Some pests sound exotic but are actually extremely common and dangerous for local homeowners. Turkestan cockroaches are some of the lesser-known of the invasive cockroach species, but that doesn’t make them any less worrisome. Learning how you can prevent them and avoid the larger issues they cause will help your home stay pest-free.
What Are Turkestan Cockroaches?
Turkestan cockroaches, nicknamed “red runners” or “rusty reds,” are native to North Africa and Central Asia, but they were introduced to North America long ago thanks to global shipping routes. They have managed to thrive in parts of the United States, including all over the Great Plains, which has a similar geography to the flat prairies of Central Asia. Here are some distinctive features you can use to tell them apart from other cockroaches:
- Size: Turkestan cockroaches typically grow to about an inch in length, though their long wings can appear to give some extra length.
- Color: While Turkestan roaches can be reddish-brown like other cockroaches, they are known for a rusty red color with dark black body segments.
- Markings: One of the easiest ways to tell them apart from other roaches is the white marks that are found on the outer wings of Turkestan cockroaches.
The Problems Caused By Cockroaches
While they may be less known than their more popular cousins, Turkestan cockroaches can cause all of the same kinds of problems as other roach infestations. Here are some of the problems and dangers caused by having cockroaches on your property:
- Contamination: Cockroaches will forage for scraps and attack stored foods to survive, meaning they can contaminate ingredients outright or the places where we prepare meals.
- Disease: Turkestan cockroaches spread the same kinds of bacteria and viruses as other cockroaches that live and breed in dirty areas. These include salmonella and typhoid.
- Odor: Cockroaches discard their musty skin sheds and leave urine and feces to soak into household items. This behavior contributes to foul odors that spread throughout your home.
Cockroach Prevention For Your Home
The best way to avoid the problems pests cause is to keep them from invading your property in the first place. That not only includes keeping from them getting inside, it also means keeping your yard safe and reducing the factors that attract cockroaches in the first place. Here are some ways to do that:
- Food: Storing your pantry foods in sturdy containers that can’t be chewed through or squeezed into will keep cockroaches from contaminating stored items. Deep cleaning for crumbs will reduce the morsels that roaches can scavenge for, too.
- Trash storage: You also need to make sure your trash is inaccessible to cockroaches, which have no problem rooting through the garbage for a meal.
- Crack sealing: Cockroaches can fit into tight spaces, including small cracks or holes in exterior walls. Routinely inspecting and maintaining your exterior will help fortify against pests of all kinds.
- Debris: Yard debris, live leaf piles, or wood clutter, can give cockroaches hiding areas and nesting grounds out in your yard. From there, it’s only a matter of time before they find a way in.
Get Professional Assistance For True Protection
For complete protection from Turkestan cockroaches and all the other kinds of roaches that might invade your home, the best course of action is to enlist the help of experts. At Pro Active Pest Control, our technicians can get started right away on an inspection of your home, determining whether cockroaches are already there or may easily invade your property. We tailor solutions to your home, making sure that existing problems are solved and future infestations are prevented.
For superior pest control service, contact Pro Active Pest Control today.