Cockroaches are the most common household pests throughout the United States, and none are more common than the German cockroach. These deceptively small insects may seem harmless, if not a bit annoying as an infestation, but don't be fooled by their minuscule size. Having a German cockroach infestation in your Virginia home is dangerous to both the structure of your home and even your health.
What Do German Cockroaches Look Like?
German cockroaches in Virginia are pretty small, roughly around ½ to 5/8 of an inch in length, tan to light brown in color, with dark brown stripes directly behind their heads. They're flat and oval-shaped, and they do have wings, but they very rarely if ever use them to fly. Most commonly seen scurrying around at night, they search high and low for any morsel of food they can find. They can live without their heads for a short time, but will eventually die from dehydration and starvation.
Why Would German Cockroaches Decide To Invade My Virginia Home?
There is a strong possibility that there are other ongoing problems in your home if you end up with a cockroach infestation. Cockroaches prefer dark, moist areas to reside in, and this could very well mean you have a leaky pipe or cracks in the outer walls that allow moisture to get inside. If there's an abundance of water and available food for these pests, they will happily shack up in your Virginia abode.
Most people assume the only reason for a cockroach infestation is because of a poorly kept home, but that's a common misconception. Cockroaches, German included, will infest any habitable area they can find. One reason could be because of a messy home, but there are plenty of other reasons:
- Neighbors dealing with an ongoing infestation
- Packages or boxes from an infested business or home
- Yard sale furniture
- Hitchhikers in your luggage after a stay away from home
Why Would A German Cockroach Infestation Be Dangerous?
Cockroaches are messy tenants who have no intention of cleaning up after themselves. The excess moisture and refuse they create in their day-to-day routine seeps into the structure of the home and causes lasting damage. That's not even half of it, though.
These insects regularly crawl through anything and everything, so you can be sure that means they pick up lots of nasty bacteria and pathogens along the way. Cockroaches are known for traveling three miles in a single day, and while that's an impressive feat in itself to consider, it's also pretty terrifying. Imagine the amount of surface area they can cover in that time. If you have a cockroach infestation, every surface in your Virginia home has most assuredly been contaminated.
How Can I Make My Virginia Home Less Appealing To German Cockroaches?
There are plenty of things you can do to prevent a cockroach infestation from happening. These aren't completely fool-proof, especially if you have a neighbor with an ongoing infestation, but it always helps to be proactive in protecting your home:
- Immediately clean up food prep areas and any food spills
- Sweep and vacuum your home regularly
- Patch up any holes and cracks within your home's foundation, walls, roof, siding, and around outer leading pipes and wires
- Repair any leaky pipes that may be causing water damage
- Invest in a dehumidifier for rooms that retain moisture such as kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, and basement
- Check for roaches and eggs in every package and box that enters your home
- Never purchase yard sale furniture
What's The Secret To Getting Rid Of German Cockroaches?
The secret to eliminating a German cockroach infestation in your home is your local pest control company in Virginia. Cockroach infestations are difficult and frustrating to get rid of on your own, and when it comes to protecting against serious illness and property damage, you don't want to run the risk of DIY extermination.
Our highly-trained professionals at Albermarle Termite & Pest Control know just how dangerous a roach infestation is, and we're ready and waiting for you to tag us into the ring. As a family-owned and operated company that's been in business for over 100 years, we know how important it is to stay up to date on all of the latest and best pest control products and techniques. Get in touch with us today to start discussing your pest control options.