Cockroaches

Professional Cockroach Pest Management – Inspection, Consultation, And Quote

Cockroach infestations are the most commonly reported of their kind in Chicago. Tenants, homeowners, business owners, government agencies, and public workers have reported cockroach infestations in the last year. Unfortunately, most of these entities and individuals do not know how to differentiate between the 4,000 cockroach species. So, it is impossible to determine which cockroach species is responsible for the thousands of infestations reported in Chicago annually.

To maximize your pest management strategy, regardless if it is professional or DIY, it is crucial to know each cockroach species’ identifying physical characteristics. Contrary to belief, not all species of cockroaches invade homes and commercial buildings. While they may find themselves indoors, in many cases, it is not intentional.

It only takes one adult pregnant female to start a full-blown cockroach infestation. These prolific breeders continuously reproduce indoors and outdoors.

Most Commonly Reported Cockroach Species In Chicago

In Chicago, the most commonly reported sightings involve the American and German cockroach species.

German Cockroach

The German cockroach grows up to 5/8” inches in length, with a light brown body and unique markings on the back of the head referred to as “racing stripes.” These prolific breeders produce up to 40 eggs that are stored in a small casing. One adult female can produce up to five casings in her lifetime.

German cockroaches invade homes to access vulnerable processed food, such as cookies, crackers, cereal, nuts, bread, and candy. They have been shown to stay as close to their food sources as possible. They are commonly found living underneath and inside appliances, electronics, kitchen cabinets, pantries, and baseboards.

The insect’s wings are not utilized for flying.

American Cockroach

The American cockroach is slightly larger than the German cockroach species, growing up to two inches long. The body is brownish/red with a unique marking on the head plate. Unlike the German cockroach’s racing stripes, the American cockroach’s head plate marking is a single black stripe.

Also, the insect utilizes its wings to fly short distances to escape capture and access a food source. This cockroach species has the longest lifespan of up to three years. Many of these insects mature at six months of age while others experienced delayed maturity, which takes another 1.5 years. At maturity, the insect can survive another year in a controlled environment.

The American cockroach is commonly found living near public sewer systems that are damaged and leaking. They will enter the interior of a building through the same route as the plumbing pipes.

Cockroach Species That Are Not Found In Chicago

Pennsylvania Wood Cockroaches

Male and female Pennsylvania wood cockroaches look nothing alike. Males are much larger and females have shorter wings. Pennsylvania wood cockroaches are primarily found in the Eastern portion of the United States, but they can travel elsewhere too. The good news is that they’re usually not pests. They won’t reproduce inside of your home. They’re normally attracted to wood shingles and wood siding. They’ll also approach your home if your gutters are blocked.

Spotted Mediterranean Cockroaches

These cockroaches are one of the smallest cockroaches, but they’re still problematic. They often grow up to a third of an inch. They’re light tan with a few dark specks across their body. They are native to Europe and recently entered the United States. Since then, they’ve quickly spread across the United States. They generally stay outside close to nearby foliage. If they enter your home, they won’t reproduce inside.

Oriental Cockroaches

If you saw a male and female Oriental cockroach, you likely wouldn’t believe they belonged to the same group. Males are larger than females. While female oriental cockroaches never develop wings, males have wings that cover roughly three-quarters of their bodies. They are a lot like American cockroaches since both want to infest sewer and older structures. However, it is important to know that these cockroaches are cold-hardy so they can survive outside in colder weather.

Smokey brown Cockroaches

Smokey brown cockroaches are one of the largest cockroaches and grow over half an inch. They’re reddish-brown. Smokey brown cockroaches are primarily found in the Southern United States, but they may be found in Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana. They often travel in shipping containers. One thing that sets this cockroach apart from the others is the fact that it has full wings.

Surinam Cockroaches

Surinam cockroaches can reach three-quarters of an inch and they have light tan wings. Since these roaches prefer being in warm environments, they do not travel too far north. You likely won’t encounter Surinam cockroaches, but you could. If you do, there is a good chance that you’re going to find them in your greenhouse around potted plants. There are no male Surinam cockroaches so the females hold their eggs and give live births.

Brown-Banded Cockroaches

These cockroaches reach a half-inch in length, and they’re tan or light brown. They’re sometimes mistaken for German cockroaches because they look similar. The only big difference is that brown-banded cockroaches do not have racing stripes. Instead, they have a dark mark on their head. Although it is rare to see brown-banded cockroaches, they can invade structures from time to time.

Why Cockroaches Invaded Your Home

Why would cockroaches invade your home? In some cases, they’ve entered your home because there is a busted sewer pipe nearby. In addition to this, some cockroaches are attracted to dirty homes. If you haven’t cleaned your home enough, you’ll be more likely to experience a cockroach infestation. Keep your home clean and call us when you experience a problem. Identify the species and you’ll know why the cockroaches have invaded your property.

Primary Dangers Associated With Cockroaches

A cockroach infestation cannot be ignored because a cockroach infestation will be very dangerous. Unfortunately, cockroaches can contaminate your food sources, and they’re capable of spreading dangerous illnesses. With that being said, you cannot ignore this problem. If you do, you’re going to regret it in the future. Remember that cockroaches can cause outbreaks of salmonella. Plus, they will inflame asthma symptoms. Cockroaches can make your loved ones sick so you need to remove them from your property rapidly. If they contaminate your food, you may experience dysentery and food poisoning.

Removing Cockroaches From Your Home

Once cockroaches have entered your home, working to get rid of them should be your top priority. Our company understands how quickly you need to remove cockroaches from your property. On the other hand, you’ll want to take steps to keep your loved ones safe. What is the best technique for removing cockroaches from your home? Ultimately, you can use numerous techniques. For instance, you can try using DIY methods to eliminate the cockroaches, but this is not recommended. DIY methods are often ineffective and costly.

Working with us the best way to tackle the problem while keeping your loved ones safe. We use eco-friendly methods to eliminate cockroaches, so we’re going to keep the environment safe throughout the cockroach removal process.

When Can Your Exterminator Respond?

Contact us to schedule an appointment with a friendly exterminator today. You can expect to hear back from us within 24 to 48 hours.

Our Cockroach Treatment Is Safe

Our company offers comprehensive, safe cockroach treatments. When you work with us, you can rest assured knowing we’ll do everything in our power to keep you safe. For starters, we only use EPA-registered products to eliminate the cockroaches in your home. Although conventional treatments may be required, our exterminator will use these products safely and accurately. We’ll keep you safe throughout the entire process.

Avoiding Cockroach Infestations In The Future

Unfortunately, stopping a cockroach infestation is not easy. Cockroaches are one of the most dangerous household pests on the planet so you cannot ignore this problem. You can take steps to keep them out, but those tricks may not work. It is pertinent to make sure that you keep your home clean and tidy so these pests won’t be able to find food in your home. Be sure to check your home carefully to make sure that all gaps and cracks have been filled.

If you are facing a cockroach infestation, we recommend our free visual pest inspection. Our exterminators have undergone extensive training to search for and locate cockroach nests indoors and outdoors.

Cockroaches have been associated with foodborne illnesses, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) exacerbation, asthma, and allergy attacks. If you or a member of your household has been diagnosed with one of the aforementioned medical conditions, it is crucial to address the cockroach problem immediately.