About 30 of 4,600 cockroach species are found near humans, but there are 3 common roaches we see in St. Louis and Swansea homes:
American Cockroach – Periplaneta americana
These sizable pests may have wings, but they prefer to creepily crawl around instead. American cockroaches are about 1 1/2 inches long and have a yellow band on their neck that stands out against their red-brown coloring. They gather in damp, dark areas that can be a ways away from their birthplace. Some common sites of American roaches include basements, drains, sewers, and trash receptacles. As long as there is someplace dark for these roaches to hide, they will be happy and continue reproducing.
German Cockroach – Blattella germanica
Although German cockroaches are small, measuring about 1/2 of an inch long, they reproduce more quickly than any other common roach species. They have two dark stripes along their backs in between their light brown shells. German cockroaches prefer warmth and any kind of moisture. They can be found in kitchens and bathrooms, especially under appliances, around plumbing, and in electronics. Due to their rapid reproduction, these roaches need to be handled by professional pest control immediately.
Oriental Cockroach – Blatta orientalis
These one-inch-long roaches are much darker than their counterparts. Oriental cockroaches move slowly and have tiny wings that are not very efficient. They enjoy cool and dark areas, like sewers, basements, leaf litter, drains, and crawlspaces. It can be even more difficult to spot Oriental cockroaches because they like to stay on the ground and in the shadows, which is not comforting since their diet makes them one of the dirtiest roach species.
Each roach species has its own preferences and habits, but Pointe Pest Control can handle it all. Our EPA-approved treatments put an end to roach infestations without harmful chemicals, so you can take your home back from these dangerous pests as safely and carefully as possible.