The Dangers Cockroaches Pose To Your Mobile, AL Home

german cockroach crawling in a basement
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Cockroaches are good at one thing: surviving. These insects have been around since the dawn of time, and they live in almost every environment on earth, including Mobile, Alabama. Indeed, cockroaches have some really unique survival skills.

For instance:

  • Cockroaches can live a week without their head.
  • Cockroaches can hold their breath for 40 minutes.
  • Cockroaches can run up to three miles per hour.
  • Cockroaches reach maturity in 36 days.
  • Cockroaches can go a month without food.

With the ability to survive under these circumstances, cockroaches are extremely difficult to eliminate from homes. That’s why a reputable pest control service is your best bet if you develop a cockroach infestation.

Types Of Cockroaches In Mobile

There are millions of species of cockroaches around the world. Five are common to the Alabama and Florida Gulf Coast.

  1. German cockroaches: German cockroaches are the most common type around the world. They are relatively small and range from light brown to black in color with two parallel stripes on their backs. They prefer warm, humid environments such as kitchens and bathrooms.
  2. American cockroaches: The largest of the five species at 1-2 inches in length, American cockroaches are also known as water bugs or palmetto bugs. They are reddish-brown with a yellow figure eight behind their heads.
  3. Smoky Brown cockroaches: In some environments, smoky brown cockroaches live primarily outside in planters and shrubs. Along the humid Gulf Coast, they might also live inside your home. These insects are large and glossy brown. They have large wings that they use to fly in search of food.
  4. Oriental cockroaches: Black to dark reddish-brown in color, Oriental cockroaches are about an inch long. They like damp environments, leading some people to call them water bugs. Their distinctive musty odor often signifies an infestation.
  5. Asian cockroaches: Asian cockroaches look like German cockroaches, but they are a different species. Asian cockroaches primarily live outdoors but may find their way into your home. They can fly and are attracted to lights so they may enter through an open door. If you have an infestation in your yard, there’s a good chance these cockroaches will make their way inside.

Are Cockroaches Dangerous?

Yes, they are. Cockroaches don’t usually bite, but they do pose health hazards to humans. That’s because cockroaches are scavengers. They will eat just about anything, including garbage, feces, and decaying organic material. As they eat these things, their spiny legs pick up bacteria.   Cockroaches can bring bacteria into your home and deposit it on food-preparation surfaces and even on food if it is left out. If you eat it, you could contract salmonella, staphylococcus, or streptococcus. Cockroaches are also known to carry intestinal diseases like dysentery, cholera, and typhoid fever.   Along with bacteria, cockroaches can cause allergic reactions for some people. In fact, they are one of the most common triggers of indoor allergies, especially among children. Researchers believe enzymes found in cockroach excrement, eggs, saliva, and shed exoskeletons cause these allergic reactions.

Getting Rid Of Cockroaches In Mobile

Many homeowners attempt to eliminate cockroaches on their own, but these efforts usually fail. Because cockroaches reproduce so quickly, infestations can get out of hand fast. Additionally, many cockroaches are resistant to retail insecticides. Sprays and foggers you find at home improvement stores have little effect on cockroaches, but they can be hazardous to your family and pets. Professional treatment is the best option for dealing with cockroaches in Mobile.

Reliable Pest Control in Mobile

Contact a professional pest control service in Mobile to rid your home of cockroaches.  EnSec will inspect your property, recommend a course of treatment, and follow up to ensure the problem doesn’t return.  Call us today at (850) 821-2215 to learn more or to schedule an appointment. We can help!

Cockroaches are good at one thing: surviving. These insects have been around since the dawn of time, and they live in almost every environment on earth, including Mobile, Alabama. Indeed, cockroaches have some really unique survival skills.

For instance:

  • Cockroaches can live a week without their head.
  • Cockroaches can hold their breath for 40 minutes.
  • Cockroaches can run up to three miles per hour.
  • Cockroaches reach maturity in 36 days.
  • Cockroaches can go a month without food.

With the ability to survive under these circumstances, cockroaches are extremely difficult to eliminate from homes. That’s why a reputable pest control service is your best bet if you develop a cockroach infestation.

Types Of Cockroaches In Mobile

There are millions of species of cockroaches around the world. Five are common to the Alabama and Florida Gulf Coast.

  1. German cockroaches: German cockroaches are the most common type around the world. They are relatively small and range from light brown to black in color with two parallel stripes on their backs. They prefer warm, humid environments such as kitchens and bathrooms.
  2. American cockroaches: The largest of the five species at 1-2 inches in length, American cockroaches are also known as water bugs or palmetto bugs. They are reddish-brown with a yellow figure eight behind their heads.
  3. Smoky Brown cockroaches: In some environments, smoky brown cockroaches live primarily outside in planters and shrubs. Along the humid Gulf Coast, they might also live inside your home. These insects are large and glossy brown. They have large wings that they use to fly in search of food.
  4. Oriental cockroaches: Black to dark reddish-brown in color, Oriental cockroaches are about an inch long. They like damp environments, leading some people to call them water bugs. Their distinctive musty odor often signifies an infestation.
  5. Asian cockroaches: Asian cockroaches look like German cockroaches, but they are a different species. Asian cockroaches primarily live outdoors but may find their way into your home. They can fly and are attracted to lights so they may enter through an open door. If you have an infestation in your yard, there’s a good chance these cockroaches will make their way inside.

Are Cockroaches Dangerous?

Yes, they are. Cockroaches don’t usually bite, but they do pose health hazards to humans. That’s because cockroaches are scavengers. They will eat just about anything, including garbage, feces, and decaying organic material. As they eat these things, their spiny legs pick up bacteria.   Cockroaches can bring bacteria into your home and deposit it on food-preparation surfaces and even on food if it is left out. If you eat it, you could contract salmonella, staphylococcus, or streptococcus. Cockroaches are also known to carry intestinal diseases like dysentery, cholera, and typhoid fever.   Along with bacteria, cockroaches can cause allergic reactions for some people. In fact, they are one of the most common triggers of indoor allergies, especially among children. Researchers believe enzymes found in cockroach excrement, eggs, saliva, and shed exoskeletons cause these allergic reactions.

Getting Rid Of Cockroaches In Mobile

Many homeowners attempt to eliminate cockroaches on their own, but these efforts usually fail. Because cockroaches reproduce so quickly, infestations can get out of hand fast. Additionally, many cockroaches are resistant to retail insecticides. Sprays and foggers you find at home improvement stores have little effect on cockroaches, but they can be hazardous to your family and pets. Professional treatment is the best option for dealing with cockroaches in Mobile.

Reliable Pest Control in Mobile

Contact a professional pest control service in Mobile to rid your home of cockroaches.  EnSec will inspect your property, recommend a course of treatment, and follow up to ensure the problem doesn’t return.  Call us today at (850) 821-2215 to learn more or to schedule an appointment. We can help!