Having cockroaches in and around your business can cause a series of problems. Most of all the potential diseases they may carry and the filth associated with them, but also the reputation hit they will cause. So, while you may not really care which cockroach you have, it’s important for you and your pest control provider to know. Not only do treatment methods vary according to the type of cockroach you may have, but the problems they cause vary, too. We have the expert knowledge you need about the cockroaches in our area:
American Cockroaches
Problems American Cockroaches Cause:
American cockroaches tend to hang around in filthy places, picking up germs and bacteria on their legs and bodies as they crawl through decaying matter or sewage. When this particular species of cockroach steps foot in your business, the bacteria and germs they bring with them can cause disease and contamination in your food. Their fecal matter can trigger allergies and asthma and can contaminate your air if not cleaned up correctly. A serious infestation can also produce an unpleasant odor that can emanate throughout your entire business.
How to Get Rid of American Cockroaches:
Unfortunately, roaches will seek out food sources wherever they can find them. Despite your best efforts to keep your business break room or kitchenette spotless, these resilient pests will make do with just about anything to eat. In fact, they have been known to feast on cardboard, wallpaper paste, book bindings, grease, leather, soap, and even human hair. They can often be found hiding out in stacks of cardboard, garages and storage areas, books that you’ve stored away for extended periods of time, and even behind pictures that have been hanging on the walls. But there are some things you can do:
- Have your cleaning crew remove standing water from buckets and sinks to keep from attracting thirsty cockroaches.
- Clean up any food left on tables, kitchen counters, and desks, and don’t leave dirty dishes out overnight – even in the sink.
- Cockroaches only need small amounts of food for a meal, so any crumbs, powders, or liquids are fair game.
- While they can get in easily and survive just as easily, sanitizing and disinfecting often can help encourage them to move along.
Oriental Cockroaches
Problems Oriental Cockroaches Cause:
Often called “water bugs,” Oriental cockroaches eat various types of organic matter but prefer starch (e.g., book glue, decaying vegetable matter, grain products). All cockroaches are filthy, but Oriental cockroaches are the most disgusting. They transmit bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella, taint food with pathogens, and excrete foul odors. Disease-producing organisms such as bacteria, protozoa, and viruses have been found in their bodies. Different forms of gastroenteritis (food poisoning, dysentery, diarrhea, etc.) are the principal diseases transmitted by Oriental cockroaches. The insects carry these disease-causing organisms on their legs and bodies and deposit the organisms on any surface they contact. Although they are most commonly found near plumbing, foundations or exteriors, they do emerge into occupied spaces such as warehouses or basement workshops. They may create a foul odor with their presence which is particularly unpleasant for those exposed to it.
How to Get Rid of Oriental Cockroaches:
Oriental cockroaches can hitchhike into your business on packages and deliveries, squeeze through cracks, and, of course, walk right in through a propped open door. But there are things you can do make your business less appealing to them.
- Practice good sanitation including discarding food waste and empty food packaging and vacuuming often.
- Consider using a dehumidifier to prevent moisture buildup.
- Seal all possible entry points with a silicone-based caulk, paying close attention to cracks around doors, windows, pipes, and utility lines.
- Close expansion joints where slab floors meet interior walls with appropriate materials.
- Fortify all entrances around utility pipes and ventilate crawl spaces to prevent moisture buildup.
- Since oriental cockroaches are very dependent on water, eliminate sources of standing water and divert water away from your building’s exterior foundation with properly functioning downspouts, gutters, and splash blocks.
- Remove dead leaves and other refuse from exterior foundations to deny these roaches habitat.
German Cockroaches
Problems German Cockroaches Cause:
German cockroaches are more than just a nuisance. They have been known to spread at least 33 kinds of bacteria, 7 kinds of human pathogens, and 6 kinds of parasitic worms. As they walk, they pick up disease organisms from decaying matter on the spines of their legs and bodies, transferring them onto food, countertops, cabinets, and anywhere else they walk. German cockroaches produce odorous secretions that can affect the flavor of various foods. When cockroach populations are high, these secretions may result in a characteristic “sour” odor in the general region of the infestation. Disease-producing organisms such as bacteria, protozoans, and viruses have been found on cockroach bodies. They can also multiply very quickly.
How to Get Rid of German Cockroaches:
The best advice for German cockroach control is to practice good sanitation. But since these pests tend to congregate where food waste and organic matter tends to build up, there are other ways to prevent them.
- Have bioremediation services done, which will take care of the organic matter they love in commercial drains, around grease traps, on grout, and under heavy equipment.
- Maintain a clean kitchen by cleaning up crumbs, wiping spills, and vacuuming often.
- Avoid allowing dirty dishes to pile up in the sink, even if you’ve rinsed them.
- Seal all entrances to your business, especially around utility pipes to prevent cockroach entry, and ventilate crawl spaces to prevent moisture buildup.
All cockroaches are dirty, and all cockroaches spread disease. So, while there may be some tips for preventing German cockroaches that won’t work for American ones, it’s best to have a good prevention plan in place that will help with a lot of pests – not just cockroaches.
Cockroach & Other Pest Prevention Tips
It’s best to implement an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program to help eliminate conditions that attract roaches and other pests. Some strategies that will help are:
- Make sure all outdoor trash bins have the lids tightly sealed.
- Remove garbage and spoiled foods from your premises.
- Keep nearby areas clean by regularly emptying trash and recycling bins.
- Don’t let waste, grass clippings or any organic material accumulate near your building.
- Clean drainpipes frequently with a bristle brush.
- Eliminate sources of pooling water to cut down on breeding sites.
- Apply caulk to cracks around windows and doors and ensure screens fit properly.
- Clean up spills immediately.
- Be sure to take food out of cardboard boxes and store it in airtight containers.
- Sanitize storage and food preparation areas.
- Chemical and probiotic-type cleaners could be useful for certain equipment, cracks and crevices, or drain cleaning.
- Keep food, produce in particular, covered and sealed.
- Clean behind appliances to eliminate potential food sources.
- Seal off small hiding spaces like wall cracks and holes in cabinets and furniture.
Roaches are most active at night. While your doors are closed and the lights are out, cockroaches could be wreaking havoc in your business. Roaches contaminate surfaces, infect food supplies, and quickly multiply. So, implementing these preventative measures, no matter what kind of cockroach you’re worried about, will help. Many of these strategies will also help with ants, rodents, flies, and more! Remember, though, proper identification is always necessary. If you’ve got German cockroaches and you think they’re American cockroaches and therefore aren’t cleaning your drains where German ones live… the problem will only get worse. The best way to deal with cockroaches is with proactive prevention strategies, bringing in an expert for proper identification, and having a professional pest control company help with cockroach control.
