your house or commercial property.
Second, seal off any possible access points to your home or property. You could also use glue traps for cockroaches. Just like glue traps for rodents, these are an effective way to identify roach problem areas, and for resolving any infestations.
The smell of the glue trap lures cockroaches in, and once they step on the strip, the glue effectively traps them. For amazing results, place glue strips in any place where you’ve noticed cockroach activity, including behind the refrigerator, or under the kitchen sink.
Glue traps for cockroaches are effective, safe for kids and pets, as long as the strips are hidden. However, you should monitor the strips for a few days or weeks, as well as change and replace them when they become filled with dead cockroaches.
Now, bait stations are also effective for cockroach control and prevention. Typically, these bait stations come in a long tube, and can be placed anywhere that you may have noticed cockroach activity.
The smell of the cockroach bait attracts these critters who then eat the poison placed on the bait. When the cockroach travels back to its home and dies, the other cockroaches will eat it, passing the poison throughout the group.
Cockroach bait stations are effective and fast-acting. However, these look unattractive around homes, and they can be toxic to kids and pets. These could also leave dead cockroaches around the home, and dead cockroaches could be eaten by birds or even cats, which would sadly poison them too.
You can also caulk all entry points to your home or business establishment. Use caulk to seal all potential gaps, and all possible entry points. Pay close attention to the gaps between walls or tiles, as well as worn-out weather tripping, or gaps in door and window seals.
Caulk is safe, affordable and effective. However, it wears out over time, which means that you need to constantly check and re-check all access points routinely.
Finally, you can also use a liquid concentrate, which you can buy at the local home improvement store. This liquid concentrate is designed to be diluted and sprayed into cracks and crevices where cockroaches like to hide, and thrive. For best results, try working with a professional cockroach service Ipswich when using these tools or equipment.