The German cockroach is the most common cockroach found worldwide and can inhabit residential areas, restaurants, nursing homes, hotels, and many other facilities. Cockroaches are often associated with a lack of cleanliness, but sneaky German cockroaches can invade even the cleanest Woodland Hills homes.
A cockroach infestation can happen quickly; these pests fit into small cracks in the exterior foundation of your home and rapidly multiply. Not only do cockroaches cause damage to household items, but they pose a health risk to your and your family.
All About German Cockroaches
You can find German cockroaches throughout the United States, though they tend to be more prevalent in warmer climates like Florida, Texas, and California.
What is a German Cockroach?
You can spot a German cockroach by its light brown to tan coloring with two dark brown stripes parallel down their backs. This cockroach is smaller than an American cockroach and measures around ½ – ⅝ of an inch long. Other distinguishable features include antennae, six legs, and an oval body shape.
If you spot a cockroach in your home, time is of the essence to get help. German cockroaches reproduce at faster rates than any other residential cockroach. Each female German roach produces an egg capsule every six weeks, and it takes less than 60 days for those eggs to become reproductive adults.
You will typically find German cockroaches hiding in kitchens and bathrooms inside cupboards, closets, and under sinks. These creatures thrive in dark, warm, and moist environments.
Why are German Cockroaches a Problem?
Cockroaches have tiny spines on their legs that pick up pathogens, and it doesn’t help that they gravitate towards filth, grime, dirt, and liquid. A German cockroach can transmit 33 different bacterias, six types of parasitic worms, and seven human pathogens.
It’s possible to contract diseases like salmonellosis, gastroenteritis, and dysentery from cockroaches. They also shed carcasses and skin, triggering allergies and asthma, especially in children or immunocompromised individuals.
German cockroaches can also damage valuable items as they chew on leather and paper.
Signs That you Have German Cockroaches
Look for these common signs of roach infestations.
- Small, dark pepper-like droppings in drawers, on countertops, on tops of doors, and in small cracks in walls
- Shed cockroach bodies and wings
- Tiny egg capsules or casings called an ootheca
- Damage to household items
- Mild, persistent musty order
- Spotting cockroaches around your home
Helpful German Cockroach Prevention Tips
Implement these strategies to keep pests out of your home.
- Address Moisture
- Ventilate areas that collect moisture like basements and crawl spaces and get rid of bodies of water
- Use a dehumidifier in humid rooms like bathrooms
- Eliminate Access Points
- Use caulk to fill cracks and crevices in your home’s foundation
- Install weather stripping and door sweeps
- Do not leave doors open for long periods
- Maintain Cleanliness
- Don’t leave food and trash lying around
- Clean crumbs from counters and floors daily
- Do not let dirty dishes pile up in the sink
- Sweep and vacuum regularly
- Hire Professional Pest Control
- Nothing beats certified pest control services from keeping German cockroaches out of your Woodland Hills home
Bugs A to Z: Your Expert Cockroach Exterminators
Bugs A to Z is a full-service residential pest control service that provides dependable, effective, lasting results. With non-invasive methods like green pest management and integrated pest solutions, you can sleep at night knowing your home is safe and pest-free.
Contact us today to know more and get a free quote.
