Yikes... German Cockroaches Have Invaded

The day is finally here! You have planned your open house for quite some time and everything is in place. The house looks great, the food preparation is almost complete, and the guest list has been checked. They will begin arriving in just a couple hours. And then your world comes crashing in. A guest arrived way too early and to top it off, it was an uninvited guest—a German cockroach! What do you do? You would be absolutely mortified if one of those light brown bugs with the 2 black stripes behind the head comes scurrying across the kitchen counter! The ½ inch long body and color is a dead giveaway that a dreaded, disgusting cockroach is in your kitchen or place of business!

German cockroaches are widespread throughout much of the United States and Montgomery County is no exception. More than likely, you may have transported it in with your groceries. It could have been hidden inside a paper bag or in a bag of potatoes. There are multiple ways it could have arrived, but regardless of how it got there, cockroaches are bad news for homes and commercial establishments alike.

Cockroaches are scavengers and will feed on almost any type of food available. They will also eat into the binding of books, chew on your bar of soap, and even climb up your toothbrush and lick at the toothpaste. Another problem with a cockroach showing up at your place of business or home is that they are extremely quick reproducers. A female German cockroach only needs to mate one time. She will then produce anywhere from 4 to 6 cases of eggs with each egg case containing approximately 40 eggs. As you can see, it doesn’t take long for an infestation to break out.

Montgomery County homeowners and business owners should also be aware that there are many health risks to which people are exposed through cockroaches. Many allergens are found in the feces, saliva, and body parts of German cockroaches. This triggers asthma attacks and allergic reactions in people, especially in children.

German cockroaches are also known to transport microbes on their body. This includes pathogens that can be potentially dangerous, compromising the health of people. According to the National Pest Management Association, there are as many as 33 kinds of bacteria, several parasitic worms, and more than 7 other type of human pathogens to which one can be exposed. Some of these include E. coli, Salmonella, and many other forms of gastroenteritis.

In the event that these dreaded roaches find a way into your place of business or home, Montgomery County residents should contact American Pest. German cockroaches can be alleviated with proper treatment, developing barrier exclusions, and implementing sanitary conditions. The technicians at American Pest have the training, certification, and experience to safely eliminate cockroaches in your home or business.