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Cockroaches
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Pest Management Solutions for Cockroaches
There are several types of cockroaches present across Ontario. Identifying the correct type of cockroach helps professional exterminators plan the right type of treatment for the best results. Cockroaches can spread diseases and cause discomfort to people with allergies or asthma. Advantage Pest Control can help keep cockroaches at bay with our pest control solutions in North York, Scarborough, Whitby, Toronto, and surrounding areas.
Get in touch to schedule an extermination to get rid of cockroaches from your home or commercial property today.
Types of Cockroaches in Ontario
Here are the major types of cockroaches found in Ontario.
German Cockroach
Also known as Blattella germanica, German cockroaches are among the most common domestic pests in North America. Small in size (13mm-16 mm), they are often found in restaurants, food processing facilities, hotels, nursing homes and warm, humid areas close to food and moisture sources. They are light brown, have two dark lines on their backs and can emit a mild but musky odour in large numbers. Out of all the residential cockroach species, German cockroaches reproduce the fastest with a maturation cycle of 50 to 60 days. While incapable of surviving in cold climates, the presence of water, food, harbourage and central heating allows them to persist in frosty climates as far north as Alert, Nunavut. Similar to most pests, they can contaminate food sources, garbage and book bindings with their feces and defensive secretions, potentially triggering allergic responses, food poisoning and dysentery. In the most extreme of infestations, they have been reported to bite humans and directly feed off of food fragments on the faces of sleeping humans. Despite possessing wings, German cockroaches cannot fly but can glide when threatened. Given their growing physiological resistance to commercial insecticides, it is strongly recommended to hire a professional exterminator to ensure complete elimination of all cockroaches in your home or workplace, seal all food sources and restrict entry points that may allow cockroaches to re-infest your home from the outside.
American Cockroach
A product of the slave trade, Periplaneta americana or American cockroaches, are large (2.5 cm - 5 cm), reddish-brown cockroaches that were first introduced to the North American continent as far back as 1625. Primarily found in basements, sewers and drainage systems, the American cockroach is found in commercial and large buildings with food stores but may infest homes after heavy rain. As light-avoiding insects, they can be found near water pipes, sinks, bathrooms and toilets, with the average specimen living up to 1000 days. Capable of producing an average of 150 nymphs in their lifetime, American cockroaches represent a public health problem capable of transmitting human waste and disease from sewers into homes and commercial establishments. Besides soiling items with their excrement and regurgitation, they are opportunistic feeders known for eating book starch, glue, plant materials, soiled clothing and dead or wounded cockroaches. Able to squeeze through cracks and crevices, they represent a threat to the health and safety of businesses and homeowners. Consider the help of a professional pest control company to protect your location from these sewerbourne insects.
Oriental Cockroach
Blatta orientalis, also known as black cockroaches and common water bugs, is a large species of cockroach that grows between 1.8 cm to 2.5 cm, with a dark brown or black body colour and a life cycle of 6-9 months. Contrary to their name, insectologists from the University of Florida traced their origins to southern Russia and the Crimean Peninsula. While less common than the endemic German cockroach, Oriental cockroaches remain a major household pest, particularly in moist and dark areas such as leafy undercover, basements, sewer drains and spaces under porches or sinks. They have a slimy appearance and are flightless creatures. They are particularly tolerant of colder climates despite preferring warm areas. Due to this species depositing eggs in cracks and crevices and most nymphs hatching one to three months after the eggs have been laid, oriental cockroaches can be incredibly challenging to eradicate with traditional spray-based insecticides. Combined with most sprays breaking down into harmless chemicals in the moist environments favoured by oriental cockroaches, this results in a species that is particularly resilient to commercially available treatments, and presents a vector of infection for those with weakened immune systems or poorly stored foodstuffs. To treat oriental cockroaches, you may require the help of a professional pest control company. Consider Advantage Pest Control and our integrated pest treatment to eradicate this threat and provide recommendations regarding sealing and humidity control.
Wood Cockroach
A species that favours the great outdoors, Parcoblatta, pine bugs or cedar bugs are 12-30mm long and native to the woodlands of Ontario and North America at large. Similar in appearance to the American cockroach, it often requires microscopic examination to positively identify on a physical level. However, their behaviour stands in stark contrast, being active in the day and night while being less likely to seek shelter when spotted. While both species feature wings, the male is a strong flyer and can often be found flying towards light sources. Due to their proclivity for woodland environments, they are capable of surviving and thriving in homes that store firewood or have nearby trees and rotting logs. Despite their comparatively specialized evolution, wood cockroaches are just as capable of spreading disease as any other cockroach species, leaving behind a trail of droppings and saliva as they walk. Notably, their sheddings can trigger asthma in children, the elderly and other sensitive individuals. Removing the source of wood may solve a wood cockroach problem, as this species rarely stays indoors for long periods of time. If not possible, consider a professional pest control company to provide integrated pest management services to treat your home or business for a wood cockroach invasion.
Brown-banded Cockroach
Measuring only 10 mm - 14 mm, Supella Longipalpa is the smallest variety of cockroach found in Ontario. They resemble the German cockroach, but are distinguished by a pair of light brown bands on their body and their strong preference for urbanized environments. Tracing its origins to Africa, it has since become a global pest with a presence on every continent with a human presence. Rather than most cockroach species, which establish their habitats in rooms with food and water, brown-banded cockroaches favour areas with high elevation. Both adults and eggs have been found behind pictures, inside upholstered furniture, inside toasters, under chairs or tables, and more. Combined with their small size, this species is particularly suited for spreading in buildings due to their ability to digest almost any organic materials in a home, individual females laying up to 252 eggs per lifetime and the species' preference for spreading to new rooms and areas. While females have vestigial wings, males are fully capable of flying when threatened, panicked or disturbed in any way. For eradicating this particularly stubborn species of cockroach, consider Advantage Pest Control and our several decades of experience with clearing cockroach infestations.
Cockroach Prevention
If you constantly see cockroaches running about, come across dead cockroaches, or see droppings that look like coffee grounds, chances are, you have a cockroach problem. Here are some ways you can prevent an infestation.
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Keep garbage bin areas clean
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Keep garbage bins properly sealed
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Clean up food spills immediately
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Do not leave dirty dishes overnight
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Repair plumbing leaks quickly
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Wrap your pipes to avoid condensation
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Keep your space clean
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Store food off the ground in racks or shelves
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Seal openings around windows and doors
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Do not leave your doors open without a screen
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Seal your food items in jars or containers
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Hire professional exterminators
