Eradicating Bug Fear Through Education
Katsaridaphobia is the fear of cockroaches. It’s a fear that many of us share, predicated from folklore and the insect’s ability to spread filth and problems such as dysentery and food poisoning. There are about 4,000 species of cockroaches—some very beautifully marked and patterned—but only 30 or so are associated with humans.
Given that less than 1 percent of all cockroaches are pests, our fears of them may be somewhat irrational. However, the ones that can cause problems, like the German cockroach, can cause a lot of headaches, so the disgust is warranted. Recent studies have shown that in larger metropolitan areas, the development of asthma in children can be directly linked to the presence of the pest. German cockroaches are also known to secrete a number of odorous compounds, and when populations are present in large numbers, it may be possible to detect a “musty” scent.
Understanding the various types of cockroaches (and bugs for that matter) that exist and how they thrive has always been a passion of mine and what led me to become an entomologist. That might sound contradictory, given that I work for a company that is in the field of insect eradication; however, we must learn to understand a species in order to determine how best to defend against it. As a society of fearmongers, we often don’t have the proper education to understand bugs, and more often than not, what we don’t understand, we end up fearing.
To that end, I combined my outside interest for art and my career with insects into a passion project where I have spent considerable time portraying various bug species in lifelike drawings. Cockroaches, and more specifically German cockroaches, are one of the most reviled of all insects and I wanted to use art to portray them in a scientific light. While eradication is most often necessary, it’s still important for us to understand these insects and how they affect our society.
Painting a Picture About German Cockroaches
German cockroaches are the most commonly-encountered cockroach species, found exclusively indoors and around people, preferring the warmer and more humid areas of a house.
Did you know that they make good mothers? The mother roach holds onto her egg case (which contains about 40 developing young roaches) until it’s ready to hatch, unlike other roaches which leave their egg cases behind to develop on their own. The tender loving care provided by the German cockroach mother protects her offspring from an early death due to dehydration, trampling, predators and parasites. It’s one of the main reasons for their success as a pest species. Talk about a motherly instinct!
These insects have wings, but cannot fly, so those of us with an irrational fear of a swarm of cockroaches need not fret. In fact, these bugs will often scurry from danger. However, with all that scurrying, where there’s one, there are probably many more, and that’s why contacting a professional pest removal service is in your best interest.
Looking for a maid? You might want to consider “renting” a German cockroach to help with your cleaning needs. They can digest keratin, which means they can get nutrition from eating hair and fingernail clippings. In addition to other things we would consider inedible, they will eat toothpaste, glue, soap, paper and cosmetics. No doubt you want to let these pesky critters know that red isn’t their best lipstick color!
“Drawing” Conclusions
While cockroaches as a species are not as frightful as they seem, some are still pests, and it’s important to know how to spot them and the steps to take to safely eradicate them. Because they reproduce rapidly, infestations can become quite severe in a hurry. These bugs are hardy and fleet-footed and have few natural predators inside human habitats. For these reasons, they can be hard to get rid of, and often require professional treatment.
While we can do our part to ensure our homes are tidy, successful elimination requires the use of multiple methods and materials without being overly reliant on any one product or method of application. Among the materials Braman Termite and Pest Elimination employs are baits, insect growth regulators, aerosols, residual sprays and dusts. Finding and correcting the source of the problem is the best elimination method. When we treat, you can be assured of great results because we have the education, training and diligence required to get to the root of the problem. If you think you might have an infestation, contact us immediately!