Can Cockroaches Survive a Nuclear War?
No, but Scientist Say They’re Winning a Different War Altogether
Although the commonly-held belief that cockroaches can survive nuclear fallout is just a myth, scientists have recently discovered a frightening reality that spells a different kind of apocalypse. Researchers at Purdue University have found evidence that German cockroaches are developing cross-resistance to some of the most common insecticides used in the pest-control business, and that could spell disaster for Louisville homeowners and business owners alike.
Cockroaches are bad news everywhere — houses, apartments, hotels, hospitals, nursing homes, offices, retail outlets, and restaurants. Anywhere people gather, cockroaches will try to invade. German cockroaches, the kind studied at Purdue, are the most common species in the world, which means, if the scientists are right, fending off the creepy creatures could get a lot more difficult.
That’s a huge problem for allergy sufferers and asthmatics, the two groups of people most sensitive to cockroach infestations. But even if you don’t suffer from allergies or asthma, cockroaches spread filth and contaminate food, and have a strong role in the secondary transmission of diseases.
Fight Smarter, Not Harder
Cockroach resistance to insecticides is just another in a long list of reasons why home and business owners should consider an approach to pest control known as Integrated Pest Management, or IPM. In IPM, the focus is on prevention, and the methods for doing so, although they sometimes include the use of chemicals or physical pest control devices like bait traps, typically prioritize less invasive, less toxic forms of prevention, such as exclusion and removal of hiding places.
The first step to an IPM approach to cockroaches, however, is to remove their water and food sources. Once that’s accomplished, then it’s possible to exclude them, i.e. seal up cracks and openings in walls, install door sweeps and weather stripping, seal cracks in cupboards, and remove paper, cardboard, and other clutter.
Not only does a licensed, certified commercial pest control company like Team Bug Out have familiarity with your particular pest, as well as the training and experience to know how to take all these steps and more without using chemical pesticides, if push comes to shove and an imminent infestation requires a strong offensive, licensed pest control pros have access to materials and techniques unavailable to the general public.
Know Thy Enemy
Although the German cockroach is the most common in the world, it isn’t the only one. In fact, there are over 4,000 species of cockroaches in the world, all of which have slightly different behavioral and dietary characteristics and respond differently to various types of chemical treatment.
You could have an entirely different species of insect plaguing your home or business and not even know it. Many species of insect, including water bugs, June bugs, beetles, and crickets can resemble cockroaches to the untrained eye. These pests, too, often require different IPM techniques and pesticides than cockroaches.
Whether you already have a full-blown infestation or just want to stay ahead of it, leave these problem pests to the experts — Tell Us What’s Bugging You today.
