German cockroach Exterminator
German cockroaches live pretty much anywhere humans do, but they most often live in places such as nursing homes, hotels, restaurants, institutional facilities, and food processing facilities.
German cockroaches are tan or light brown, and have two dark stripes on their backs. These stripes are almost parallel, and begin behind their heads. Female German cockroaches are usually a darker color than their male counterparts. Nymphs (juvenile cockroaches) are dark brown to black, and still have the same dark striped on their backs as the adults. As insects, cockroaches have antennae and six legs. German cockroaches are oval-shaped, and are generally between half an inch and five-eighths an inch long. Although German cockroaches do have wings, they don’t use them to fly very often. Instead, they usually run.
So, how do you know if you have a German cockroach infestation on your hands? This species of cockroach prefers to live in humid, warm places that are located near sources of moisture and food. Most frequently, cockroaches can be found in commercial and residential bathrooms and kitchens. These are the two places that are most likely to infest. If there are a lot of German cockroaches in an area, you might be able to detect a mild musty odor.
One warning sign that you have a cockroach problem is if you see their droppings. German cockroach droppings often look like small, dark flakes of pepper, and can be found left on countertops or inside of drawers. Their feces can also stain surfaces. Cockroach fecal staining looks like smears or dark spots along small openings and cracks in the walls, doors, and corners of rooms.
Pest Control in the Puget Sound
Do you think that you have German cockroaches on your property, and you’re wondering how to get rid of them? The best thing that you can do to keep German cockroaches away is to have good sanitation practices. If you want to keep them from infesting your business or home, you must be vigilant about maintaining a clean kitchen. This means cleaning up spills and crumbs, not leaving food out, and frequently vacuuming. Cockroaches love if you leave dirty dishes piled up in the sink.
It’s also important that all potential entrances to your structure are sealed up. There shouldn’t be holes or gaps around utility pipes or in the walls, and doors should not be left open. If you have proper crawlspace ventilation, then moisture won’t have a chance to build up. If you are worried about having a German cockroach infestation, reach out to Independent Pest Solutions so that our expert pest control technicians can inspect your property and treat any potential issues. It’s a smart idea to have a pest control company do routine inspections after getting rid of the cockroaches to make sure they don’t come back. German cockroaches can produce six generations of offspring a year, meaning that an infestation can quickly get out of control.
As far as their habits, German cockroaches prefer humid places that are warmer than 70 degrees Fahrenheit. They primarily live in commercial and residential kitchens, but also like living in bathrooms. However, it’s important to remember that a German cockroach infestation can be in any place where humans regularly drink and eat. Within the home, this includes living rooms, dens, bedrooms, and dining rooms. Even a small crevice near a food source can harbor these pesky critters. German cockroaches are able to squeeze through openings as thin as three-eighths of an inch. Many pests hitch rides into new places in cardboard boxes, cartons, secondhand items (such as televisions, microwaves, refrigerators, and more), and grocery bags. German cockroaches are no exception- these crafty hitchhikers migrate between buildings to expand their territory.
As like many other types of cockroaches, German cockroaches have a varied diet. They will eat almost anything that has some nutritional value, including all sorts of food, toothpaste, glue, and even soap. The amount of activity that German cockroaches have depends on their age, stage of life, and health. Females that are reproducing are pretty active, while males of the species spend most of their time hiding, even during the night.
Many people want to know, “Do German cockroaches bite?” Thankfully, they are not likely to bite humans. However, they do pose a risk to the health of humans because they spread pathogens and bacteria. German cockroaches are to blame for many allergic reactions, as well as outbreaks of illness. Cockroaches are known to be spreaders of over thirty types of bacteria, seven other types of human pathogens, and six species of parasitic worms. When they crawl through sewage and decaying matter, germs stick to their bodies and legs. They then carry these to surfaces they touch, including human food. In medical studies, it has been proven that allergens from German cockroaches can make asthma attacks worse and can cause allergic reactions, particularly in children.
Because of the dangers that they can pose to humans, it’s vital that German cockroach control is done promptly and effectively. It’s not healthy to have them skittering about your home, restaurant, or business. If you notice any potential signs of cockroaches on your property, contact Independent Pest Solutions for German cockroach control in Puyallup and its surrounding areas. We will come and thoroughly inspect your property to detect any pest issues you may be facing. We will also locate entry points that the pests could be using to gain access to the building. After that, our professional pest control technicians will put together a treatment plan that addresses your specific issues. Along with pest control measures, we will seal entry points so that cockroaches can’t return, and give advice for how to prevent them from coming back again.