Roaches
The nearly 70 species of cockroaches that live in North America are known by many names, including Water Bugs, Croton Bugs, and Palmetto Bugs. Cockroaches first appeared in the Paleozoic era, at least 400 million years ago, and neither they nor mankind's disgust of them, have changed much since. Ancient Egyptians spun spells begging the god Khnum to banish cockroaches, and Pliny the Elder referred to them as "disgusting" in ancient Rome. More recently, John Smith (founder of the Jamestown colony) wrote of the "ill-scented dung" of the "cacarooch" in the New World.
Roach Facts:
They can withstand 2,000 times the radiation levels than us.
Roaches can go for days without food.
A cockroach can live for a week without its head, and then only dies because, without a mouth, it has no way to ingest water.
Cockroaches can also hold their breath for up to 40 minutes and can run about 5 feet per second. Proportionally speaking, that's three times faster than a cheetah.
Roaches rarely starve, as they'll happily feast on soap, cork, grass, human hair, toothpaste, shed skin, wallpaper glue, and even eat paper. Infestations on Navy submarines have been reported to gnaw off their sleeping victims' eyelashes.
Roaches are incredibly prolific and incredibly hard to get rid of. One pair of cockroaches, allowed to reproduce in peace and with plentiful food available, can become an infestation of millions is just a couple of years.
Health Risks
Cockroaches can pose a severe health risk to you and your family. Roaches have been proven to spread more than 30 types of bacteria, six species of parasitic worms, and several other types of human pathogens. Salmonella and E. coli can live in the cockroaches' waxy outer coating for at least two months and can transfer to any foods that the roach touches, causing vomiting, fever, and diarrhea if ingested. Bacteria are also harbored in their feces, allowing for the spread of disease even when the bugs are no longer present. Studies have shown that allergens in this fecal matter (as well as in the saliva) can trigger life-threatening respiratory attacks to flair in those who have asthma.
Primal Fears
Scientists believe that tens of millions of people have katsaridaphobia, or phobic fear of cockroaches, and suggest that roaches may even be the most universally feared insects on earth.
perts believe that there are several critical reasons for the human "disgust reaction" for cockroaches:
They're erratic, moving unpredictably and require rapid eye movement to follow (which initiates a threat response in the human brain).
They look dirty.
They're fast (another threat trigger).
They appear to have no fear of humans.
The threat and disgust responses brought about by cockroaches are evolutionary. Our cave-dwelling ancestors learned to avoid creepy crawlies of all sorts for fear of poisoning or disease.
When our natural aversion to roaches escalates to katsaridaphobia, victims can become too terrified to get out of bed, enter the bathroom or kitchen, or even open closets and cupboards for fear of finding cockroaches.
Aversion by Association
Of course, cockroaches aren't only found in homes. Any structure, building, or office that provides food, water, and shelter can become infested. The sight of a roach speeding across the floor in a restaurant, hospital, or other business can be a significant risk to a company's reputation and even lead to fines and closures due to health code violations.
The Palmetto Bug
The Palmetto Bug also referred to as the Florida Woods Cockroach, is a general name used to refer multiple species of cockroaches in the Southern U.S. The most common species in this group is the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana), a large, flying roach that's a deep brown with dark circular markings on its back that look like a pair of sunglasses. They are most often found nesting in saw-palmetto fan palms and cabbage palms. They were initially named by farmers who found them when harvesting heart of palm.
Cockroach infestations are best dealt with by a professional exterminator, as store-bought solutions like traps, foggers, and sprays, are typically ineffective and unable to reach into the hidden areas. If you see or suspect roaches in your home or business, give us a call at Call Over-A-Cheever Pest Control for a free "Healthy Home Inspection."