Cockroaches. Even the word is enough to make you shudder. They’re some of the most scream-inducing, shudder-worthy pests of all time, and are feared and found repulsive by people all around the world.
The US, unfortunately, is a hotspot for cockroaches, and there are five very common types of roaches in Missouri and Kansas, which are likely to invade your home, and will be the cause of all your roach problems.
What species of cockroach am I likely to find in my home?
There are five common types of roaches in Missouri and Kansas. These are: the Oriental cockroach, the American cockroach, the Brown-banded cockroach, the German cockroach and the Wood cockroach.
Do the cockroaches in Missouri and Kansas fly?
Unfortunately, there are three types of roaches in Missouri and Kansas which can fly. Species of flying roaches in Missouri and Kansas include: the German cockroach and the American cockroach, while just the male of the Wood cockroach species can fly (the females’ wings are too short to support their weight for any significant distance).
The fact that there are flying type roaches in Missouri and Kansas means that they’re more likely to be able to gain entry into your home, than if they were of the wingless variety. Moreover, if you have lights around your doors which turn on at night, this will specifically attract the flying roach species to your home.
How big are the cockroaches in Missouri and Kansas?
Depending on the species, the length of roaches in Missouri and Kansas ranges from a mere half an inch long, in the case of the brown-banded cockroach, to a whopping 1- to 1.5-inch body of the American cockroach, which is also the largest type of cockroach you’ll find in any North American home.
Where are you likely to find cockroaches?
Cockroaches have three criteria which they use to decide where they inhabit. Namely: moisture, darkness, and the presence of food (in cockroach terms: they’ll eat pretty much anything). This means that anywhere damp, dark, or where food may have been left out, or where crumbs haven’t been cleaned away, is likely to attract the little critters, and encourage them to settle in your home. If you have a cockroach infestation, you’re therefore likely to find them:
- behind appliances
- in/behind cupboards
- in/around pipes
- underneath cupboards or appliances etc.
- crawling out of drains.
Can the roaches in Missouri and Kansas bite?
Cockroaches don’t typically bite. However, if you notice marks on your skin that appear after making contact with a cockroach, this might be due to the spines on the cockroaches’ legs, which are spiky and can leave scratches on your skin.
Do the roaches in Missouri and Kansas pose a danger to your health?
Yes. While cockroaches don’t bite, and only occasionally leave scratches on your skin, they are incredibly unhygienic insects. This is, in part, due to their wide-ranging diet, since cockroaches will land and feed on most things, including waste and rot. Therefore, when cockroaches make contact with your skin, or come into contact with surfaces involved in food preparation etc. they leave a nasty trail of germs which can contaminate your food, or can be transferred directly into your mouth by your hands, if you don’t wash them, which can make you ill. Therefore, if you think you might have a cockroach infestation, you should look into having the infestation dealt with as soon as possible, and take extra care to disinfect your surfaces.
Are they a danger to my pets?
As well as being a danger to human health, cockroaches also put your pets’ health at risk. In fact, you could argue that your pets are in more danger of falling ill as a result of the disease-carrying cockroach. This is because people tend to put their food away in containers, cupboards, fridges and freezers, and our food is, therefore, less likely to be contaminated by the invading cockroaches than your pets’ food, which is more likely to be left exposed. Moreover, cockroaches are more likely to scratch your pets since they may have more difficulty battling the bugs away.
So, if you think you might have a cockroach infestation- whether they’re flying roaches or wingless roaches in your home in Missouri or Kansas –then you should learn more about our cockroach control services and contact us to carry out an assessment of your home. While they don’t typically bite (and don’t really mean to do you harm), they carry diseases on their bodies which can be transferred onto your food, or your skin, and can make you, your pets or your children ill. If you see cockroaches in your home call us immediately.