FACTS & INFORMATION ABOUT COCKROACHES FROM ONTARIO'S LEADING PEST CONTROL COMPANY

There are over 4,500 cockroach species worldwide. In fact, cockroaches are the most resilient, adaptable pest on the planet and have been traced back to prehistoric times (350 million years ago to the Paleozoic era).

Cockroaches originated from the tropics and prefer to live in environments that are humid and warm. This preference for warmth and moisture has not stopped them from extending their reach across the world, making habitats in a wide range of environments including arctic cold.  They seek out habitats that provide heat, moisture, and food, which is why cockroaches regularly invade damp and warm places like bathrooms, kitchens and basements of houses, apartments, schools and commercial businesses.

Cockroaches enter homes and businesses:

• Through cracks in flooring around the outside of drains and live in dirty floor drains from the floor grate to the top of the water trap (about 4" in normal situations). In rare situations, generally in very old city downtown cores such as Toronto, where there is turn of the century sewers that are not functioning properly or are hidden, cockroaches can live in sewer systems and enter structures by travelling up through drains.

• By hitchhiking inside through groceries, luggage, and even used appliances which are already infestated with roaches.

Common Cockroaches in Canada

There are three common types of cockroaches found in homes or businesses in Canada:

• German cockroach

• Wood cockroach

• Oriental cockroach

Cockroaches are often depicted as dirty pests that are difficult to eliminate, once they have infested your home, office, or workplace. Here are some interesting facts about cockroaches:

• They can live with no food or water for week.

• Cockroaches lifespan is approximately 1 year.

• On average an adult cockroach is 1 and 5 cm in length with an oval, flattened body.

• They range in colour from black to reddish brown.

• All cockroaches have 6 legs, a pair of long antennae and while all species have wings, not all fly (and some jump)

• They can multiply very quickly as some females are able to produce an extremely high number of eggs (100-200) in their lifetime.

• Cockroaches are scavengers and will eat anything and everything from organic matter to fabric to soap and even glue.

• They are nocturnal and scatter when exposed to light.

• Cockroaches originated from the tropics and prefer hot and humid environments but can make habitats in arctic cold.

• Cockroaches are unsanitary as they crawl through sewers and garbage.

Having these pests in your home or business can be embarrassing, unnerving and unsettling. You can count on Environment Pest Control for expert cockroach removal. For your peace of mind, we’ve outlined the best methods for how to get rid of cockroaches and how to kill cockroaches.