Cockroaches are relatives of the termite and are one of the most common household pests, cockroaches of some type can be found all over the world.There are 30 varieties of cockroaches that cohabitate in human living environments, Despite this, many people don’t know a lot of true facts about these insects. This can be problematic if you have a cockroach infestation.
Cockroaches are curious creatures with a lot of character and physiological traits that keep humans guessing. In fact, there are several common misunderstandings about this common household pest. Take a look at some of the most common misunderstandings about cockroaches so you have a better shot at getting them out of your home if you have a problem.
Cockroaches Live Only In Dirty Homes
There is a general misunderstanding about cockroaches because they are often associated with filth or messy environments. However, cockroaches have no preference about where they live, as long as they have access to what they need: food, shelter and water. Your home can be immaculately kept and you can still have a cockroach infestation.
This is because:
- Cockroaches can feed on everything from postage stamp glue to human hair
- Cockroaches can live for long periods of time without food
- Cockroaches are masters at hiding and are nocturnal, so they tend to stay hidden in the light
While a clean home may make it a less cockroach-friendly environment, the bugs can still survive just fine. One benefit of having a clean home is that it will make it easier to treat for cockroaches, either on your own or professionally, because the bugs will not have as many places to hide. A clean kitchen is obviously less desirable for cockroaches, as they will need to look for other food sources besides food particles.
Cockroaches Can’t Live in Cold Temperatures
When you discover you have cockroaches in your home, you may decide you will freeze them out by leaving home and turning off the heat. While it’s true that cockroaches won’t develop or reproduce when in an environment below 45 degrees, killing them is harder. You would have to leave your entire home at subzero temperatures for several days, which is practically impossible because:
- Most places in the US don’t sustain subzero temperatures for very long or at all in the winter
- Appliances like the refrigerator and water heater radiate heat
- You could cause damage to plumbing pipes and other fixtures in the process
Given that we’re based in the Port Orange/Daytona Beach area, freezing cockroaches out of your home is almost certainly out of the question, you can use the cold to your advantage. For example, if you have a coffeemaker infested with cockroaches, you could wrap it in a plastic bag, place it in the freezer for several days and kill the bugs inside.
Cockroaches Do Not Travel
Cockroaches are suspected to have survived for millions of years. This implies that they are highly adaptable creatures that will go great lengths to get to food and shelter, even if they have to travel. If one house has been infested with cockroaches, it’s not uncommon for the surrounding neighbors to start seeing problems with these pests soon after.
If you move an appliance outdoors and expect that the bugs inside will not come back in the house, you are probably wrong. Not only will a few bugs make their way back indoors, but likely the whole group because cockroaches display signs of a group mentality when they are seeking food or shelter.
The bottom line is that cockroaches are one of those household pests that can be incredibly difficult to exterminate, and these common misunderstandings just make matters worse. If you need professional help with cockroach extermination in your home, contact Dave’s Pest Control at 386-767-7451 for assistance or fill out our form for a free estimate.