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Learn More About American Cockroaches

American cockroaches are the most common complaint among homeowners, renters, and business owners. Cockroaches even make appearances on a Yelp review or two. Roaches are creepy, crunchy insects that scurry around your home when you aren’t looking for them. The American cockroach won’t bite or sting, but they present a health hazard in your home. Does your home have cockroaches? Get to know the American cockroach!

image of a roach

What Do American Cockroaches Look Like?

The American cockroach (periplaneta Americana), also called a water bug, is a brown or rust color with a distinct yellow band that outlines the area behind their heads. Typically, the male is smaller than the female. Full-grown roaches can get up to 3 inches long.

How Many Eggs Do American Cockroaches Lay?

When a female reproduces, she can lay up to 16 eggs in a single capsule. When the female American roach lays her egg capsule, she creates a protective barrier around the eggs to keep them safe. A female roach will leave her eggs in dark and protected areas, such as in your basement, attic, shed, cupboards, or behind doors. 

It takes only 5 months for a hatched nymph to become a fully grown adult roach. When this happens, they grow wings that allow them to fly, and they can begin to reproduce.

Where Do American Cockroaches Infest?

American roaches infest homes in the least obvious spaces and prefer to live where shelter is warm and moist. This is one of the reasons for the water-bug nickname; they like drains, laundry rooms, and other wet areas. Your basement, under your cupboards, in your bathroom, under your sink, and in your tub are ideal places for the American roach to settle down and start a family.

What Do American Cockroaches Eat?

The answer to that is: what is lying around that day. American cockroaches are opportunistic feeders will eat any crumbs and morsels on your kitchen floor, in your game room, open in your basement, and in your pantry. Wherever you have food and a water source, you can find the American cockroach.

When American cockroaches are found living outside, they feed on natural food such as algae, fungi, and leaves. When they invade your home, they will eat any food they find on the floor or uncovered in cupboard and pantries. This includes pet food and bird food, as well.

Are American Cockroaches Dangerous?

While the complete control of Asian tiger mosquitoes is not possible, seasonal mosquito control methods can reduce your risk for infestation and illness. Mosquito solutions include monthly treatments through the most active months for mosquitoes, from April to September. Depending on the weather, however, treatment must be extended earlier or later in the season. The professional mosquito treatments from Innovative Pest Control include fogging around your home, plants, grassy areas, and wooded areas where mosquitoes are likely to breed and rest during the day. They also include treating stagnant water to curb the breeding on the property. To find out more about Innovative Pest Control’s mosquito control program, call now!

Can Innovative Pest Control Eliminate American Cockroaches?

Yes. If you have a roach infestation in your Texas home, you need professional services to get rid of American cockroaches in your home and business for good. A licensed and trained professional will look for signs of a roach infestation, identify the ways in which roaches are entering your home, and provide you with a plan to get rid of roaches. They are also equipped with the expertise to control American roaches so you don’t face a costly infestation in the future. For professional home pest control plans or commercial pest control in East Texas, reach out to us to schedule an appointment!

How to Prevent American Cockroaches 

You play a big role in prevention cockroaches from invading your home.

  • Clean your home often, removing crumbs from the floors and cupboards.
  • Vacuum your home daily, and make sure you get in the deep dark places.
  • Control the moisture in your basement, attic, bathrooms, laundry room, and kitchen.
  • Fix weather-stripping around your home and seal your windows and doors.
  • Fix any damaged windows in your basement.
  • Seal any gaps around your garage door.
  • Remove yard debris from the outside of your home.

Call the technicians at Innovative Pest Control for more prevention and control tips, and to get rid of American cockroaches in your home.

image of a roach and tomatoes

Get Started Today For a Pest-Free Tomorrow

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