Cockroaches have been around for many, many years. There are over 4,500 types of cockroaches around the world. They often live in homes to escape the cold winter weather in Canada.
These pests can be a huge health risk for humans. Cockroach droppings can impact the air quality of your home and trigger allergic reactions and even asthma attacks in some people.
Cockroaches also spread disease, and you can get very sick if you come into contact with their droppings or body parts. In other words, you don’t want to live with a cockroach infestation in your home.
However, it’s important to know what bug you’re dealing with before you can come up with an effective plan to get rid of them.
What do cockroaches look like?
While there are different types of cockroaches, if you’ve seen a pest that is between one and five cm long and is black or reddish-brown in colour, you’ve likely got a cockroach on your hands.
Cockroaches all have six legs and two antennae on top of their tiny heads. Their legs allow them to move quickly, and they are very adept runners. They also have the ability to walk on walls and ceilings.
The pest has an oval body shape and can squeeze in small cracks to hide or gain access to your home. The body of a cockroach may look oily. Its temperature depends on the environment. So, if the air around the pest is warm, its body will feel warm to the touch.
Male cockroaches tend to be smaller in size than females. Some species of females, such as the brown-banded type, do not have wings while the males do.
Do cockroaches fly?
Over 3,500 types of cockroaches have the ability to fly, and this can vary from species to species. Interestingly cockroaches have four wings but only use one pair to travel. Cockroaches use the back pair of wings that are usually hidden beneath the front pair to fly.
In Canada, cockroaches do have wings, but they don’t usually fly. Instead, they use their wings to glide short distances. The types of cockroaches in North America that fly include the German cockroach, American cockroach, and brown-banded cockroach (males only). The Oriental cockroach does not have the ability to fly.
Do cockroaches make noise?
Most cockroach species found in Canada are not noisy. Sometimes people mistake the click beetle for a cockroach, leading to a belief that cockroaches make a clicking sound, but this is not true. The only sound you may hear with a large infestation of cockroaches is their fluttering wings.
How quickly do cockroaches multiply?
Female cockroaches can produce 100 to 200 eggs in a matter of weeks. The baby cockroach or nymph only needs a couple of months of incubation before they hatch. When they do hatch, they are similar in appearance to an adult cockroach but smaller and without wings.
The lifespan of a cockroach can be anywhere from four months to a year. It’s important to note that they can survive without food or water for weeks.
Signs you have a cockroach problem
If you’ve seen a cockroach in your home, you may have a larger infestation problem than you realize. These pests are skittish and are more active at night. So, if you’ve seen one searching for food during the day, it means there is a shortage of food for cockroaches. And if there is a shortage of food, it likely means there are a lot of cockroaches competing for the stocks in your cupboards. Here are some other signs to watch for that indicate you have a cockroach problem.
Cockroach droppings
Cockroach droppings can look like coffee grounds or even pepper. In other words, it is pretty small, and you may miss it if you’re not looking for it. It can appear as smears on a wall. However, there are larger species of cockroaches in Canada that leave larger droppings. This excrement will look similar to mouse droppings but smaller in size.
Skin casing
These pests can shed their skin several times during their lifespan. If you see a cockroach skin casing, their home is nearby.
Eggs
A female cockroach can lay hundreds of eggs in her lifetime. These eggs are left in a capsule with up to 30 nymphs in each one.
Damage
Examine food packaging for damage as cockroaches will nibble through packaging to get to food sources. But you may also notice damage on leather items and books.
Smell
A large infestation of cockroaches can produce a musty-like smell in your home. However, the smell might not be very notable.
Cockroach bodies
Finding dead cockroaches around your home is another sign that you have a significant number of roaches living in your home.
Where do cockroaches live?
Most cockroaches live outside, but they will search for warmer dwellings like your home if the weather gets too cold. They can also be attracted to your building if they can find food and water easily. So, you’ll see them more often in the basement, bathrooms, and kitchens.
How to get rid of cockroaches
The most effective way to get rid of cockroaches is to call in a professional. This is because even if you kill all the adult cockroaches, the nymphs are protected in their egg casings. So, it will only be a few weeks before they hatch, and you’re dealing with more cockroaches in your space.
Professional exterminators are trained to identify the type of cockroach and know the best method to rid your home of these pests for good.
It’s vital to have your home treated and cleaned well to remove any remaining cockroach bodies.
To keep cockroaches out of your home, you can take extra measures, including:
- Seal up all food sources
- Fix any holes or cracks in your foundation
- Have plumbing leaks repaired quickly
- Regularly clean your home, including behind fridges and stoves
- Use a dehumidifier
- Don’t let dishes sit in the sink overnight
