Most homeowners know that German cockroaches are not only dirty, but that they track filth wherever they go, and that they’re just nasty to look at and to think about them hiding in your home. But German cockroaches (Blattella germanica) in Texas, do not really know how to survive outdoors on their own. They need to be within proximity to human beings, and they are always in need of three things: food, water, and shelter.
German roaches are also very sneaky and they know how to get around. They can easily hitch a ride in bags, boxes, and other ways to get into your home or business from the grocery store, restaurant, or maybe from an food processing facility.
Cockroaches in general are master survivors and scavengers. German roaches, in particular, have a reputation for being the most encountered cockroaches found in people’s homes, apartments, restaurants, and offices.
Do German Cockroaches Bite?
Cockroaches do not have stingers, and they typically do not bite in self-defense. They’d rather scurry away and hide. And they’re usually more interested in finding food than they are in biting humans.
Take note that German cockroaches will eat just about anything. And we mean ANYTHING. They are omnivorous, meaning that they will eat human food, pet food, cardboard, paper, glue, and even their own feces and their own dead. Roaches have also been known to eat dead human flesh, as well as on discarded fingernails and eyelashes.
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When a German cockroach infestation starts to outgrow the available food supply, roaches will start searching for other food sources. Adult German cockroaches can go for as long as a month without food, but eventually they will start searching for food again. If they have opportunity, they can get into your bed, and go snack on … yes, your flesh. Roaches chewing on your skin can cause irritation, itching, swelling, allergic reactions, and even infections. Hopefully you’ll never find yourself with that kind of a roach problem. But it is possible.
What Are Signs of a German Cockroach Infestation?
Roaches are prolific reproducers, and if you have a growing German cockroach infestation hiding in a wall void or other area in your home, you might be able to detect a musty odor. You might also notice dark roach droppings (they look like coffee grounds), and also their fecal stains on walls and baseboards. Discarded roach skins and dead roaches are also signs.
If I Have One Roach At Home, Do I Have an Infestation?
Cockroaches are not loners, though you may find one roach who may have wandered into your home somehow. One German cockroach isn’t necessarily a sign of an infestation. But if you see as many as two or three, you can pretty much count on there being many more nearby (in the tens or hundreds), and the clock is ticking. The faster you address a roach problem, the faster you’ll be successful. The longer you delay, the more difficult the infestation will be to get rid of, and the more likely they’ll make a quick comeback after you’ve dealt with them.
Sanitation is the first step to keeping cockroach populations under control, but sometimes that isn’t enough. If you are seeing German roach activity and suspect you have a growing infestation on your hands, it’s time to call in a professional. Save yourself tons of time, money, and stress by calling our Texas pest control experts today! We’ll get rid of the roaches for you, and show you more about how to keep them from coming back!
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