Next to ants and rodents, cockroaches are among the most common pests in households and commercial establishments. Their presence is not simply a nuisance—roaches are also known to carry many common diseases and cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. In particular, cockroaches can transmit salmonella and E. coli from one food source to another. A single cockroach can also produce up to 300 eggs in its lifetime. For this reason, cockroach pest control is something every home or business must consider to maintain a safe, clean and healthy living environment.
What are cockroaches?
Cockroaches are invasive pests with flat, oval-shaped bodies and six legs covered with soft spines. They come in various colors ranging from black, brown, reddish-brown, and light brown. They have a long antenna, usually of the same length as their bodies. Cockroaches may or may not have wings, but those that have them aren’t really great fliers. Cockroaches have a three-stage life cycle: egg, nymph, and adult. Nymphs and adults look similar, although nymphs are wingless and generally smaller in size.
Cockroaches are among the hardiest house pests. You will need professional cockroach pest control if you have a roach infestation.
Cockroaches can be found infesting everything from homes, offices, and restaurants to warehouses, cargo trucks, and even ships and airplanes. They can be introduced in cardboard boxes, cargo or luggage, food items, and even appliances. They usually hide in cracks and crevices and will contaminate and destroy stored food products. Cockroaches constantly search for food, water, and shelter, so removing all possible food sources or keeping these inaccessible to roaches and other pests is vital.
Are There Cockroaches in Oregon?
The quick answer is YES, there are cockroaches in Oregon. In fact, there are two cockroach species prevalent in the state: the German Cockroach and the Oriental Cockroach. German cockroaches are more common since they’re often found indoors while Oriental cockroaches prefer outdoor living environments.
GERMAN COCKROACH
German cockroaches measure around ⅛ of an inch when they hatch and grow to ½ – ⅝ inches long when full-grown. They are tan in color, with longitudinal stripes running along their back. Adults have wings that they use to break a fall, but not so much to move around. Rather, they are very fast runners and dart easily across their environment. Their antennae are relatively long and serve as powerful sensory devices for evaluating their environment, finding food, and receiving messages from other roaches.
German cockroaches are usually found living and breeding indoors. They prefer a warm, humid space with food and water nearby. They typically first appear in the bathroom and kitchen, but since they spend about 80 percent of their time in wall cracks and voids, infestations are almost always larger than they appear.
ORIENTAL COCKROACH
Oriental cockroaches are another cockroach species found in Oregon. However, you’ll see less of them compared to the German cockroach because they prefer the outdoors, living mostly on decaying vegetation. They measure around 1 to 1 ¼ inches and are much darker in color, usually dark brown and sometimes almost black. Males have wings while females don’t; however, males don’t really fly but rather simply flutter around.
Sometimes, Oriental cockroaches can infest homes, especially when the exterior population gets high. They will wander inside under doors, through vents, and crawl spaces. They like damp areas so basements are mong their favorite spots. They can also be found around sump pumps and water collection systems. Condensation in walls or around air ducts may also create the damp environment that they prefer.
Are cockroaches in Oregon dangerous?
Cockroaches are considered dangerous insects as they are responsible for causing a variety of bacteria, diseases, and health problems for people. And though cockroaches rarely bite humans, in cases of large infestations, bites may occur. Some of the diseases and infections that cockroaches are known to spread include:
The feces, saliva, and shed skins of cockroaches can also trigger allergies and asthma attacks, especially in young children and the elderly. And when they invade, cockroaches contaminate food sources, food prep areas, utensils, bowls, plates, and other surfaces within residential and commercial properties by leaving their saliva and excrement behind.
Why do I have cockroaches in my Beaverton home?
Most cockroaches are attracted to dark, damp, warm environments that offer them easy access to food and water sources. Our weather in Beaverton easily provides all these. Some common attractants for cockroaches on our properties include leaky pipes or fixtures, open containers of trash, garden areas, pet food bowls, and other animal feeds.
Once on your property, cockroaches will often find their way inside your home or business through openings found in its exterior. These pests are also commonly brought indoors inside boxes and packages, on potted plants or used appliances, inside electronics, or inside used furniture or rugs.
Should I be concerned about a cockroach infestation?
Roaches enter homes in search of food, water, and shelter. Once they have infested an area, they can multiply quickly, posing a threat to your comfort and health. It is important to get rid of cockroaches before an infestation occurs. Roaches are known to carry bacteria that can result in food poisoning, diarrhea, allergies, and skin rashes. In large numbers, they can also produce a foul odor.
Cockroaches will never stop trying to get into your home for food, water, and shelter. And since they’re nocturnal creatures adept at hiding, a roach infestation can get out of hand before you ever realize cockroaches are in your home.
How do I get rid of cockroaches?
A multi-step approach is required to get rid of cockroaches permanently:
- Prevention. This is the single most important step to keeping cockroaches away from your home. Inspecting all incoming items for cockroaches and egg cases will help reduce the occurrence of possible infestations.
- Proper sanitation. A clean environment is key to pest prevention and is extremely important because it reduces the potential food sources and harborages cockroaches are typically attracted to.
- Removal and disposal of infested items. This is typically the single most expensive step of the control process, but also one of the most important. Cockroach droppings carry bacteria, stains, and odor—their scent trails also attract other cockroach populations so it is vital to get rid of anything that has been infested.
- Appropriate treatment. A few cockroaches here and there can be dealt with using roach control products. However, if they keep coming back, you might need a trained and licensed pest control expert to address an infestation and eliminate remaining cockroaches.
- Maintenance. Follow-up treatments are often necessary to ensure the prevention of future infestations due to newly introduced cockroaches.
Due to the size and aggressive nature of cockroach infestations, roach control is generally best left to pest control professionals. Service technicians use a combination of treatment methods that include spray treatment of cracks and crevices, as well as dusting and the use of cockroach baits. Several non-chemical techniques may also be utilized including vacuum removal and monitoring of populations with glue traps or other devices. Homeowners attempting cockroach control with over-the-counter products are often met with frustration at the growing infestation and soon end up calling pest control services.
Cockroach Pest Control Beaverton
To eliminate cockroaches in your home, office, or business, it is best to partner with a pest control company like Ant & Garden Organic Pest Control. With more than 20 years of experience to back us up, we are Beaverton’s leading local provider of natural, organic, and eco-friendly pest control services that are safe for your family and pets.
Pests will never stop trying to get into your home and Ant & Garden Organic Pest Control never stops working to keep them out. We provide year-round protection against a wide variety of invasive pests including ants, spiders, cockroaches, and rodents. All our services come with a 100% No-Pest-Guarantee. If pests do come back, so will we at no additional cost to you.
To learn more about getting rid of cockroaches in your Beaverton home, contact us today for a FREE consultation.
