Of all the pests that could invade your Salt Lake City home, cockroaches are perhaps one of the most disgusting. Cockroaches are a well-known symbol of filth, but unfortunately, it doesn’t take a dirty home to attract roaches. In fact, even just a little bit of clutter is all these resilient insects need to survive, making any home in Salt Lake City a potential target, no matter how clean and tidy.
How To Identify Cockroaches In Salt Lake City
The first step to dealing with a cockroach infestation is knowing how to identify their presence in your home. Here are some signs to look out for:
- Droppings: Roach droppings resemble pepper flakes. You are more likely to see these where they are eating, so look out for them in your pantries and other places where you store, prepare or eat food.
- Egg capsules: Cockroach egg capsules (called oothecae) can hold up to 30 cockroach nymphs. You are likely to spot these in the corners and crevices of your home, where roaches like to camp out in.
- Smear marks: As roaches scuttle around your home, they will leave behind dark smear marks, which are a distinctive marking of their presence. You will see these anywhere the roaches are most present, and that is commonly on your counters, tables, and kitchen appliance walls.
- Unusual odor: Much like mice, roaches leave behind a very distinctive, unusual odor. It permeates the area where they are most present, leaving your kitchen smelling a lot less welcoming to humans than it should.
Why Cockroaches In Salt Lake City Are Dangerous To Your Health
Aside from cockroaches just being plain disgusting, there is an even more important reason to seek professional help removing roaches from your home. At this time, we know that 60 pathogenic bacteria, fungi, molds, parasitic worms, and viruses can be found in cockroaches — and most of these can be spread to humans. Below are a few of the illnesses they can spread to you and your family:
- E. coli infection: This is a severe gastrointestinal disease that can be contracted through exposure to cockroach feces. Symptoms include severe stomach cramping, diarrhea (can be bloody), and vomiting. A lot of people will also experience a fever, and it takes usually five to seven days for E. coli to clear up.
- Listeria: Considered one of the most dangerous and severe forms of food poisoning, listeria is spread by cockroaches as they travel over all the places you store, prepare, and eat food (as well as wherever you store your cooking and eating utensils). Listeria symptoms include fever, muscle aches, confusion, loss of balance, a stiff neck, and possibly convulsions.
- Leprosy: Also called Hansen’s disease, leprosy causes a loss of eyebrows and eyelashes, growths on the skin, and discolored patches of skin. It can also cause swelling and lumps on the face and earlobes, as well as ulcers on the soles of the feet.
How To Keep Roaches From Coming Back In Salt Lake City
After you have had a professional treat your cockroach infestations, there are some strategies you can implement to ensure another roach infestation does not occur in your Salt Lake City home:
- Clean up clutter: Cockroaches love messes, especially food messes. Clean up any clutter in your cupboards and pantries, especially crumbs and liquid stains.
- Fix leaky pipes: Cockroaches also love moisture. Fixing any leaky pipes will help stop the buildup of moisture, making your home less appealing to roaches.
The Most Effective Cockroach Control For Salt Lake City Homes
Ultimately, the safest and most effective form of roach control in Salt Lake City is to have one of the expert technicians at Pest Pro Pest Control assist you. Our technicians are trained to safely handle a cockroach infestation, removing them from your home without contracting or further spreading any potential illnesses they may be carrying. They will also work with you to seal up your home properly to ensure the infestation does not return.
We know how seriously you and your family take your health and safety. Call us today and let us handle any potential roach infestations in your home, keeping your Salt Lake City home safe and healthy.