Cockroaches

Item: Pointe Pest Control
Rating: 5
Author: insiteadvice

Live Roach-Free with Pointe!

Pointe Pest Control is committed to keeping your home pest-free in every season. Our team of experienced and state-certified technicians are dedicated to providing safe and effective pest control services for the Western Illinois and Eastern Missouri areas. If a pest problem is not completely resolved after a visit, our technicians will return until it is eliminated.

FREE PEST CONTROL QUOTE

Persistent Pests

A Growing Problem

Roaches are social insects, but they do not live in colonies. They will, however, gather in certain areas and care for their young, then mark these areas with small droppings. Female cockroaches lay eggs in durable cases, or oothecae, that stay in secluded spaces until the hatchlings emerge about a month later. There are usually about 15 to 20 hatchlings per oothecae, but German cockroaches can have up to 40. The nymphs are white in color and gradually grow darker over time. They look like smaller adult cockroaches and resemble the full-sized roaches more and more with each molt, until the last one reveals their final form. Adult roaches are around two inches long and can have an oily texture. Some species still do not have wings as adults. Roaches are most active at night, when they forage for food that could come from anywhere. They prefer dark and damp areas for their habitats, but they can venture outside of those to scavenge. True to the movies, when roaches are flashed with light, they naturally scatter and retreat into tight, dark spaces.

Since female roaches can produce egg cases about every six weeks for their life span of one to two years, a small roach problem can turn into a massive issue if it is not addressed. Our knowledgeable technicians will solve roach problems in any stage of their life cycle. In order for the roach issue to be completely resolved, there cannot be one egg case left over, as it will eventually hatch and start the nightmare all over again. When you want roach control that gets the job done, call Pointe Pest Control!

Roaches in Illinois

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.

Call an Expert Today!

Initial Service

We use EPA-approved products that target multiple pests without the use of dangerous chemicals.

7 Total Treatments

Our team will complete a scheduled return visit 7 times in the calendar year to treat once again.

Pest-Free Guarantee

With this service, we treat Cockroaches and over 40 different pests. We always guarantee our results.

Get a Quote

Contaminated Cockroaches

Roaches are not just harmful when they nest in a house or invade a trash can. Since their favorite habitats are dark and moist, like sewers and garbage dumps, cockroaches carry a wide range of diseases that they can then transmit to the subsequent places they travel.

Like rodents, cockroaches can transmit harmful pathogens both indirectly and directly. Indirect transmission is done through their saliva and droppings. Roaches eat just about anything on Earth, including feces and raw meats, so all of the dangerous pathogens go through their systems and reside in their saliva and droppings. Direct transmission is if the infested roach comes in contact with our food, drinks, or kitchen countertops. Anyone who consumes something touched by a roach is at risk for contracting one of their diseases.

Some of the most common diseases include Typhoid fever, salmonellosis, dysentery, and plague. All of these can be caused by roaches harboring specific bacteria and then transmitting it to humans. The symptoms vary depending on the disease and severity, but common ones are nausea, fever, aches, and diarrhea. If you believe you or someone in your home has consumed something contaminated by roaches, please seek medical attention immediately.

Preventing Undemanding Roaches

Cartoons have led us to believe that roaches will only invade houses that have not been regularly cleaned in years. The unfortunate truth is that cockroaches will invade any space where they can hide and have a constant food source. Any structure, from completely clean homes to abandoned warehouses, can have a roach invasion if there is enough food.

The best way to prevent a nightmarish roach infestation is to regularly check for any entry points. These can be cracks or holes in the exterior, gaps around doors and windows, and unsealed vents. Seal any imperfections with caulk and copper mesh, as needed. Also, patch any holes in screens with extra material, or replace the screen altogether if there are too many holes. Although roaches can still invade a relatively clean home, sanitization does make a difference in pest prevention. Use antibacterial wipes or sprays to wipe down the kitchen surfaces after meals. Vacuum and sweep the floors regularly, and wash any stained laundry as soon as possible. Take out the trash when it is full, and make sure that the lids are shut on all garbage cans when not in use. Finally, and arguably most importantly, schedule an appointment with Pointe St. Louis to receive thorough pest control that will actually keep the roaches away.

Pointe Pest Control Knows Cockroach Control

Since cockroaches are resistant to many age-old pest treatments, pest control has had to change gears to continue preventing and eliminating roaches. Our technicians continuously go through trainings on the updated pest treatments in order to ensure that we deliver the most effective current roach treatments.

As with every service, our technicians begin the visit with a true inspection of the property to seek out the areas of concern. Once we locate these and point out the entry points to you, it is time to begin the treatments. Since roaches have spiracles – openings on their sides for breathing that they can close as protection for up to 40 minutes – many spray pesticides do not work. Instead, we use a combination of methods to effectively treat each roach. Our technicians will vacuum up any visible roaches in all corners and under appliances in the affected room. Next, we will place both attractant and deterrent baits in crevices and hidden areas. Roaches love feeling secure in tight spaces, or being thigmotactic, so they will go to the bait if it is in these tight spaces. During the future visits, we will place glue boards in these areas to trap the roaches that come to feed on their deceased brethren that then infects them with the poison. It will take a few visits to effectively eliminate each roach in an invasion, but it is worth the wait to have a pest-free home.

Between the food contamination, disease transmission, and feces production, cockroaches are not a pest you want in your home or business. That is why we are here to provide you with preventative and responsive services that will help you enjoy a roach-free home in every season. Contact our team today to schedule your appointment for the most attentive and caring roach control services in Missouri and Illinois.

Effective, pleasant, and swift

After a heavy rain one of my tenants saw a cockroach, after the inspection it was confirmed it was highly unlikely that roaches would be living in the building but I wanted to go forward with preventative maintenance. I liked their communication, they were effective, pleasant, and swift.

Darren Levey

Arlington Heights

Free Pest Control Quote

Contact Us Form

Contact Pointe Pest Control Form

"*" indicates required fields

Street Address*

Untitled

City*

State*

Zip Code*

Name

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches

Live Roach-Free with Pointe!

FREE PEST CONTROL QUOTE

Persistent Pests

A Growing Problem

Roaches in Illinois

Call an Expert Today!

Initial Service

7 Total Treatments

Pest-Free Guarantee

Contaminated Cockroaches

Preventing Undemanding Roaches

Pointe Pest Control Knows Cockroach Control

Effective, pleasant, and swift

Free Pest Control Quote

Contact Us Form

services

customer care

Email Us

Get Directions

services

customer care

Email Us

Get Directions