Cockroaches are adaptable, domestic pests that can survive under almost any living condition. However, these pests prefer to live in protected spaces near food, so it comes as no surprise that apartments across Manhattan have to deal with these dirty insects. At some point, New York residents will likely encounter cockroaches in their home, but make no mistake – these pests don’t belong around the house.

If you think you have a cockroach problem in your Manhattan apartment, read more to find out why these pests are so dangerous, and what New York residents should do to get rid of them.

COCKROACH IDENTIFICATION GUIDE

There are hundreds of cockroach species worldwide and over seventy species alone in the United States. However, most cockroaches prefer only the outdoors, and very few will ever get close enough to your apartment building. 

However, there are three cockroach species in Manhattan that want to get inside homes like yours: the American Cockroach, German Cockroach, and Oriental Cockroach. These three cockroaches share many of the same features that most cockroaches have. They have flat, oval-shaped bodies, six spiny legs, and a small head with two body-length antennae. 

Additionally, the American Cockroach has a mahogany-colored body and can grow anywhere between 1-2 inches. These cockroaches prefer to stay outside but are willing to move indoors; they also have a pair of translucent wings and may fly short distances if necessary.

German Cockroaches, by contrast, only grow around ½ an inch in length and have lighter brown bodies. These pests prefer to stay indoors and are one of the most common infestations across New York. German Cockroaches also have wings, though these roaches are flightless.

Finally, the Oriental Cockroach – also known as the Water Bug – grows around 1 inch in length and has a shiny, dark brown, or black body. If you don’t see them, you will definitely smell them, because these roaches leave a musty odor that grows the longer they stay in your home.

WHY ARE COCKROACHES DANGEROUS?

Cockroaches themselves aren’t trying to kill you. These insects rarely bite or attack, and they don’t have the means to harm you on their own. So, what makes cockroaches a threat to your health?

Simply put, these pests host a wide array of diseases. Before a cockroach enters your home, there’s a high likelihood that it lived in a disease-infested place. Dumpsters, trash cans, alleyways, and other dirty corners of the world are common hideouts for roaches, and when they move into your home, they bring the diseases from these nasty hideouts with them. 

Not only do cockroaches spread these pathogens around just by scuttling around your apartment, but they also transmit disease by rummaging through your food. Cockroaches commonly carry diseases such as Salmonella, E. coli, Giardia, Listeria, and Dysentery, among others. 

Additionally, some Manhattan residents have allergies to roaches. A cockroach’s discarded carcass can trigger allergic reactions and even give people asthma. Roaches are no joke, and the longer they lie dormant in your apartment, the more likely they give you some serious health problems.

HOW TO DETECT A COCKROACH INFESTATION

Roaches are nocturnal creatures, meaning you often won’t catch sight of one during the day. Additionally, since they’re so small and fast, you might not always see your infestation up close. However, there are a few giveaways that cockroaches are in your apartment, including:

• Cockroach droppings. Roaches leave visible feces around the size of coffee grounds.
• Cockroach eggs. Roaches will lay their small, oval-shaped egg cases in hidden corners, such as under appliances or furniture. 
• Cockroach carcasses. You might find the skins from a molted cockroach nymph, or you might find dead roaches in tight spaces, which is a surefire giveaway.

When you’ve found the signs of a cockroach infestation, you shouldn’t take matters into your own hands. Roaches are tricky pests, and you’re only endangering your own health by trying to rid them on your own. Rather, contact the pest experts at Broadway Pest Services, and we’ll treat your Manhattan apartment for these disgusting insects so you never have to worry about them again.