Horne’s Pest Control Offers Tips on Dealing with Cockroaches
Martinez, GA (PRWEB) January 17, 2014 -- Cockroaches are one of the most recognized insects in the world, and it is generally accepted that they can survive a nuclear blast. There are more than 5000 species of cockroaches worldwide and the earliest fossilized cockroach dates back 280 million years – 80 million years older than the first dinosaurs. Horne’s Pest Control Company warns homeowners that treating a roach problem must be done correctly, or the problem may be exacerbated.
The different species vary in size from the largest, six inches long with a 12-inch wingspan, to the smallest, which reside in ant nests. The fastest cockroach can move 50 body lengths per second, or the equivalent of a person running about 200 mph, and can change direction 25 times per second. Some cockroaches - when they break a leg - can grow another. Most cockroaches can live two weeks without water and four weeks without food. Some can live up to nine days without a head. They can hold their breath for up to 40 minutes and regularly swim up sewer and drain lines. Some females will mate once and remain pregnant for life. Females can lay up to two million offspring in a year. Cockroaches spend about 75 percent of their time resting. Some cultures eat cockroaches fried in oil and garlic as a cure for indigestion and they have been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. One such use is for the treatment of stingray stings. Cultures have changed - they were once considered a guest of honor in homes and it was customary to actually release them in new dwellings.
Typically, cockroach control is divided into two groups: large roaches that come in from the outdoors and the smaller pantry-infesting type.
Pantry-infesting cockroaches most often refer to German roaches and sometimes Asian roaches. Their control is difficult because they harbor in the cracks and crevices of the kitchen area and often spread out throughout the house. Harborage can include multitudes of areas such as dishwasher and refrigerator motor housings, electrical sockets, toasters, the spines of cook books, plumbing voids, under shelving paper, in boxes, etc. In order to gain control, it is usually necessary to perform a systematic approach. First, it is necessary to kill as many foraging and breeding adults as possible. This is done using a thorough, crack-and-crevice pesticide injection program. The insecticide should also contain a sterilizing agent to inhibit future roaches that come into contact with that area from reproducing. It is not possible to treat every single crevice. As a result, insecticide-laden bait is placed in multiple strategic locations so that when the young and newly-hatched roaches forage for food, they will ingest this bait. In addition, it is advisable to continue to apply sterilizing agents throughout the area in the event that some roaches find the bait unpalatable. In general, German roach control is very difficult and usually unattainable except by a trained exterminator.
Large roaches that come in from the outdoors are a little simpler. It is important to establish a barrier in order to attempt to repel these insects from coming inside. This is accomplished by treating the mulch in the flower beds, the soil and substructure in the crawl space, around plumbing penetrations, and around the eves in the attic. It is recommended to read the labels of various insecticides and follow their directions during these applications. It is important to keep the shrubs trimmed off of the house, keep mulch to a minimum and store items such as firewood well away from the home. In addition, keeping the gutters clean, as well as straw from building up on the roof, helps too. If the large roaches have established a colony inside the living area, then a crack-and-crevice treatment will be needed in order to kill the infestation. Otherwise they will breed and continue to thrive.
Please know that the technicians at Horne’s have received multiple hours of both classroom and field training by various organizations including major universities. The extermination of cockroaches can be a very difficult challenge. Horne’s often says that a person can go to Home Depot or Lowe’s and buy everything he or she needs to build a house, but that does not mean that he or she can actually do it. Horne’s invites anyone to call their office with any specific questions, additional advice or to schedule an appointment.
About the company:
Horne’s Pest Control offers pest control solutions that combine the most advanced chemistry and targeted treatments in three protective layers. It takes the pest control battle directly to a home’s four defensive zones: exterior, attic, crawl space and interior. This pest control method stops a pest invasion at all possible entry points. Horne’s Pest Control also uses a comprehensive approach to termite control. Horne’s Pest Control has the most comprehensive damage repair warranty in Augusta, Ga. and Aiken, S.C. so homeowners can rest assured that their home is protected. Visit the website for more information, http://hornespestcontrol.com.
David Horne, Horne's Pest Control Company, Inc., http://www.hornespestcontrol.com, 706-863-5354, [email protected]
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