Seeing a cockroach inside your home can really make you jump! Imagine enjoying breakfast at your kitchen table when you see one dart across the floor, or putting your hand in a bag of potato chips and having a cockroach come running out; both of these experiences might send shivers up your back! Besides the ‘ick’ factor, cockroaches in Massachusetts as well as throughout the world carry nasty pathogens and diseases on their bodies, which they can spread to any surface they touch. What kinds of cockroaches might you encounter in your home? The New England cockroaches that we see in our service area include the Oriental cockroach, the German cockroach and the American cockroach. We’ve compiled some details about these specific cockroaches to help you identify the cockroaches that you may be seeing inside your home.
These are a large species of cockroaches that can be found in our region. They can grow to be 1 inch long and are shiny and dark brown. Both the male and female of this species have wings but are unable to fly. This species of cockroach is also called a ‘waterbug’ because they prefer to spend time in dark and wet places. They can be found outdoors in sewers, under leaf cover and under mulch. Indoors, they are a major household pest and can be found in damp basements, bathrooms and areas under sinks and other damp areas inside the home.
These are a small species of cockroach, measuring between ½ an inch and 2/3 of an inch long. They are tan in color, or sometimes brown or black. They have two dark parallel streaks that run from the head to the base of the wings. Both the male and female of this species have wings but are unable to fly. This species of cockroach looks similarly to the Asian cockroach, but the Asian cockroach can fly. In colder climates, like our region, they are found only near places where humans live, because they cannot tolerate the cold. They can be found in restaurants, food processing facilities, hotels and even hospitals.
These are a large species of cockroaches that can be found in our region. They can grow to be more than 2 inches (!!) in length. They are reddish-brown in color with a yellowish section behind the head. The adults have wings but they cannot fly; they are considered one of the fastest running insects, as they can travel very quickly and despite their large size, they can fit into small cracks and crevices that may seem unexpected. They can be found in moist areas and do not tolerate cold temperatures very well. They may live in basements, sewers and may move out into your yard in the warmer months.
Because many cockroaches spend time in sewers, dumpsters and even on decaying organic matter, they pick up pathogens and bacteria on their bodies and can deposit these nasty diseases on the surfaces where we prepare our food, or even directly onto our food. Their feces in the dust in our homes can trigger allergic reactions or even cases of asthma in young children. Having cockroaches inside our homes is simply unacceptable and that’s why the New England pest control pros at Big Blue Bug Solutions have cockroach control services to help you get these pests out of your home.
If you live in Worcester MA, Providence RI or anywhere throughout our service area, give us a call today for more information on our cockroach control. If it’s not cockroaches you’re seeing, then we can help you with any other pests that are bothering you. If you are looking for pest control services throughout the year, we can offer our H.O.P. (Home Owners Plan) to provide you with a pest-free home every season of the year.
Contact us today to discuss any of our services and we’ll schedule your first inspection with one of our qualified and friendly technicians so that we can get started making your home a pest-free zone!