The Cockroaches In My New York City Home Aren't That Bad. Are They?

A roach is a roach, right?

It is important to understand that all cockroaches are not created equal. Some roaches never get into homes. Some get into homes and immediately go back outside. We are concerned about the roaches that get in and stay in, such as American, German, and Oriental cockroaches.

• An American cockroach is a seed-shaped insect with a chestnut brown coloration and a yellowish figure-8 pattern on its back. This is the largest cockroach that will get into your NYC home.
• A German cockroach is a seed-shaped insect with a tan coloration and a dark-colored equal sign on its back.
• An Oriental cockroach is a pill-shaped insect with black coloration and no visible markings.

Why Pest Cockroaches Spread Sickness

Many factors cause cockroaches to be a health concern. It is a complicated matter, but here is the simplified explanation.

Exposure — Cockroaches are attracted to rotting organic matter. Some cockroaches lay their eggs in gelatinous organic sludge, and their offspring begin life by being exposed to harmful microorganisms. But at some point, all cockroaches are exposed to these organisms because roaches live in dirty places.

Diet — Cockroaches feed on filthy things. Have you ever wondered why cockroaches like sewers? It is because they eat excrement. They eat human, animal, and insect excrement. They even feed on the excrement of other cockroaches. A cockroach prefers to feed on a rotting apple rather than a nice fresh apple plucked from the tree if given an option. They are attracted to rot.

Resilience — What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right? Well, in the case of cockroaches, what doesn't kill you can make you a carrier. It takes a lot to kill a cockroach. And if toxic chemicals are sprayed to kill roaches, those chemicals can end up being transported to a piece of silverware, a dish, a food-prep surface, a packaged food item, a toothbrush, or some other point of contact that can lead to sickness.

Mobility — Once cockroaches are exposed to harmful bacteria, parasitic worms, human pathogens, chemicals, and other illness-causing matter, they have the ability to spread them efficiently. Cockroaches can scale walls, run across ceilings, squeeze through gaps half their height, and some species can fly. The nymphs of German cockroaches are so small, they can slip through a hole in a wall outlet. Good luck keeping them out.