Cockroaches and Your Health

Cockroaches live in a wide range of environments around the world. Pest species adapt readily to a variety of environments, but prefer warm conditions found within buildings.  Cockroaches are among the hardiest insects. Some species are capable of remaining active for a month without food and are able to survive on limited resources.

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) reports that one-in-five children in the United States have severe sensitivities to cockroach allergens, which increase the severity of asthma symptoms. These allergens are most commonly introduced in homes through cockroach saliva, droppings and the decomposing bodies of these pests.

Cockroaches can also carry bacteria such as E coli and salmonella on their bodies, which can contaminate food, cooking equipment and food surfaces.

If you're concerned that you have cockroaches in your home or place of business, give Dave a call at 1-800-400-6009.

Dave's Pest Control
1-800-400-6009
A Central Massachusetts Extermination and Pest Control Company
Worcester County Pest and Rodent Exterminators
www.davespestcontrol.net

Reference: www.pestworld.org

Who Else Is Living In Your Home?

Who else is living in your home? Watch this video and find out...


If you're concerned that you have insects or rodents in your home or place of business, give Dave a call at 1-800-400-6009.

Dave's Pest Control
1-800-400-6009
A Central Massachusetts Extermination and Pest Control Company
Worcester County Pest and Rodent Exterminators
www.davespestcontrol.net  

Reference: www.pestworld.org

Cockroach Control

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) reports that one-in-five children in the United States have severe sensitivities to cockroach allergens, which increase the severity of asthma symptoms. These allergens are most commonly introduced in homes through cockroach saliva, droppings and the decomposing bodies of these pests.

Cockroach control and management is extremely important for health and safety reasons. The best treatment is done by a trained pest control professional.

If you're concerned that you have cockroaches in your home or place of business, give Dave a call at 1-800-400-6009.

Dave's Pest Control
1-800-400-6009
A Central Massachusetts Extermination and Pest Control Company
Worcester County Pest and Rodent Exterminators
www.davespestcontrol.net  

Reference: www.pestworld.org

Household Pests Threat

A few things you should know about insects and rodents . . .

• Did you know cockroaches trigger asthma? 
• Have you heard that termites cause more than $5 billion in property damage every year in the U.S.? 
• Were you aware that rodents and ants contaminate food? 
• Have  you  heard about mosquitoes and West Nile Virus, ticks and Lyme Disease… 

The threats that household pests cause are very real. But, they should only scare you if you are uninformed about these pest-related health and property threats.

From insights on integrated pest management to tips on seasonal pest proofing, visit Dave's Pest Control web site for the latest information on household pests and how to get rid of them.

Of course, you can always give Dave a call too! 1-800-400-6009.

We serve Central Mass and all of Worcester County.

Dave's Pest Control
1-800-400-6009
A Central Massachusetts Extermination and Pest Control Company
Worcester County Pest and Rodent Exterminators www.davespestcontrol.net

Extreme Infestation Effecting Hoarder

Warning: Not for the faint-hearted.

On a recent episode of TLC's "Hoarding: Buried Alive," viewers met Sherry, a woman whose depression provided the perfect environment for a slew of creepy crawly tenants including cockroaches and black widow spiders. One of our Extreme Infestations partners, Billy Tesh of PMi Pest Management Systems, was called in to treat the extreme infestation.



If you're concerned that you have cockroaches in your home or place of business, give Dave a call at 1-800-400-6009.

Dave's Pest Control
A Central Massachusetts Extermination and Pest Control
Company
Worcester County Pest and Rodent Exterminators
www.davespestcontrol.net

Reference: www.pestworld.org

Fun Facts About Roaches

Cockroaches wear their skeletons on the outside of their bodies. A cockroach that has just shed its skeleton is white with black eyes. After eight hours, it regains its regular coloring.

Roaches have six hairy legs. The tiny hairs found on each leg gives them their sense of touch.

Many cockroaches can fly and have beautiful diaphanous--or see-through--wings.

If you're concerned that you have cockroaches in your home or place of business, give Dave a call at 1-800-400-6009.

Dave's Pest Control
A Central Massachusetts Extermination and Pest Control Company
www.davespestcontrol.net

Facts and Tidbits About Cockroaches

• Cockroaches have been reported to spread at least 33 kinds of bacteria, six kinds of parasitic worms, and at least seven other kinds of human pathogens.
• There are 5,000 species of cockroaches worldwide.
• Newborn German cockroaches become adults in as little as 36 days.
• Oriental cockroaches are often found in sewers and will enter structures through drains.
• American cockroaches are found in food processing areas and food storage areas, as well as other types of buildings.
• Cockroaches can withstand temperatures as cold as 32°F. In extremely cold places, however, they survive by moving in with humans.

If you're concerned that you have insects or rodents in your home or place of business, give Dave a call at 1-800-400-6009.

Dave's Pest Control
A Central Massachusetts Extermination and Pest Control Company
www.davespestcontrol.net

Reference: www.pestworld.org

Cockroach Trivia

Did you know...

• Cockroaches have been around since the time of dinosaurs!
• A cockroach can live almost a month without food.
• A cockroach can live about two weeks without water.
• Some female cockroaches only mate once and stay pregnant for life!
• A cockroach can live for up to one week without its head!
• Cockroaches can hold their breath for up to 40 minutes!
• Cockroaches can run up to 3 miles an hour.

If you're concerned that you have cockroaches in your home or place of business, give Dave a call at 1-800-400-6009.

Dave's Pest Control
A Central Massachusetts Pest Control Company
www.davespestcontrol.net

Reference: www.pestworld.org

Preventing Cockroach Invasions - Part 2

Just like with rats, a clean home is the best way to keep cockroaches at bay. It's a good idea to sweep up the kitchen floor before going to bed to be certain there are no loose crumbs lying about to attract cockroaches. Don't forget to close any open trash bags under your kitchen sink as well.

The German cockroach is the most common type and is found all over the US. This particular variety drinks a lot of water so sponge up any standing water in the kitchen sink and don't leave out dirty dishes with scraps of food affixed after you go off to bed. If you have a leaky pipe, be sure to get it fixed as soon as possible because even the smallest thing like this can draw the cockroaches. Remember that by denying cockroaches the food and water they seek, you are taking a major step toward avoiding an infestation.

More than one individual has moved to escape a cockroach infestation that just couldn't be vanquished. Be very sure if you move that you aren't transporting cockroaches in any of your moving cartons. Keep a can of pesticide on hand and if you spot any, spray them immediately or you'll have brought the infestation with you to your new home or apartment. Moving again would be awfully expensive, so do all you can to make sure none made the trip with you to the new house.

Here are some good general rules to prevent a cockroach infestation:

1. Be certain to store food in tightly-sealed containers or in your refrigerator.
2. Sweep floors and wipe down kitchen counters every night before bed.
3. Never leave dirty dishes in the sink overnight are any bowls or plates filled with water.
4. Take out all garbage every night. Make sure kitchen trash receptacle is sealed.
5. Use caulking to seal up any small cracks in walls, baseboards, around pipes and anywhere else cockroaches might gain entry or hide.
6. Make sure you have weather stripping around doors and windows. This will keep cockroaches from entering.
7. Fix all leaks and keep areas under sinks clean and dry.
8. Clean up piles of clutter everywhere in the house but especially in the basement or close to the kitchen area.
9. Spray roach killer frequently under sinks, in the basement and around and under the refrigerator, washer and dryer. These are favorite cockroach hiding places.

If you're concerned that you have cockroaches in your home or place of business, give Dave a call at 1-800-400-6009.

Dave's Pest Control
A Central Massachusetts Pest Control Company
www.davespestcontrol.net

Preventing Cockroach Invasions - Part 1

Everyone detests the cockroaches and wants them to be dealt with swiftly and permanently. These insects have survived unchanged for millions of years. Cockroaches were rumored to have survived atomic bomb tests in Nevada. Be that as it may, cockroaches have been present virtually everywhere for longer than we have and they seem determined to stay.

Sadly, the cockroach is one bug that can be hazardous to your family's health. That is why it is so vital that you eliminate the threat as soon as you see they have moved in. Cockroaches are known to carry diseases, germs and bacteria and have also been linked to asthma and allergies. Thus, it is wise to take every possible step to prevent a cockroach infestation because once they are entrenched, it's almost impossible to completely remove them.

Cockroaches normally live outdoors, but can make themselves quite at home in your walls, under refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, under kitchen sinks and anywhere else they can hide. Normally, cockroaches stay well out of sight until after lights out, when they emerge to search for water, crumbs of food, and other edibles. It is also not uncommon to turn on the lights and open a kitchen cabinet in the wee hours, only to be met by cockroaches crawling over things inside your kitchen cabinets. These giant bugs will eat just about anything and by allowing crumbs, water (especially dripping water pipes), pet food and other things to be open and accessible, you are inviting an infestation.

I'll be writing more about dealing will invading cockroaches in my next blog post, so stay tuned!

If you're concerned that you have cockroaches in your home or place of business, give Dave a call at 1-800-400-6009.

Dave's Pest Control
A Central Massachusetts Pest Control Company
www.davespestcontrol.net

Meet The Brown-banded Cockroach

Brown-banded cockroaches get their name from the two lighter bands they have across their dark brownish bodies. In addition to the distinctive banding, males have full wings, which reach beyond the tip of their rather pointed abdomens, but females have underdeveloped wings, much shorter than their broad, rounded abdomens.

Brown-banded cockroaches often hide their egg cases in or under furniture. These roaches tend to prefer warmer, drier, and higher locations than do any of the other urban pest roaches. They are often found in upper cabinets or in other rooms than the kitchens (food preparation areas) or bathrooms.

Cockroaches have been reported to spread at least 33 kinds of bacteria, six kinds of parasitic worms, and at least seven other kinds of human pathogens. They can pick up germs on the spines of their legs and bodies as they crawl through decaying matter or sewage and then carry these into food or onto food surfaces.

Recent medical studies have shown that cockroach allergens cause lots of allergic reactions in inner city children. They were even shown to cause asthma in children. These allergens build up in deposits of droppings, secretions, cast skins, and dead bodies of roaches.
Prevention:

Good sanitation and habitat reduction, along with vacuuming, surveillance, a baiting program, and some sealing of cracks can usually quickly reduce or eliminate a cockroach population.

If you're concerned that you have cockroaches in your home or place of business, give Dave a call at 1-800-400-6009.

Dave's Pest Control
A Central Massachusetts Pest Control Company
www.davespestcontrol.net

Reference: www.pestworld.org

Not For The Squeamish - Happy Halloween

Be forewarned...this video from National Geographic of a cockroach infestation is  not for the squeamish. But in the scary spirit of Halloween, watch it...IF YOU DARE!



Dave's Pest Control
Serving Central Massachusetts
www.davespestcontrol.net

More About Cockroaches

Cockroaches have been reported to spread at least 33 kinds of bacteria, six kinds of parasitic worms, and at least seven other kinds of human pathogens. They can pick up germs on the spines of their legs and bodies as they crawl through decaying matter or sewage and then carry these into food or onto food surfaces. Germs that cockroaches eat from decaying matter or sewage are protected while in their bodies and may remain infective for several weeks longer than if they had been exposed to cleaning agents, rinse water, or just sunlight and air.

Recent medical studies have shown that cockroach allergens cause lots of allergic reactions in inner city children. They were even shown to cause asthma in children. These allergens build up in deposits of droppings, secretions, cast skins, and dead bodies of roaches.

Good sanitation and habitat reduction, along with vacuuming, surveillance, a baiting program, and some sealing of cracks can usually quickly reduce or eliminate a cockroach population.

If you're concerned that you have cockroaches in your home or place of business, give Dave a call at 1-800-400-6009.

Dave's Pest Control
Serving Central Massachusetts
www.davespestcontrol.net

Reference: www.pestworld.org

Brown Banded Cockroaches

Brown banded cockroaches get their name from the two lighter bands they have across their dark brownish bodies. In addition to the distinctive banding, males have full wings, which reach beyond the tip of their rather pointed abdomens, but females have underdeveloped wings, much shorter than their broad, rounded abdomens. The lighter band markings are much more distinct in nymphs than in adults of either sex.

Within a room, these roaches tend to prefer warmer, drier, and higher locations than do any of the other urban pest roaches. They are often found in upper cabinets or in other rooms than the kitchens (food preparation areas) or bathrooms.

If you're concerned that you have cockroaches in your home or place of business, give Dave a call at 1-800-400-6009.

Dave's Pest Control
Serving Central Massachusetts
www.davespestcontrol.net

Reference: www.pestworld.org

La Cucaracha

La Cucaracha, "The Cockroach," is a traditional Spanish folk song that became popular during the Mexican Revolution. But as household insects, they are not so popular.

Cockroaches are one of the most commonly noted household pest insects. They feed on human and pet food, and can leave an offensive odor. They can also passively transport microbes on their body surfaces, including those that are potentially dangerous to humans, particularly in environments such as hospitals.

Cockroaches infestations have been shown to be linked with allergic reactions in humans. One of the proteins that triggers allergic reactions has been identified as tropomyosin. These allergens have also been found to be linked with asthma.

If you're concerned that you have cockroaches in your home or place of business, give Dave a call at 1-800-400-6009.

Dave's Pest Control
http://www.davespestcontrol.net