Cockroach Control 101: An All-Inclusive Guide For Longview Homeowners

Our home is our refuge away from the hustle and bustle of busy days. We work to ensure our homes are safe against intruders so we can enjoy a restful sleep and a sense of security. However, the serenity of our homes can quickly change when you encounter cockroaches. Nothing is more troubling than to stumble out of bed, flip on the light in the bathroom, and see a horde of cockroaches scurry across the floor. 

When you find cockroaches in your home, you need cockroach control in Longview from Gecko Pest Control. We have eliminated cockroaches and other pests for over two decades. Over the last twenty years, we have received The Hometown Best award and built a solid reputation in the community for quality pest control. We have a 4.9 rating from over 500 satisfied customers. A certified staff entomologist trains our staff, who also must pass a Purdue pest management course.

Not only does our company have a solid reputation for quality pest control, but we are also known for our community involvement with such reputable organizations as the Northeast Texas Habitat for Humanity. When you partner with us, you work with a local company whose employees are active in local community groups and organizations. You are also working with a company that gives back to its community. 

You probably found this article because you stumbled upon cockroaches in your Longview home and want them out. Please keep reading so you can identify the species in your home, learn how to prevent a future cockroach problem, and find out how we will solve your current issue.

Common Types Of Home-Invading Cockroaches In Longview

What are cockroaches? Cockroaches are insects with six jointed legs with horizontal spines, two long, thin antennae, and a three-part segmented body consisting of a head, thorax, and abdomen. While all cockroaches have wing pads, not all have wings, nor do all fly. 

To help you identify what species is invading your Longview home, this is a list of the types of cockroaches:

• American cockroach
• Brown-banded cockroach
• German cockroach
• Oriental cockroach
• Smokybrown cockroach

Let's look at the characteristics of each one so you can identify what you may be seeing run across your floor.

American cockroaches have the largest bodies of any species. These bugs have a reddish-brown 1 1/4 to 2 1/8-inch oval-shaped body. When you look down on one of these insects, you will notice that they have a figure-eight pattern on the back of the head. American cockroaches have wings and will fly short distances, but they prefer to run. Although American cockroaches prefer to live outdoors underneath mulch piles and flowerbeds, when they enter a home, they migrate to the bathroom, laundry room, kitchen, and other warm, moist areas where temperatures range between 70? to 80?.

Of the five species on our list, the one you are most likely to encounter is the German cockroach. Whereas the American cockroaches have the longest bodies on the list, German cockroaches have the shortest. German cockroaches have a light brown to tan 1/2 to 5/8-inch oval-shaped body with two dark stripes on their backs. Like American cockroaches, they infest the same areas of the house; unlike American cockroaches, they do not prefer to live outdoors. German cockroaches have wings, but they usually run and rarely fly. 

If there is a species you can quickly identify, it is the oriental cockroach. The reason is they have a shiny black or dark reddish-brown 1-inch body. Unlike the other roaches that prefer warm, moist areas, oriental cockroaches thrive in colder, humid environments in the crawl space. Oriental cockroaches are called "waterbugs" and "black beetle cockroaches." Of the five species that invade Longview homes, oriental cockroaches are the only ones that cannot fly due to their lack of wings.

Just behind American cockroaches in body length are the smoky brown cockroaches. These dark brown to black insects have 1 1/4 to 1 1/2-inch bodies with long antennae and wings longer than their bodies. Unlike the other roaches on our list, smoky brown cockroaches are strong fliers, and while they may invade homes due to drastic weather changes, they live in wooded areas. If smoky brown cockroaches enter a Longview home, they migrate to the attic or live near fireplaces.

So far, all the cockroach species on our list require high humidity for survival, but brown-banded cockroaches are the exception. These 1/2-inch cockroaches have oval brown bodies with two lighter brown bands. Because they avoid light and water, these insects live in furniture, refrigerator motors, and electronic equipment. Furthermore, they prefer to dwell on the top of cabinets and near the ceiling where temperatures are 80? or warmer. Regarding their ability to fly, only the males can fly. 

Gecko Pest Control can eliminate all cockroach species in Longview homes. Our trained technicians know the signs of a cockroach infestation and can identify the type of species infesting your property.

Why A Cockroach Infestation In The Home Is A Major Health Risk

Cockroaches forage for decaying plant and animal matter in warm, humid environments like sewers, drains, trash and compost bins, and animal feces. Unfortunately, these areas also foster the growth of bacteria, viruses, and parasitic worms. When cockroaches move through these areas, these disease-causing organisms stick to the spines on their legs and bodies. Furthermore, as cockroaches eat rotting materials, they ingest pathogens. 

When cockroaches enter Longview views, the pathogens stuck on their bodies transfer to cooking and eating surfaces, utensils in cabinets, towels, and exposed foods. As cockroaches move through the house, they produce disease-ridden feces in the same areas. Also, when they chew on paper, plastics, and other materials, they coat the items with contaminated saliva. 

Through their saliva, feces, and pathogens on their bodies and legs, cockroaches spread salmonellosis, typhoid fever, cholera, gastroenteritis, dysentery, listeriosis, giardia, and E. coli infection. These illnesses cause flu-like symptoms and may require medical attention. However, there is another way a cockroach infestation affects the health of people living in the home. 

Cockroaches produce fecal matter resembling coffee grounds. After a short time, the feces dries and can become airborne. Compounding the floating fecal matter is a protein present in cockroach bodies. When occupants inhale these floating items, they can experience allergic and asthmatic reactions. Furthermore, some people develop a rash if a cockroach runs across an area of exposed skin. 

Gecko Pest Control protects your family by providing roach pest control in Longview. We eliminate these filthy insects from your home, so you don't have to worry about getting sick from cockroaches.

Cockroach Prevention Tips That Work

Cockroaches are here to stay, but that does not mean they should be in your Longview home. Once we stop the current cockroach infestation in your home, it does not mean they can never return. We recommend these house cockroach prevention tips to avoid a reinfestation in the future:

• Keep outdoor and indoor garbage containers closed.
• Remove junk, debris, and overgrown vegetation from the yard.
• Dehumidify the crawl space, basement, and attic.
• Repair leaking plumbing fixtures. 
• Seal foundation and roofline cracks. 
• Clean cooking and eating surfaces after meals. 
• Store food and pet food in airtight containers. 
• Wash plates, utensils, etc., and put them away before bed. 
• Avoid leaving pet food in bowls overnight. 
• Vacuum the house regularly. 
• Suction out corners and cracks frequently. 
• Check luggage and bags before entering the house. 
• Inspect used furniture and appliances for cockroaches. 

Maintaining a clean, dry interior and exterior will deter cockroaches from entering your property. The reason for the recommendation to inspect used items and luggage before bringing them into your home is because that is how German cockroaches primarily infest homes. 

When a technician from Gecko Pest Control inspects your home, we can share additional suggestions based on your situation.

Call The Professionals For Total Cockroach Elimination

When you contact us, we will send a certified technician to inspect your Longview home for signs of a cockroach infestation. We will investigate for entry points, attractants, and potential cockroach nesting areas. We will also work to identify the type of cockroach on your property so we can formulate the appropriate treatment and target its natural habitats. 

We will give you a custom quote to treat your home so you will understand your costs and the time required to eliminate the cockroaches from your home. We will also explain our one-time treatment options and guaranteed monthly and quarterly pest control plans. Our technicians take all the time you need to answer your questions and to ensure we address the problem. 

Upon your approval, we will initially treat the interior of your house using bait and dust applications to penetrate cracks and crevices where cockroaches hide and lay eggs. We also create a barrier around your house to deter cockroaches from entering. For those on recurring plans, we will retreat to your home, if necessary, between our scheduled visits. 

When you see these pests in your home, you need the best cockroach exterminator in Longview, Gecko Pest Control. We are your "Your Hometown Pest Control Company." Contact us today to schedule your free, no-obligation inspection.