Portland Homeowners' Handy Guide To Oriental Cockroaches
Something foul could be lurking in dark places around your Portland home. We have an insect pest in the Greater Portland area that can be uncovered in startling ways. You could lift an old tin trash can and find dozens of these black insects huddled together in a pool of fermenting juices underneath. You could open a dumpster and see these dark and sinister bugs running along the walls, climbing in and out of gaps between garbage bags, or hiding under bags as you move them. You can lift a damp bag of leaves sitting next to your exterior wall and find these insects waiting to scare you. There are many ways you can uncover Oriental cockroaches. When you do, we encourage you to look at the silver lining. While finding the slimy, shiny, black, armored insects can be gross, not finding them is worse. Here's what you should know about Oriental cockroaches.
Oriental Cockroach Identification
These insects are often called black beetles because they look a little bit like a beetle, but if you're familiar with the visual characteristics of a cockroach, you should quickly notice that these are not beetles. This is an important distinction to make because beetles do not present a medical threat to you and your family. We encourage you to take a minute and look at black beetles and black cockroaches on the internet. You'll quickly see how they differ.
Oriental Cockroaches Can Make You Sick
When these insects find a way into your home, they can expose your counters, cutting boards, plates, silverware, stored foods, and other sensitive surfaces and items to invisible organisms that can make you sick. Some of the many illnesses associated with these cockroaches are salmonellosis, E. coli infection, typhoid fever, dysentery, listeriosis, cholera, and gastroenteritis.
Oriental Cockroaches Require Damp Conditions
Another common name given to Oriental cockroaches is water bugs. This is because they are strongly associated with water. They're commonly found living in culverts, drains, sewers, and other damp habitats. When they come near to your home, you'll likely find them under leaf piles that have been sitting for a long time. They'll hide under sheds that collect water after a rainstorm. They'll live in damp landscaping. Here are a few tips to deter them.
- Rake leaf litter and remove it from your yard.
- Refrain from stacking bags of leaves around your home as insulation.
- Move wood piles away from your exterior walls and elevate them.
- Move objects away from your exterior walls that create dark, damp habitats underneath.
- Alter conditions to address puddles in your yard and underneath structures.
- Clean your gutters and make sure everything is working properly to channel water away from your foundation perimeter.
- Fix leaking pipes and spigots.
The need for dampness may prevent Oriental cockroaches from living inside your home. If you alter conditions inside your Portland home and seal entry points in your exterior, you may get control of these insects.
- Install ventilation, fans, or dehumidifiers to reduce humidity in your basement and other areas.
- Utilize the fan in your bathroom when taking showers and baths.
- Fix faucets, showerheads, and pipes that leak.
- Inspect your doors and windows for gaps, cracks, or holes, and repair any you find.
- Inspect pipes, wires, wire conduits, and other foundation penetrations. Use a caulking gun to seal things up.
Oriental Cockroaches Are Attracted To The Scent Of Decay
If you have a dirty trash receptacle, dirty redemption bottles, a stinky compost pile, or something else that has an unpleasant smell, you'll attract cockroaches. Keep things as clean as possible to deter Oriental cockroaches.
If you have a dog that leaves droppings in your yard, this can also be an attractant. Dog droppings, fertilizer, and wildlife droppings can all be a catalyst for an Oriental cockroach infestation.
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