Roaches – the Over Nighters
Roaches have always plagued homes. People tend to think that if they see one roach then there really isn’t a problem and no need to call an exterminator to get rid of them.
Unfortunately 1 roach may be a warning that more are lurking nearby. Because they are nocturnal you’ll rarely see a roach during the day. A simple test to see if you have roaches is walking into the kitchen late at night and turning the light on. Most often, if there is a roach infestation in your home, once the light is turned on you will see roaches scattering everywhere. Leaving you to wonder if they all produced over night and what will the next day bring?
The three common roaches in our area are the German and American roach which live up to a year and the Oriental roach which lives 1 to 6 months.
During their short lives:
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1 female German cockroach in a years time can produce 300-400 offspring.
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1 female American cockroach in a years time can produce 150 offspring.
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1 female Oriental cockroach can produce as much as 288 offspring in a 6 month period.
Of course these offspring are maturing and reproducing as well, increasing the population at an alarming rate.
Another sign of a roach infestation is the odor that you and others will notice when entering your home. The smell is described as oily and musky. Not an odor that can easily be masked by air fresheners from your local store.
Letting a roach infestation go without seeking professional services will only make matters worse. They can make the cleanest of homes look unsightly. They carry diseases which can cause health issues to you and your family and while you are asleep they are walking across your dishes, pots and pans, appliances and countertops on their nightly run searching for food and water.