dead cockroach in bathroom

Suburban Exterminating experts see 4 types of cockroaches in Long Island homes: German, American, Brown-banded and the Oriental. The German roaches are the most common species. All roach species, though, are prolific breeders – they produce up to 35,000 offspring per year. No wonder a large number of them seem to appear overnight! While cockroaches are a common pest, you shouldn’t live with them. They are active all year round and can cause allergies and asthma symptoms. They carry 33 different kinds of bacteria, which can lead to the spread of disease so it’s important to check for cockroaches regularly. Keep reading to learn about where cockroaches come from and how to prevent cockroaches in your home.

How Do Cockroaches Get in Your Home

Even if you’re super clean and have a tidy home, cockroaches can find a way to thrive! Dirtier homes or businesses, though, provide more crumbs to eat.

Don’t forget: most roaches can go up to a month without food, but they die quickly without water.

Cockroaches enter your home by crawling inside through small holes and foundation cracks. They can hitchhike on backpacks, suitcases, boxes and supermarket bags. Roaches can find openings around doors and windows. If you’re living in a multi-family dwelling, they will move around entry points like pipes and holes in shared walls.

How to Spot a Cockroach

Cockroaches have a flattened, oval appearance, long spiny legs and long antennae. They can be reddish brown to dark brown and from tan to black. You will not see its head if you spot it from above. Even though this insect may have wings, it’s unlikely to fly.

Common symptoms of allergies from cockroaches may include itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, wheezing or shortness of breath. Asthma symptoms are similar – nighttime coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing.

In NYC, we sometimes cockroaches are called water bugs. In Florida, they are called palmetto bugs. Cockroaches have various common names including water bugs, croton bugs and palmetto bugs

Where Cockroaches Hide

Cockroaches can find many places in your home to hide. They prefer narrow cracks and crevices. Look for them behind the fridge, under sinks, in dark drawers, and in dark cabinets.

They start looking to eat when your lights go out! Eating almost anything! Roaches prefer warm spots with access to water sources.

Each cockroach type prefers different hiding climates:

·        German cockroaches prefer kitchen and bathroom areas.

·        American cockroaches are commonly found in sewers. They also invade places that store and process food like restaurants, bakeries, hospitals, and grocery stores.

·        Brown-banded cockroaches can be found in attics, on ceilings, in furniture, in the upper cabinets of bathrooms and kitchens, and living around the motors of large appliances like refrigerators.

·        Oriental cockroaches live in moist areas like sewers, under leaf piles, under stones, and underneath firewood piles.

They can live between a few months to a couple of years, depending on the species. And they are fast – they can move up to three miles per hour.

How to Get Rid Of Cockroaches

Prevention and monitoring are critical to avoiding a serious cockroach infestation. Fortunately, there are steps you can take at home to limit cockroach activity and prevent future infestations.

Just by limiting access to food and water, they cannot survive and reproduce.

Below are 10 tips to prevent roaches:

  1. Put food in your fridge and store food in containers with tight-fitting lids. They can chew through paper, cardboard, and thin plastic so food in sealed containers is best.
  2. Do not leave pet food and water out overnight.
  3. Wash your dishes and everything else that you’ve used for cooking – pans and utensils – as soon as possible. Don’t leave things to soak overnight.
  4. Wipe up all spills from stove tops, counters, tables and floors.
  5. Vacuum floors and all cracks and crevices to get rid of crumbs.  Confine your meals and snacks to the kitchen.
  6. Take garbage out daily.
  7. Repair any leaky water pipes or faucets.
  8. Recycle cans and bottles regularly.
  9. Wash and clean garbage cans and recycling bins.
  10. Eliminate favorite hangouts like corrugated cardboard boxes, newspapers, bags and other unnecessary clutter.

Call a Professional for a Cockroach Infestation

To get rid of roaches, contact an exterminator. Treatment plans can vary depending on the type of roaches you have. A pest control professional can do a thorough evaluation and set you up with a comprehensive treatment plan.

Get rid of your Long Island roach problem today! Call today for a free inspection. 

How to Prevent Cockroaches in Your Home Serving Long Island and surrounding areas

Richmond | Kings County | Nassau County | Suffolk County

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