Are you seeing huge cockroaches roaming your property at night? How about finding them upside-down and dead in your garage? There’s a new cockroach species invading California, and it’s driving people bananas.

The Turkestan cockroach has become increasingly common as it has established itself in Northern California and is becoming more active as the heat of the summer goes on and the insect searches for scarce water during the drought.

Our friends at Direct Hit Pest Control in Rio Linda have the answers to all the questions you’re asking about these creepy crawlers.

Where do they come from?

Turkestan cockroaches are native to an area of northern Africa to Central Asia. They were first noticed in the US in 1978 in California and Texas. Researchers believe the species arrived on military equipment returning from central Asia and perhaps Afghanistan. So this means that they are an invasive species here in the US.

What do they look like?

Turkestan roaches are known by a few different names that very accurately describe what they look like. They are known as the rusty red cockroach, red runner cockroach, or simply rusty red, and red runner.

The male Turkestan roach has a reddish/orange color and is the most noticeable, while the female is a dark black or brown color. They typically are about 1.5 inches when fully grown. The males also have wings.

Where do they live?

Turkestan roaches are not known as indoor pests. They do not like to infest your kitchen and get in your cabinets and food the way that the smaller German Cockroaches do. Turkestan roaches prefer to hide and nest in dark and damp areas. You will often find them in sewers, sewer cleanouts, inground utility boxes, cracks in cement, drains, garages, garbage cans, and yard waste as well as plenty of other places.

The most common place that you may see them inside would be your garage, laundry room, kitchen, or bathrooms due to the moisture and plumbing. If you see a Turkestan cockroach inside your home just remember it does not want to be there. Do not panic!

What do they eat?

Turkestan roaches eat many different things. They eat the food that you and I have dropped on the ground, garbage waste, compost, yard waste, and really anything that is organic in nature and decaying.

Are cockroaches a health risk?

There can be health risks associated with them. Turkestan cockroaches crawl through a lot of different things before ending up in your home. They are in the sewers, drainpipes, and really anywhere and everywhere else. Their saliva and excrement can trigger allergies and asthma and they can introduce bacteria and parasites. The good news though is that while all these dangers are entirely possible, they are rare in occurrence.

The unfortunate truth?

The unfortunate truth is that Turkestan cockroaches are now a very common pest throughout the US and are not going away anytime soon. They will always be in our sewers and will always be around, whether you see them or not. Cockroaches do not discriminate. You can have a clean or dirty house and you may still see them.

We often hear people say, “I’ve never seen a cockroach at my home in the 20 years I’ve been living here. They must be coming from my neighbor’s house!” This is simply not true. Every house no matter how clean can still provide the necessary environment for cockroaches to exist.

What can I do Myself to Prevent or Reduce Turkestan Cockroaches?

Cleaning up yard waste, trash, compost, debris, and clutter are all things that will help with Turkestan roach activity on the outside and reduce their areas of harborage. On the inside of your house, basic cleanliness and cleaning techniques will help make your home be less appealing.

I have Heavy Turkestan Roach Activity at my Home. What do I do?

The best thing you could do for Turkestan roaches at your home or business is to call a local pest control company to professionally treat for cockroaches. Here at Direct Hit Pest Control in Sacramento, we will inspect and treat as needed to eliminate the cockroaches. Follow-up treatments are often recommended depending on how heavy the activity is, and regular service is ALWAYS recommended for future control.

Another thing you can do in addition to hiring a professional pest control company is to call your local sewer department and let them know of the situation, they may come out to inspect and treat the sewers nearby themselves.

To learn more about this pest or to request cockroach pest control in Sacramento or the surrounding area, call Direct Hit Pest Control at (916) 992-6870. Our team will conduct a thorough analysis of your property and come up with a cockroach removal plan that will ensure they are fully rid of your home or office.

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