Cockroaches are bad because they can carry Salmonella on their bodies, which means that they could be dangerous if ingested even when the person is just touching them near their mouth (for example not washing their hands after picking up roaches).
If you touch a cockroach, you risk becoming infected with some serious diseases, including bacteria that cause dysentery. According to the World Health Organization, cockroaches commonly transmit these diseases to humans: Salmonellosis. Typhoid Fever.
Finding one cockroach does not necessarily indicate an infestation, but it can be a warning sign. Cockroaches are social insects, so if you see one, there may be more nearby. It's important to monitor for additional signs of an infestation, such as:
Cockroaches are not likely to bite living humans, except perhaps in cases of extreme infestations where cockroach population are large, especially when food becomes limited. In most situations, cockroaches would not bite humans if there are other food sources such as in garbage cans or exposed food.
Spread of Eggs
The number one reason to not squash a cockroach is to prevent spreading cockroach eggs. Some cockroach species, such as the German cockroach (common species here in the UK) carry their egg cases (ootheca) on their body until just before they hatch.
Cockroaches have a bite force 50 times their body weight, but you are not likely to feel more than a mild pinch and experience a small welt unless you have allergies. As far as direct contact, cockroaches are more likely to scratch you than bite you.
Yet given what we know today, logically it does not make sense to fear cockroaches. Unlike mosquitoes, ticks or fleas, roaches aren't disease vectors, and they do not feed directly on our blood, skin or fluids.
Cockroaches do not seek human contact. They are nocturnal creatures that prefer dark, warm, and moist environments. However, they may unwittingly come into contact with humans while searching for food and water.
Citrus is one of the scents cockroaches are most known to hate, notably lemon and orange. Keeping a dish of lemon juice on your kitchen counter can deter these pests, as well as placing lemon peels around the home to discourage cockroaches from coming out of hiding.
Cockroach Bites Are Different From Other Insect Bites
But, that might be hard, as they will bit while you are sleeping. If you can't catch the culprit in the act, identify the bite itself. A cockroach bite is similar to a bed bug bite, but a bit bigger and bright red.
Some strong scents, such as lavender and mint, have been known to repel cockroaches.
Unfortunately, cockroaches are not loners. If you see one, there are likely many more that you can't see.
Cockroaches are usually attracted to areas of a home where warmth, shelter, food, and water are available, such as in kitchens and bathrooms. When a bedroom has a bathroom attached or one is nearby, cockroaches can also be found in the sleeping area, especially if the infestation is large.
Leaving the light on doesn't deter cockroaches effectively because they can navigate in low-light conditions. While they're mostly active at night, they may still come out in search of food or water. During the day, cockroaches hide in dark areas not directly exposed to light.
The gut juices of a crushed cockroach can spread bacteria
In addition, some cockroaches may even carry a parasite that causes giardiasis, an amoeba that causes dysentery, and a virus that leads to polio.
Don't panic. There's plenty you can do to get the issue under control. Start by cleaning up any food residue or spillages, and don't leave mess lying around. Check for signs like cockroach droppings and set up sticky traps until the pest experts arrive.
Insects and Arachnids
Strangely enough, one of the most prevalent kind of predator that cockroaches face are fellow insects! The emerald cockroach wasp, Ampulex compressa, for example, has an unusual way of preying upon cockroaches. The wasp stings the cockroach's brain, which paralyzes the cockroach.
Eliminate Food and Water Sources
These pests are attracted to any accessible food, so avoid leaving food and drinks uncovered or near your bed. Store food in airtight containers to prevent roaches from accessing it. Clean up spills and crumbs immediately, as they attract roaches looking for a meal.
While cockroaches don't particularly enjoy eating fabric, they do like feasting on food stains and drink skills left on clothing. As cockroaches eat away at these stains, they can often leave holes and stains of their own. Brown cockroach stains are very difficult to get out unless you're using non-chlorine bleach.
Cockroaches rarely bite humans, but if they do might you it will most likely happen at night when you're asleep. Cockroaches roam your house at night when it's dark and less activity happening. A starving cockroach might be drawn to you if there are scraps of food in your bed or if there's food residue on your body.
If you think you have cockroaches, do not panic. Finding roaches is not a sign that your house is dirty. Even if you clean regularly and maintain a tidy home, cockroaches can usually find food and water without much trouble. This allows them to thrive in many environments.
A cockroach can feel the change in air current and change in the surroundings, and when they encounter us, they look in their surroundings, looks for a place from where they can escape, and then chase you, scare you, and make a run toward the escape. They use this strategy against many other predators.
Cockroaches are blessed with an amazing sense of smell. This is what they use when seeking food and mate but at the same time, this is also their weakness. A cockroach's sense of smell can be used to get rid of them.
Most importantly, don't be ashamed or embarrassed. The best way to solve a problem is to get to its root.