While all pests have a bad reputation, many people assume that cockroaches are only attracted to unsanitary or dirty places. Like most pests, big or small, roaches are looking for a place to call home with access to food and water and protection.
Cockroaches like to hunt for food in all areas of your home at night when they’re most likely to go undetected. You may not notice that you have a roach problem until it becomes an infestation. At Seitz Bros., we have decades of experience helping people getting rid of some of the most persistent pests around, which include roaches.
Types of Roaches in Your Home
It doesn’t matter if you live in an apartment, condo or a brand-new home, cockroaches don’t discriminate. Not sure which type of roach is lurking in your home? Here are some common cockroach types and their preferred spots to take up dwelling.
German Cockroach
German cockroaches are more likely to take up residence in warm and humid areas in a home, such as a bathroom or a kitchen. They have wings but cannot fly. German cockroaches are:
- ½ to ⅝ of an inch in size
- Light to medium brown with two dark stripes on the lower back
- Females carry an egg capsule until eggs are ready to hatch
Oriental Cockroach
Oriental cockroaches are also known as water bugs or black beetles, and they prefer humid and dark inside places or damp outdoor spaces, like around gutters. Oriental cockroaches are:
- 1 inch (males) to 1 and ¼ inch (females)
- Dark brown or black and “greasy” looking
- Winged but cannot fly
American Cockroach
American cockroaches are sometimes known as flying water bugs, and unlike other types of cockroaches, they can fly. These flying roaches prefer warm and damp rooms like laundry rooms or basements, but also spend time outside. American cockroaches are:
- More than 1 and ½ inches
- Reddish-brown with yellow or light brown markings
- One of the largest cockroaches in the U.S.
Brown-banded Cockroach
Like other cockroaches, brown-banded cockroaches like dark places and often hide in the attic or on your ceiling. While more active at night, it’s not uncommon to see brown-banded cockroaches during the day. Brown-banded cockroaches are:
- Around ½ inch
- Light brown with two bands that run along the wings and abdomen
- Winged but only males can fly
Signs You May Have a Roach Infestation
Many people don’t notice that they have roaches in their home until they have an infestation. Not sure if you have roaches? Look for cockroach droppings which can vary in size from ground coffee to a grain of rice.
If you have a large infestation, you may smell a “musky” odor in areas that roaches prefer or find egg casings. If your neighbor mentions that they have a roach problem, you are at a higher risk of having them as well.
Roaches don’t typically bite, but they have the potential to spread viral diseases. Individuals with allergies or respiratory issues like asthma often experience worsening symptoms due to cockroaches.
Treating Your Roach Infestation
Cockroach infestations are difficult to treat on your own and it’s best to hire a professional to identify the type of roach in your home accurately. At Seitz Bros., our pest control technicians know the difference between roaches and where they prefer to dwell.
Our treatment plans vary based upon the extremity of your infestation and the level of damage in your home.