Oriental Cockroaches

What do Oriental cockroaches look like?

Growing up to an inch in length, oriental cockroaches can be easily distinguished from other cockroach species by their shiny, black, oval-shaped bodies. Oriental cockroaches have six legs with short, spiky hairs and a pair of long, thin antennae.

What do Oriental cockroaches eat?

Like other cockroaches, Oriental cockroaches are not picky eaters. When left with few choices, they’ll eat almost anything they encounter. However, when they have the opportunity, Oriental cockroaches prefer to feed on decaying organic matter, garbage, and starchy foods.

Oriental cockroaches can survive for up to a month without food. However, they can’t go more than a couple of weeks without water.

Do Oriental cockroaches bite?

Oriental cockroaches can bite. However, it is extremely rare for a person to be bitten by one of these pests. They prefer to stay away from people, so it’s unlikely for someone to get close enough to an Oriental cockroach to be bitten. If you get bitten, the bite may cause a little pain but should heal without incident if it doesn’t become infected.

Are Oriental cockroaches harmful?

Although you don’t have to worry about being bitten by an Oriental cockroach, that doesn’t mean they’re harmless. Cockroaches are one of the most dangerous pests that can get into your home because of their ability to spread diseases.

Oriental cockroaches spend a lot of their time in areas that are not sanitary. Because they require water for survival, they’re often found in sewers but may also show up in sink or floor drains, garbage cans, or around organic matter in your yard. While in these places, they can pick up harmful pathogens that can spread to the surfaces of your home. These pathogens can then be spread to your family and make you sick. Cockroaches are known to spread over 30 types of bacteria alone, not to mention the viruses, parasites, and other pathogens they might carry.

What are Oriental cockroaches attracted to?

Oriental cockroaches are very attracted to water, which is a staple of their survival. They are often found congregating around water sources. 

They also need food and shelter to survive. Although they tend to live outdoors more often than indoors, Oriental cockroaches often get into homes in the summer to avoid the heat. Once inside, they’ll look for a cool, damp location in which to harbor.

What are the signs of an Oriental roach infestation?

There are a few signs to look for when you suspect that Oriental cockroaches have entered your home. The most obvious sign of an infestation is seeing the cockroaches themselves. They tend to be nocturnal, so you’re not as likely to see them during the day, but it’s wise to look for them not only in your home but also outside, around the perimeter of your house.

Another sign of an Oriental cockroach infestation is seeing their droppings or egg casings. Their droppings look like tiny black pellets, while their egg casings are red or dark brown capsules.

Finally, if you have an Oriental cockroach problem, you may notice a musty odor. They release chemicals to communicate, giving off an unpleasant odor.

Where are Oriental cockroaches most likely to be found?

Oriental cockroaches are most likely to be found inside your house in cool, damp, and secluded areas. If you have a basement, you may find them there. Otherwise, you’re likely to find them in the kitchen, bathrooms, or laundry areas where they have access to water.

You may also want to check outdoors in the landscaping elements around the perimeter of your home. Oriental cockroaches can sometimes be found under leaves, other debris, rocks, or firewood.

Should I worry if I see one Oriental cockroach?

Unfortunately, where there is one Oriental cockroach, there are likely many others. Often, seeing a cockroach out in the open in your house means they are getting desperate for food, which is a good indication that a large population of roaches is already in your home. As soon as you see an Oriental cockroach or any signs of them, you’ll want to contact Marathon Pest Control for help.

How do I get rid of Oriental cockroaches?

If you’ve noticed cockroaches crawling inside your home or discovered other signs of activity, contact Marathon Pest Control for help. Our locally owned and operated pest control company offers home pest control services that target these pests and others.

How can I prevent Oriental cockroaches?

Preventing Oriental cockroaches from getting into your house is possible. You need to eliminate the things that attract them so that they won’t have any interest in getting inside. Do this by:

• Tidying up your kitchen after each meal so that no crumbs, spills, or messes are present.
• Storing food, including pantry items, in sealed, hard-sided containers.
• Taking out your trash on a regular basis.
• Making sure your home is free of water leaks and that humidity is kept low.
• Removing as much clutter as possible.
• Cleaning up yard debris and decaying organic matter.
• Storing outdoor garbage bins away from your house.
• Cleaning up pet waste routinely.
• Making sure your yard has good drainage.
• Sealing all openings into your house.

When you make it difficult for Oriental cockroaches to get into your house and remove the things that they are looking for, you make it far less likely that you’ll end up with an Oriental cockroach problem.