Cockroach Bite- Prevention and Treatment

Cockroaches are some of the most despised pests. They are associated with uncleanliness and can be a great source of embarrassment, should they invade your home, not to mention the health risk posed by these wicked pests. They can be a quite dangerous bunch, especially, when they start to bite. Learning about these creeps can help you prevent roach bites.

Understanding Cockroach Bites

These shameless pests feed on either meat or plants. They are notorious for feeding on human flesh, including eyelashes, hair, fingernails, and skin from hands and feet. They bite in extreme conditions, where their population exceeds the amount of food available. If cockroaches start to bite, it is a sign that their population is very high. Thus, you need to start planning their extermination. To effectively get rid of them and prevent bites, you need to understand the following basics about roaches.

Their Habitats

Cockroaches can be found just about anywhere including apartments, hotels, motels, ships and even restaurants- just to mention a few. They mostly prefer to hide in dark places that are rich in moisture. Perhaps, the reason why you will mostly find them underwater drains, behind refrigerators and underneath sinks and stoves. These unwelcome visitors can inhabit your home for some time before you realize that they are there. They have the ability to flatten their bodies and fit in very narrow spaces, including wall cracks.

Signs of Cockroach Infestation

There are two major indicators for a cockroach infestation. One can identify the presence of roaches by their feces. The higher the quantity of feces, the higher the population. Cockroach feces can be cylindrical or resembling coffee beans, depending on whether the roaches are small or adults. Another indicator of their infestation is odor. If the infestation is severe, you will get a musty odor coming from your house. Other signs include dead roaches lying around and egg cases in or behind furniture.

Types of Cockroaches

There are over 4000 cockroach species. Identify the type of cockroaches infesting your home requires the help of a pest control professional. Here are some of the common types.

• German Cockroach

This is the most common type of cockroach that you will find your home. The color of these roaches ranges anywhere between tan and light brown. They have two distinguishing black lines on their back. You will mostly find them in your kitchens and bathrooms.

• Oriental Cockroach

This type of roach has a dark and shiny appearance. They are commonly referred to as water bugs because they enter your house through water drains. For this reason, you will mostly find them in crawlspaces and basements. Courtesy of their dark shiny complexion, these type of roaches is also known as black beetle cockroaches. They are also considered to be the dirtiest kind of roaches. This is the most common type of roach in USA’s northern regions.

• Brownbanded Cockroach

As signified by its name, this type of roaches is brown in color and has conspicuous bands crossing their wings. Because this type of roaches likes to inhabit high-leveled places, you will mostly find them in top cabinetry of any room.

• American Cockroach

This is the largest type of house-infesting cockroaches. The American Cockroach is reddish brown in color. You will mostly find this type of roach around pipes, drains and in the basement. They are very active in temperatures of 70 degrees and above. However, with every other condition being right, they are capable of surviving in very low temperatures.

Symptoms of Cockroach Bites

Bites from roaches are hard to differentiate from those of other insects. Cockroach bites are similar to those caused by mosquitos. The only difference is in their size. They tend to be larger than those caused by mosquitoes. Their bites are accompanied by irritation and swelling of the area. And, because they carry germs in their mouths and on the spines of their legs, if not promptly and properly treated, they might cause wound infections.

Treatment of Cockroach Bites

A cockroach wound must be properly cleaned. Otherwise, it will only accelerate. Take a clean cotton wool and dip it in alcohol. Next, press the cotton wool on the bitten area, ensuring that every area of the bite is covered. This will help kill infections that might lead to wounds.

Prevention of Roach Bites

To efficiently prevent roach bites, one has to get rid of them. To eliminate roaches from your premises, you can choose to use the service of a professional pest control service. However, if you do not have the money, there are a number of DIY methods that you can try. Complete elimination of roaches from your home, by yourself, requires a lot of effort. You need to be really patient and be willing to try a number of methods in exterminating them. Here are a number of ways avoid cockroach bites.

• Starving Them

Cockroaches will thrive anywhere if they have access to food and water. Depriving them of these two is a sure way to kill them. To do so, it is important that you store your food in airtight containers. Also, ensure that dirty dishes are washed immediately after use. And, always clean your house and cabinets to get rid of any food particles that might be lying around.

• Baits

There are so many baits, for cockroach elimination, available in the market today. Some baits are made of gel and act as a source of food for these pests. Roaches are lured to these baits and will willingly consume the poison in them.

• Traps

Traps can also help in the elimination of pests. These traps come in the form of sticky pads. Once roaches come into contact with these sticky pads, they get trapped. Next, is to remove the bait and burn them off.

• Boric Acid

Boric acid is one of the most effective means for pest elimination. To effectively kill roaches with this method, mix boric with water and floor then place it in their hideouts. Boric acid kills pests, such as roaches, by dehydrating them and shutting down their nervous system.