Interesting Facts About Cockroaches

Cockroaches are among the nastiest pests that humans would ever encounter. Pest control is instantaneously called once the sign of an infestation is detected. Compared to the detection of termites, the sight of cockroaches doesn’t mean that your house will be at risk, but you definitely would not want them to go around spreading bacteria and potential viruses around your household.

Despite their revolting presence, these nasty creatures have some pretty amazing features. Here are some amazing facts about cockroaches:

Cockroaches Can Eat Anything

This may come to no surprise for many as we have probably seen cockroaches munching down on any food that drops to the floor. You may even see them feasting on random leftovers and scouring through the trash just to grab something to bite. But did you know that they could even take their diet further?

You’ll be surprised to find out the range or the extent of their meals.
Cockroaches will eat just about any kind of organic matter, from dead insects, cloth, paper, wood, and even things such as soap, glue, hair, and poop. Cockroaches are also known to cannibalize when they need to control the growing population of their group.

Due to their cold-blooded nature, they can survive for up to a month without food. But they cannot live for weeks without water.

Some Cockroaches Can Grow as Long as 3 Inches

Cockroach on Dirty Plate

Cockroaches are among the creepy crawlies we wish would never grow in size. Luckily, the ones we find in our homes and consider pests never grow more than an inch and a half or so. But there are other cockroach species that we will never encounter in our homes that can reach sizes bigger than a whopping 3 inches.

We should be thankful that out of the 4500 species across the globe only 30 of these species are considered pests, and the large ones are fairly uncommon. A cockroach that’s native to South America, called the Megaloblatta longipennis is known to grow up to 3 inches long and 1.75 inches wide. What’s amazing (or frightening), is its 8-inch wingspan.

Roaches Can Live Up to a Week Without Their Head

Did you know that a decapitated cockroach can live for up to a week or two without their head? To grasp how we can understand how they can live headless for a week or two, we have to know about our own biology. Humans can’t live decapitated because we rely on important bodily functions in our head; and our brain is responsible for handling, controlling, and maintaining most of our biological functions.

Without it, the rest of our bodily systems would cease to work. Plus, decapitation would mean a tremendous drop in blood pressure and loss of blood. Cockroaches, on the other hand, don’t have their brain located in their head, because it’s spread out across their body.

They also breathe through special pores located along their body. When a cockroach gets decapitated, they won’t experience any uncontrolled bleeding; right after their head gets cut off, their neck would be seal by clotting. They can only survive without their head for a week or two because they will lose the ability to drink and die of thirst.

Cockroaches Can Survive Immense Nuclear Radiation

The theory or myth that cockroaches can survive a nuclear blast has been debunked. Though their threshold for radiation is still astounding. In the past, the theory that cockroaches are believed to survive the effects of a nuclear blast. They came up with that conclusion because they found a vast number of cockroaches roaming around the Hiroshima and Nagasaki after its bombing, and in Chernobyl, cockroaches were one of the few living organisms around.

Well, scientists have tested the radiation resistance of cockroaches and found out that direct exposure to radiation that is equivalent to a nuclear bomb would kill them. But they can certainly survive radiation levels that would kill a person in 10 minutes. In a recent study, scientists found out that they can withstand up to 10,000 rads. This is due to their simple bodies and slow cell cycles.

 

Natural Pest Solutions
32450 Simon Ave, Abbotsford, BC V2T 5E3
778-771-2459
https://mynaturalpestsolutions.com/ca/pest-control-abbotsford-bc/

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facts-about-bed-bugs

How to tell if you have bedbugs?

 

If you’re lying down in bed and you feel itchy for no good reason, you may think that’s a sign that you have bedbugs – and it can be, but these small bites from bedbugs can look the same as bites from other small insects. It can also look like hives, or even rashes. There are also a lot of people that don’t even show any physical reaction to bites from bedbugs at all.

To really tell if you have bedbugs, it would go a long way to regularly check your mattress (and bedframe) as part of your cleaning routine. This way, you can surely spot signs that you have bedbugs living with you.

Unexplained stains

 

If you find stains on your mattress, sheets and pillowcases and you don’t know where or how these stains could have come from, then one possible explanation is that these could be blood from bedbugs that have been unknowingly crushed by anyone sleeping on your bed – or, even a more unpleasant thought, these stains may even be fecal matter from bedbugs.

Make sure you thoroughly check your mattress, the sides, any lining, any zipper area or tags, any nooks and crannies they could squeeze into. You’ll also want to check the bedframe itself including the headboard.


Bedbugs are tiny, no more than the size of an apple seed. They’re brown in color, which changes to a reddish hue when they’ve fed, and they also look swollen – the more blood they’ve fed on, the more swollen they get.

If you see what looks to be tiny cracks from eggshells on your bed, that could be from their eggs, and small yellow flakes may be shed skin from bedbugs.

Bedbugs are not only found on your bed – as mentioned, they can be found on the actual bed frame, and they especially like hiding in cracks in wooden frames. Aside from the bed area, they can be on couches and cushions, chairs, even curtains. In heavily infested rooms, they can even be found in electrical receptacles and various appliances, even in wall hangings and loose wallpaper – where they’ll have to travel from to feed off of you.

While bedbugs like human blood, they have been known to feed on other smaller animals like dogs and cats too.

If you travel a lot and stay in different hotels and motels, you may want to check for signs of bedbugs there too, because then you’ll carry a risk of bringing them with you when you leave.

 

Contributed by: Watchdog Pest Control – Foremost Experts in Bed Bug Remediation and Pest Management.

Watchdog Pest Control
3542 East Altadena Avenue
Phoenix, Az. 85028

(602) 842-5290

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Different Types of Pest Control

Different Types of Pest Control

We have been trying to keep pests out of our homes since the dawn of time.  In ancient Egypt they used cats to keep grain safe from rodents.  Scientists back in the 30’s studied how cats lower the population of rats in a given area.  While cats won’t get rid of rats altogether if you have cats along with other pest control methods you can keep mice and rats from returning to a rodent free area.  There are a number of different types of pest control that can be used to keep your home free of pests, let’s have a look at them. 

Biological Methods

Biological pest control can encompass a bunch of different methods.  It can be as simple as bringing in cats to get rid of vermin, it can include bringing in natural predators.  In Florida, for example, you will find many homes that have lizards they eat cockroaches and keep the home roach free.  Biological pest control is finding a green method to rid yourself of pests while not harming the surrounding environment.  This method is often used by gardeners, here is a closer look at how it works.

Mechanical Methods

This type of pest control uses things like traps and barriers to keep pests from your home and buildings. Barriers and the like are very good at keeping pests from your home but once they have invaded then it is time to bring out the traps.  There are traps available for almost every type of pest from the tiniest of ants to skunks or raccoons that have decided to call your property home. 

Chemical Methods

When it comes to pests like termites, roaches and bed bugs you need something powerful to get rid of them.  Pest control companies will use a variety of different chemicals to fumigate your home and make sure both the insects and the larvae are both destroyed.  There are toxic and non-toxic chemical methods that can be used but when it comes to these types of pests you need them gone!

Getting Rid of the Nests

If you want to get rid of pest for good then you have to find and destroy where they live.  That can be as simple as getting rid of all the water around your building so mosquitoes and other pests aren’t attracted to it.  Make sure garbage is sealed and away from the building.  Monthly inspections from a pest control company can point out vulnerable areas and seal them off.  If you do end up with pests this is one of the first things a pest control company will do.  It is not enough to get rid of them you also need to take measure to keep them from coming back. 

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Why Your Business Needs Monthly Pest Control Services

Why Your Business Needs Monthly Pest Control Services

Your business, regardless of the type, cannot afford to have any kind of infestation be it mice, termites, ants or any other type of critter.  For retail outlets and restaurants it can destroy your reputation and business.  Even if your business doesn’t deal with the public your employees may go running if you have rats in the building.  Let’s look at some other reasons why your business needs monthly pest control services. 

Your Health

Pests bring with them diseases and that in turn can make you and your employees sick.  You need your business space free from pests and it can save you from liability.  Mosquitos, fleas, ants, roaches and vermin can all bring diseases into your workplaces.  Monthly inspections and immediate treatment can help prevent these types of problems.  As a business owner it is your responsibility to keep your employees safe. 

Property Values

A home or a business is a huge investment if it becomes infested with pests, particularly termites it can affect the value of the property.  Termites can destroy a structure, rodents chew through electrical wires and cause fires.  In either case you can end up with thousands of dollars in damage that insurance may not cover.  If you try and sell your premises potential buyers will be turned off.  Getting an inspection can save you a fortune. 

Ruined Inventory

If you are in the food service industry then pay attention, pests love stored food.  In your home it’s easy to recognize, you find droppings and holes chewed in food containers.  In a restaurant, grocery store where storage is much larger it can be harder to spot.  It’s not just food you have to worry about, pests can make their way into all kinds of storage facilities. 

It is Cost Effective

Prevention is always cheaper than the cure, and inspections and early detection can save your business a fortune.  Infestations that go undetected only get worse and more expensive to treat, it can even mean shutting down the business for a few days while you rid the place of pests.   Pests are always going to be a constant threat to your premises and a monthly inspection will keep them away.  Pest control companies have the latest techniques they can use to keep your building pest free including those that are environmentally friendly and perfectly safe for you and your staff. 

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