If you’ve spent time in the Southeastern United States, you’ve seen cockroaches. Roaches are, quite simply, part of life down here. You can get rid of them temporarily, but they’re so intertwined with human life now that they’re never gone for good. But the question today is simple. Are cockroaches dangerous? We’ll talk about that below.
Are Cockroaches Dangerous?
Cockroaches aren’t dangerous in the traditional sense of danger. That is to say, they don’t really bite. You won’t ever get chased down a hallway and bitten by one of these things. Instead, cockroach bites tend to happen to people who are sleeping or dead. They’ve been recorded to eat the flesh of deceased and unconscious humans. They also like to take bites out of fingernails, eyelashes, feet, and hands. These bites can cause irritation, lesions, and swelling. Sometimes, if the roach that bites you is dirty enough, it can become an infection issue.
Allergens are another threat when it comes to roaches. Cockroaches, it turns out, are the most common sources of indoor allergens. Enzymes found in their poop, shed body parts, eggs, and spit cause reactions in many people. According to the EPA, children are also more likely to be allergic to roaches than an adult. So if you have a child in your central Florida home, look out for these guys.
According to the National Pest Management Association, 63 percent of homes in the United States contain cockroach allergens. That number rises to between 78 and 98 percent in urban area homes. To deal with cockroach allergy symptoms, your doctor may recommend over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription medications.
Do cockroaches spread diesase?
Now, let’s move into the real threat of having cockroaches around your home. Many studies have found that cockroaches have a strong secondary role in the spread of diseases. There is a substantial list of bacteria, funguses, molds, and viruses that a cockroach can carry from place to place. Not to mention they’ve even been known to spread dysentery, another parasite that causes giardiasis, and the polio virus.
So yes, they do spread disease. This makes them dangerous pests. Not only do they poop wherever they want and live in their own feces, but they run all over your food, silverware in your drawer, and on you at night! So we now have our answer to the question are cockroaches dangerous?
Can I keep cockroaches out of my house?
Okay, so we’ve answered the question of “are cockroaches dangerous”. Now we move on to what to do about these dangerous bugs. So, let’s start with some basic stuff.
Seal entry to your home.
Cockroaches can squeeze themselves flat to nearly the width of a coin. Because of this, regular inspections of the walls and pipes of your home is needed. Florida weather is rough on all sorts of building materials, especially when hurricanes blow through. Weathering and cracks appear frequently, and all of these can be ways for a roach into your home. So, be sure to seal any as they appear.
This also goes for pipes running into your home. Often times there are gaps around them that can lead roaches into your wall voids. And once roaches get in the walls, it’s going to take moving heaven and earth to get them out. Instead, seal the holes around the pipes that lead into your home instead.
Remove food
Cleanliness is next to godliness, right? Well, the other thing it’s next to is having fewer of these roaches in your house! Are roaches dangerous? Yeah! Do they HAVE to be around in your home? No! Cover all of your trash containers tightly, and that includes the flip-up kind that you step on. Don’t forget that I mentioned earlier just how small these guys can squeeze themselves. Use a bungee cord or locking mechanism to keep those lids closed all night when you sleep.
And food that’s in your cabinet needs to be stored in air-tight containers, this includes things like cereals and grains. Unfortunately, cardboard is no obstacle to a cockroach. In fact, cardboard provides these bugs with the perfect food and shelter.
Also, one of the biggest offenders here is open dog food. I know that open feeding is easier, but it’s worse for you, your home, and frankly your dog! Because who wants to eat food that’s been feasted, pooped, and peed on by roaches? Nobody! Not even your pups!
Also, NEVER leave dishes in your sink overnight. I know it’s easier to just throw everything into a big soapy bowl to “soak” and forget about it until tomorrow. But, that’s a bad move. Clean your dishes as soon as you’re finished using them. Not only will the crumbs and filth feed roaches, but those guys can even eat dish soap! If they’re not around, you won’t even have to worry about the question “are cockroaches dangerous”!
Are cockroaches dangerous :Seal up any leaks
Cockroaches can go for a long, long time without food. Starving out roaches is a very tall task. However, like everything else they still need plenty of water. That’s why kitchen and bathroom sinks are some of the most infested places in the home. Seal up your leaky pipes, and make sure the PVC under your sink is screwed in tightly. It only takes a little bit of water to be able to sustain a colony of cockroaches.
Also, wipe up spilled water immediately. Even if you’re just stepping out of the shower and dripping a few drops onto the floor. Frankly, it’s asking for trouble. And an ounce of prevention is always worth a pound of cure.
Are Cockroaches Dangerous: What if I’m infested?
Unfortunately, a cockroach infestation isn’t like an ant infestation. If you see ants in your home, good chance that you can catch it early, clean up, and starve them out. Cockroaches are different, however. They rarely need to eat and will feast upon their own dead in hard times. It makes you think, are cockroaches dangerous?
Instead, visit us at our website insectfree.com or give us a call at 1-800-634-1313 and leave it to the pros. This is no job for a layman, as improper pesticide use can lead to these quick reproducing insects developing a resistance. Leave it to us! Contact us today by phone or use our contact page, here.
