With more than 3,500 known roach species, it is no surprise that home and business owners spend more than a billion a year to control the bugs.
Cockroaches are so common that the bug is considered one of the worst indoor pests in the United States alone.
Roaches feed on the food of homeowners, in restaurants, hotels, grocery stores or anywhere a source is available. They are also responsible for transmitting diseases that cause allergies, food poisoning, and other health-related issues.
Adult cockroaches are ½ to 2 inches in length with reddish-brown to black bodies that are broad and flat in shape. They have spiny legs, wings, and long antennae. Nymphs are similar to adults but are smaller with undeveloped wings.
Roaches are a nocturnal pest that scatter quickly when there is an alert for danger such as a light being switched on.
Female cockroaches produce egg capsules that contain as many as 50 eggs at a time. Depending on the species, a female may either carry the egg capsule on her body or hide it in a place she frequents.
The eggs hatch in about 30 days and nymphs emerge to feed. Depending on the species the young may develop anywhere from a month to several years into an adult.
Even with some species being slow to develop, roaches reproduce rapidly and are capable of birthing several thousand nymphs in less than a year.
Oftentimes, a homeowner may accidentally carry the pest into their home in grocery bags, packing materials such as paper and cardboard, used electronics, and appliances.
While a natural solution to eliminate the pest may seem impossible, it's easier than one may think.
A cockroach needs food and moisture to populate. Sanitation is one of the most important steps in preventing and controlling the pest.
First, keep kitchen counters clean and free of dirty dishes and food spills.
Next, store any open food sources in sealed plastic containers and keep garbage concealed in a trash can with a lid.
Then, caulk and seal cracks and crevices in kitchens and bathrooms where cockroaches are often found.
And finally, Invest in glue traps and place them under kitchen appliances and near water pipes where roaches frequent. As an alternative or addition to controlling heavier infestations, organic roach bait traps can be used in the same manner.
