You’ve tried everything to get your roach problem under control, but nothing seems to work. It’s frustrating, but it’s not your fault. After all, cockroaches have evolved to resist even the most drastic measures against them. Shouldn’t there be a way to get roaches out of your Alexandria home?
About Roaches In Alexandria
Virginia is an ideal habitat for lots of different types of cockroaches. While some of these species prefer life in the great outdoors, some would much rather take shelter indoors. Commonly encountered cockroaches in Alexandria include:
- American cockroaches – The largest of the cockroaches found in the U.S., American cockroaches can grow to two inches or more in size, have a reddish-brown color, and a distinct figure-eight pattern on the back of the head. Just one American cockroach can lay up to 300 eggs in its lifetime.
- German cockroaches – One of the smallest cockroaches to infest Alexandria homes, German cockroaches can be as small as 1/2 inch in size. They are light brown with two dark stripes on their back. These pests will eat virtually anything, including soap and hair!
- Oriental cockroaches - These roaches grow between 1 and 2 inches long and are shiny black or dark brown. Oriental cockroaches prefer feeding on decaying materials over other food sources. Large infestations may trigger asthma in some cases.
How Bad Are Cockroaches?
Most folks know that cockroaches are gross, but not many realize exactly how dangerous roaches can be. Cockroaches are attracted to some of the vilest environments imaginable, from heaps of trash to sewers and toilet bowls. They are known to feed on animal waste and all sorts of rotten food, which is why exactly why roaches are so dangerous.
Cockroaches are known to spread all sorts of diseases, including dysentery, salmonellosis, and gastroenteritis — not to mention parasites like hookworm. As cockroaches travel, they can contaminate your home with these harmful pathogens.
Roaches can also be destructive, eating up clothing, books, and other personal belongings. They may also ruin walls and floors with greasy stains. In some instances, cockroaches have been known to cause allergies, resulting in asthma and eczema.
Why Are Cockroaches So Hard To Get Rid Of?
Cockroaches have had millions of years to develop their survival strategy. These pests are uniquely designed to slip in and out of tight spaces to avoid predators and even have a uniquely crush-resistant shape to prevent them from being squished. Additionally, cockroaches can go for a month or longer without food and may resort to eating some truly unappetizing things to survive.
Roaches are excellent at hiding and are generally careful not to be spotted in the open, preferring to feed and breed in the dark of night. If you see a roach or two in your home, there are likely dozens more where you can’t see.
But mostly, cockroaches are difficult to get rid of because they reproduce at a rapid rate. Female roaches can lay 40 eggs or more at a time, which can develop into adults in as little as 50 days under ideal conditions (though most take 100 days or more.) And since roaches can live for up to a year, that’s a lot of eggs to be laid.
If you’re tired of cockroaches infesting your Alexandria home, trust the experts at Matar Termite & Pest Control to help. We offer comprehensive residential pest control services for homes like yours. Using an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach, we’ll eliminate the roaches you have and help to correct the factors that lead to an infestation. Contact us today for more information.