Call Sho-Me Pest Control, the Best Pest Control Professionals for Roaches in Mid-Missouri. Let Us Help you with your next Pest Extermination.

Roaches can exacerbate allergies and asthma and carry around pathogens like E. coli and Salmonella, making them a significant health risk. They are a cause for concern in households and businesses. For that reason, you don’t want to put off addressing a roach problem—especially if pets, small children, or people with health conditions live in your house.

We guarantee quick, hassle-free roach control to any business or homeowner. Call to schedule an appointment with Sho-Me Pest Control, the best exterminator in MID-MO for residential and commercial properties.

MID-MISSOURI COCKROACHES:

The following are the five main cockroach species that can be found in Southwest Missouri.

1

German cockroaches

If you’ve ever seen a cockroach in your home, apartment or office, chances are it was a German cockroach. These roaches are the most common species found in buildings in Central Missouri. They’re unable to survive in locations away from humans or human activity, making them annoying pests and the typical culprits for home infestations.  German cockroaches are serious pests that can put you and your family at risk. They spread disease and ruin food. These resilient insects are experts at scavenging for crumbs and leftovers. They’ll quickly build colonies in apartment buildings and houses if the resources are there. They’re light brown or tan in color, with two dark stripes by its head. They grow to about half an inch long and prefer dark, warm, and moist environments. You can commonly find them in places like cupboards, under sinks, or behind appliances.

2

American cockroaches

The American cockroach is the largest in body size of home-infesting roaches in Southwest Missouri. It’s also commonly known as the water bug. It’s second to the German cockroach in abundance. They’ll eat just about anything inside, including meats, grease, peanuts, sweets, paper, book bindings, cosmetics, leather, cloth, hair, wallpaper paste, pet food, dead insects (including their own kin!) and food crumbs of any kind. Restaurants, bakeries, grocery stores, schools, hospitals and homes are all at risk of American cockroach infestations. They also live outdoors in flower beds, trees, and shrubs.  It’s reddish brown with a yellowish figure 8 shape on the back of its head.  The American cockroach can be an inch and a half to two inches long, but in some cases, they can grow even larger.

3

Brown-banded cockroaches

Like German cockroaches, brown-banded cockroaches are also relatively small at about half an inch long. They’re dark brown with two distinctive brown bands that run horizontally across their backs. Males have a full set of working wings, while females are shorter and wider with ineffective wings that don’t cover their whole back. They like warm, dry areas and tend to avoid water. Brown-banded cockroaches tend to chew on non-food items like papers and fabrics, and you’re likely to find them hidden away in just about any room of your home.

4

Oriental cockroaches

Oriental cockroaches are very dark brown or black, about an inch long, and appear to have a glossy coating. They have small wings, but can’t fly, and are partial to cool, damp spaces like basements. Unfortunately, they can often be found gathering in large groups, especially around moisture.

5

Wood cockroaches

Wood roaches are light to medium brown with white near the head and along the wing edges. Males are about an inch long and females are about half an inch long.  They’re more commonly found outdoors in places like hollowed-out trees or stumps, but they can also be found in gutters and even under roof shingles. While other cockroach species might scatter when you shine a flashlight on them, wood roaches are attracted to light, which is one of the things that can lure them indoors. If you live near a wooded area or have wood siding on your home, you’re more likely to encounter a wood cockroach.

Signs of a cockroach infestation:

Are you worried you might have cockroaches around your home, apartment complex, restaurant, or business but not sure what to look for? Here are some of the most common signs that you might have a cockroach infestation:

  • You see the roaches themselves.
  • You find cockroach droppings, which can be mistaken for mouse droppings, in areas more typical of cockroaches.
  • You find cockroach eggs. Roach eggs have a hard shellthat could range from reddish to brown or blackin color. They sort of look like a small bean that’s about 8 millimeters in length (a little wider than your average pencil), and you’ll usually find them near a roach’s food sources.
  • You smell a musty odor.As if you didn’t need more reasons to love cockroaches, a pheromone they give off can produce a lingering musty odor. 
  • You see stains. Cockroaches can leave behind dark brown smudges in areas where they’ve been active.
  • You notice unusual evidence of chewingon items like food in your kitchen and non-edible items around your house, like paper or clothing.

Here are some steps to take to make your environment less roach-friendly:

  • Wash dishes right away and don’t let leftover food sit out.
  • Keep rooms and surfaces clean and sanitary.
  • Keep food in sealed containers.
  • Eat in one area of your home to contain food and crumbs.
  • Put away pet food and water dishes at night.
  • Keep trash in a sealed container.
  • Use a dehumidifier in damp spaces like basements.
  • Vacuum regularly (using a vacuum with a HEPA filter in areas with known roaches can help get rid of eggs and other debris that might spread through the air)
  • Fix plumbing problems and water leaks when they occur.
  • Address structural problems like cracked walls.

What are the dangers of having a cockroach infestation?

Cockroaches in Mid-Missouri carry several bacteria, diseases, and pathogens to structures, contaminating your space and destroying your peace. They are also a source of allergies and can trigger asthma for many susceptible homeowners. If they get into your food, you are at risk of illnesses like salmonella and staph infections. Here are just a few other unfortunate diseases cockroaches spread in mid-Missouri:

Cholera

Diarrhea

Dysentery

Streptococcus

Typhoid fever

If you need roach control, contact Sho-Me Pest Control today to eliminate these pests before they take over your home, restaurant, or small business.  Sho-Me Pest Control services St. Robert, Waynesville, Lebanon, Rolla, St. James, Dixon, Richland, Newburg, Crocker, Stoutland, Laquey, Plato, Houston, Licking, Salem, Ft. Leonard Wood, Falcon, Roby and all surrounding areas.