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3 Common Kitchen Pests To Watch Out For

3 Common Kitchen Pests To Watch Out For

What are the common kitchen pests to watch out for?

  1. Ants
  2. Cockroaches
  3. Rodents

The kitchen is the place where food is prepared. Where there is food around, there is the risk of pests attraction, especially if pests have easy access to your kitchen. Whether it’s a kitchen in your home, restaurant, office, or school, it’s important to know the common kitchen pests to watch out for. Take steps to prevent annoying, damaging, and costly pest infestions by implementing high standards of sanitation and hygiene. Keep on reading to learn more!

 

Ants

Ants

Ants are one of the most common household pests, and they can be commonly found in the kitchen. Ants are known for liking the sugar content of food, which is why you might find them near sweet foods, such as syrups! Since these pests need water, they might also be found near the sink. 

 

Here are some of the reasons why you might find them in your kitchen:

  • Having sugary and sticky food items
  • Excess moisture source
  • Improperly stored food
  • Uncovered garbage

 

Unfortunately, ants are capable of causing food contamination and spreading diseases like Salmonella, ​​E. coli, and Shigella. For this reason, you don’t want ants to come and go in your kitchen, especially if you have a food business.

 

Ants leave scent trails behind when they go through places as this allows them to follow each other. That’s why you will often see them walk in lines. You can follow the trail to find out where they’re coming from. You’ll need the help of a pest management team to find and get rid of the ant colony. 

 

Cockroaches

Cockroaches

Cockroaches can be found in poorly cleaned and sanitized kitchens, and can be a reason for your health code violation if you’re managing a restaurant. But how do they get into your kitchen? 

 

Here are some of the things that can attract cockroaches:

  • Food debris
  • Moisture
  • Clutter
  • Warmth and heat

 

Cockroaches can hitchhike in deliveries and also get inside holes that give them access to your kitchen. They look for a steady supply of food and water to survive. Cockroaches are problematic because they can spread disease-causing pathogens. Their droppings can leave dark stains and trigger asthma attacks, too. 

 

One of the most effective ways to prevent a cockroach infestation is to properly store food and practice proper cleaning. If you already have a cockroach problem, a pest management team can help you solve the problem effectively. 

 

Rodents

Rodents

Mice and rats are commonly found in kitchens since they’re also enticed by food and nesting options in this area! They can climb and squeeze themselves into small openings to get into your kitchen. Whether it’s through holes or gaps in walls, floors, or windows, they will find a way to get in for the following reasons:

 

  • Food and water source
  • Food debris
  • Nesting location

 

Some of the usual food sources of rodents in your kitchen include grains, rice, and cereal which can be found in your cupboards. However, they don’t have a preference of where they will get their food from, so garbage is just fine too. Rodents also attracted to dark and damp areas, so they might gather under the sink. 

 

Urine and feces from rodents can be a cause of food and water contamination. Rodents can also spread pathogens, such as leptospirosis and salmonella. Rodents also carry smaller pests with them, such as ticks, fleas, and mites. They like to gnaw and can cause damage to your kitchen. 

 

To get rid of rodents in your kitchen, store all food properly and get rid of nesting materials, such as cardboard, paper, fabric, or rugs. Seal entry points so they can’t come in. Pest control teams will help you remove rodents if you have an infestation. 

 

Key Takeaway

 

These common kitchen pests to watch out for may be small or look harmless, but they can cause many problems for you and others, such as contaminating food and water, spreading diseases, and causing damage to property! 

 

The three things that will attract them to your kitchen are food, water, and a place for nesting, so make sure to implement higher standards when it comes to hygiene and sanitation and seal all entry points!

 

If you presently have a pest infestation in your kitchen, call us here at Topbest, so we can help you! As an experienced pest control and management company, we only use safe and effective methods to get rid of pests for good. We also offer FREE pest consultation in the Philippines. 

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4 Ways to Get Rid of Cockroaches in Kitchen Cabinets

4 Ways to Get Rid of Cockroaches in Kitchen Cabinets

What are the different ways to get rid of cockroaches in kitchen cabinets?

  1. Use borax powder
  2. Place a bowl of powdered sugar
  3. Spray with water and soap
  4. Remove sources of food and water

 

For residential and commercial pest control, a cockroach infestation is perhaps one of the most difficult to address. For one they’re extremely difficult to catch and get rid of. It may need a few more insecticide sprays before a single roach will stop squirming. When spotted in the kitchen, these nasty pests can spread whatever harmful bacterial or even parasites they’re carrying. If you’re thinking about ways to get rid of cockroaches in your kitchen cabinets, but don’t know where to begin, this guide lists some of the most effective methods.

A cockroach presence is not only unsightly but also cumbersome to deal with. Apart from chewing into sweets, cardboard, paper, or any food source, cockroaches can also be disease spreaders. The key to stopping them from proliferation or preventing an infestation altogether is to target the source and be strategic about pest control strategies. Read on to learn more.

 

Use Boric Acid Powder

Use Boric Acid Powder

Boric acid powder is mainly used as a detergent, hand soap, or fertilizer for plants. It’s a naturally occurring chemical that’s found in fruits and vegetables such as apples, bananas, nuts, or even during the fermentation process of beer.

In cockroach pest control, boric acid is also known as one of the fastest ways to get rid of these pests. When a cockroach comes into contact with the powder, it sticks to them, no matter where they may scurry off to. To get rid of the powder, the cockroaches must clean themselves, inevitably ingesting the boric acid compound, and killing them instantly.

Sprinkle the boric acid powder in different locations in your kitchen cabinets, like the ones when you read this guide here, for best results. You may also have your cabinets cleaned with this substance, as it can also help get rid of tough stains and remove odors.

 

Place a Bowl of Powdered Sugar and Baking Soda Solution

Cockroaches will consume anything sweet, which makes a powdered sugar and baking soda solution another thing you can use to get rid of them. Compared to pesticides which can be harmful to humans, pets, and the environment, this alternative is much safer and does not pose any threats to any other living thing than these pests.

The sweet scent of powdered sugar mixed with baking powder is enough to get cockroaches out of hiding. To make your own solution, you’ll need the following materials: a small bowl or dish, powdered sugar, and baking soda powder. Follow these steps:

  1. Mix equal amounts of powdered sugar and baking soda into the dish. This will serve as the bait.
  2. Fill a small bowl with water and place it near the other dish.
  3. Place them in kitchen cabinets, cupboards, countertops, pantries, or anywhere cockroaches are present.
  4. Replenish the mixture every few days and clean up any dead roaches that you find.

 

Spray with Water and Soap

Spray with Water and Soap

Although using only simple ingredients, this cockroach control remedy packs enough punch to kill roaches and get them away from your kitchen cupboards in no time at all. Similar to the boric acid solution and powdered sugar mixture, water and soap are relatively harmless and won’t emit toxic chemicals in your kitchen.

Any mild hand soap or liquid soap will do. Combine the soap foam with equal parts of water and then transfer it inside a medium-sized spray bottle. As part of your routine kitchen/dining room maintenance, spray the solution on shelves, tables, countertops, or any surface. Cockroaches will be deterred by the scent, ensuring that dry food items like canned goods, chips, bread, rice, oatmeal, and the like, will be safe from contamination.

 

Remove Sources of Food and Water

The best way to keep roaches out of your kitchen cabinets is to directly remove the food source attracting them — snacks, fresh produce, bread, oats, or what have you. Place them inside the refrigerator instead to put them out of harm’s way, as well as prolong the freshness.

An alternative you could do is to remove the food from its original packaging and transfer them to sealed and water-tight containers. This is good practice to retain the quality of dry food products and extend their shelf life without being affected by pests.

 

Key Takeaway

Cockroaches are some of the most invasive and destructive pests in homes and buildings. Aside from being difficult to spot and exterminate, they can also contaminate food and cause destruction to property in any kitchen space.

Fortunately, there are different ways to get rid of cockroaches in kitchen cabinets. In this guide, you’ve learned about 4 of these methods. From dusting with simple boric acid powder and removing potential sources of food, these remedies can prevent cockroaches from wreaking havoc in the kitchen.

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5 Ways to Remove Cockroach Smell

Selective focus of cockroach on the cement floor, Close Up of cockroach on street, Insects on concrete background.

What are the ways to remove cockroach smell?

  1. Find the nest
  2. Eliminate the source
  3. Use the right equipment
  4. Vacuum
  5. Disinfect and clean

 

A cockroach infestation can be troublesome for homeowners in a number of ways. Aside from carrying diseases, one of the grossest things associated with them is their smell. A heavy roach infestation can leave your home with an unbearable stench. So what causes cockroach smell and what are the ways to remove cockroach smell?

Most expert pest control services use the words moldy, oily, or mildewy to describe a cockroach smell. The oriental cockroach type is known to produce one of the worst stenches, but American and German cockroaches can also give off a foul smell. Continue reading on to learn about the best and most effective ways to remove cockroach smell.

 

Why Do Cockroaches Smell?

Before you learn about how to get rid of cockroach odor, you must know the three main reasons why cockroaches smell in the first place.

The first reason involves their pheromones. Pheromones are secreted or excreted chemicals that form communication between members of the same species. This is used to gather other cockroaches to nesting areas and to attract mates.

The second cause of roach smell is feces. Most living things excrete feces that smell foul. The difference with cockroaches is that they move around and poop everywhere. If a cockroach is moving around your kitchen and bathroom, it is excreting feces throughout the travel. Their feces can also start to grow mold, which adds to the stench.

Lastly, when cockroaches die, they give off a “death stench.” Their decaying bodies shed skins and release oleic acid, which also has a powerful stench.

 

Find The Nest

To get rid of the cockroach smell you must first get rid of its source — its nest. Take the time to identify where the cockroaches travel and live. These are their nesting areas, which will be the biggest source of their smell.

Use a flashlight and check for common cockroach nests such as cracks and crevices in kitchens, inside appliances, laundry rooms, under the drains of bathrooms, and crawl spaces. Keep in mind that cockroaches prefer to take shelter in hidden and dark areas where moistures and food are present. You can determine a cockroach nest if there are piles of shed skins, feces, live and dead cockroaches, and egg cases.

If you are still unsure where they hide, you can try rolling out a baiting system and see which one catches the most cockroaches. That is where you will likely find the nest.

 

Eliminate The Source

Cockroach in the bathroom near the drain hole. The problem with insects. Cockroaches climb through the sewers.

Once you find the nest, you should start getting rid of the sources — which are the cockroaches themselves. A strong musty smell is an indication of a cockroach infestation and must be dealt with properly and quickly to prevent the population from increasing.

To completely get rid of a cockroach infestation, you will need to have an integrated pest management approach. Cockroach pest control services will do this job best, but the more you can eliminate along the way, the better. Elimination of food sources and water sources, proper waste management, and disinfecting your home are some of the most important steps of pest management.

 

Use The Right Equipment

If you didn’t already know, cockroaches can be sources of allergens and they can carry harmful diseases. In order to protect you and your loved ones, it is vital to go take precautionary measures when cleaning the nest.

Getting rid of cockroach odor means getting rid of the feces, which can trigger allergens such as asthma. You might want to wear disposable vinyl gloves and masks. If the odor is unbearable, a respirator will provide more protection.

 

Vacuum

Woman vacuuming mat at home in a good mood

Start vacuuming the highest areas of your home and work your way down. Vacuum any cockroach feces, shed skins, and even live roaches that you come across. Run your vacuum home along the top of cabinets, inside drawers, behind furniture, under sinks, and anywhere you have seen signs of cockroaches.

Once you have ensured every location is properly vacuumed, seal the bag and dispose of it properly to avoid further infestations.

 

Disinfect and Clean

Once you have vacuumed the feces and skins, spray the nest and other zones where you found signs of infestation with a powerful EPA-registered disinfectant and let it sit for 10 minutes or longer. If the nest or smell is in the cabinet, remove all its contents and spray away. If the odor persists in other parts of your home, spray all the affected areas thoroughly.

Next, use a light degreaser to scour the infested areas. Scrub until no feces are present. Once you are sure all the areas are free from odor, reapply the EPA-registered disinfectant to kill other bacteria. After the chemical odor dissipates, you will remove the cockroach smell.

 

Key Takeaway

These are some of the best ways to remove cockroach smell. As you get rid of your roach odor problem, you may need to repeat these steps.

Cockroach infestations can be troublesome. Aside from their foul stench, they can also carry harmful diseases. If you realize that cockroaches are infesting your home, you should take immediate action. It would also be best to seek professional pest control services to ensure the musty odor never returns.

Cut back on your pest concerns today by calling Topbest. With years of expertise, we offer comprehensive and only the most effective pest control services. Click here to book your free pest consultation!

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5 Tips On How to Get Rid of Cockroach Eggs

Follow The Safety Precautions Before Cleaning

How do you get rid of cockroach eggs?

  1. Seek out dark and humid areas of your home
  2. Kill the eggs with diatomaceous earth
  3. Prevent cockroach mothers from reproducing
  4. Maintain a clean and hygienic home
  5. Get professional help from a pest control company

 

If you have seen brown or reddish elongated eggs as small as 5 centimeters on nooks and crannies of your home, then you probably have a cockroach infestation. This is because these small cases are known as oothecae, which are the embryos of these pests. In some cases, you would even see cracked shells which indicate that their population might be growing. If you’re unsure how to get rid of cockroach eggs and when to call pest control services, keep on reading!

 

Seek Out Dark and Humid Areas of Your Home

If you want to know where to find cockroach eggs, you should think like one. The reason you can find them in the kitchen and bathroom frequently is that these pests need water other than food. Other than that, they also prefer dark and forgotten areas such as kitchen counters and cabinets where they won’t be disturbed.

Because cockroaches lay eggs in their shelters, you might want to check out the following places:

  • Under sinks
  • Inside cabinets and drawers
  • In crawl spaces
  • Wall cracks and crevices
  • Near trash cans
  • Places accessible to plumbing

Other than these, cockroaches are also attracted to absorbent materials such as cardboard and wood because they can leave their pheromones here for communication.

 

Kill The Eggs with Diatomaceous Earth

Close up group cockroach dead on white background

When you’re inspecting these areas, you might have already found a few eggs, if not cockroaches themselves! In some cases, some species of this pest will also lay their embryo collectively with other cockroach mothers.

When you do find cockroach eggs, you can stomp on them and dispose of them afterward. Although this method is unpleasant and nasty, it provides you with the fastest way to get rid of them.

Another method you can try is by spreading diatomaceous earth on the eggs and the area surrounding them. This is a non-toxic dust that kills the embryo by dehydrating them slowly. If the young cockroaches do hatch, they would eventually die in the dust too.

 

Prevent Cockroach Mothers from Reproducing

While the remaining diatomaceous earth will eventually kill any roaming cockroaches around the area, you can also try boric acid for preventive maintenance. By targeting the mother, you will stop any possibility of getting the egg cases made. After all, these contain as many as 40 young cockroaches inside!

This is because when you spread it in the area—whether in dust or gel form—any cockroach that will go through the acid will carry it in their bodies. When they decide to groom themselves, they will ingest the acid and eventually die. Because roaches are cannibalistic, the dead cockroach will act like the poison the will kill their family members.

Just remember to not use boric acid near food preparation areas because it is a pesticide, although it comes with low toxicity.

 

Maintain A Clean and Hygienic Home

Cropped view of woman cleaning house with mop and bucket

After getting rid of the cockroach mothers that produce the eggs, the next best thing you can do is to make your home unattractive to these pests! To do that, you should go back to the beginning and think like these insects.

With exposed snacks in the kitchen and leaky faucets as a source of water, cockroaches will find other places to live in. Because of this, the greatest thing you can do for your home is to keep it clean.

Aside from that, you should also seal any cracks and crevices on door frames and windows to get rid of all the entry points for cockroaches.

 

Get Professional Help from A Pest Control Company

If you have done everything on this list without signs of the cockroach infestation decreasing, it might be the right time to look for professional assistance. This is because cockroaches can flatten themselves to fit in nooks and crannies in your home and make hidden shelters you may not know about.

That’s why if you’re desperate, don’t resort to insecticide sprays or bug bombs because this endangers you and your family’s health when inhaled. In worst-case scenarios, it can even result in fires!

Because of that, your best bet is a professional pest control company that can help you with an integrated pest management plan! Aside from getting rid of the present infestation, they can also give you directions to prevent these insects from ever coming back.

 

Key Takeaway

The reddish-brown egg cases you see might not be harmful while it still hasn’t hatched but it can dramatically increase the number of pests at your home or office. That’s why if you want to know how to get rid of cockroach eggs, you can contact Topbest! With safe and effective treatment strategies to get rid of these pests, we will help you remove all traces of this insect from your home.

If you’re interested, you can click here for a free pest control consultation from our experienced staff!

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4 Home Remedies for Cockroach Control

Dead cockroach on floor

What are some home remedies for cockroach control?

  1. Conduct thorough cleaning
  2. Cockroach traps
  3. Chemical baits
  4. Diatomaceous earth

 

If you’re looking for cockroach control home remedies, then chances are there’s already an infestation at your home. These pests are some of the most destructive — next to termites. Not only does their presence create an unsightly environment, but they may also be carriers of diseases that can cause physical discomforts, allergies, or even fatal diseases.

Fortunately, you don’t have to despair when it comes to getting rid of these vermin. Some effective home remedies include: Conducting thorough cleaning, placing cockroach traps, chemical baits, diatomaceous earth, and the like. Of course, when your infestation has already worsened to the point of no return, you also have the option of calling your local pest control service.

As much as possible, these measures should be preventive. Read on to learn how you can effectively practice them to get rid of cockroaches once and for all.

 

Conduct Thorough Cleaning

Woman cleaning the house

Cockroaches thrive in warm environments, especially in tropical locations such as the Philippines. In order to facilitate their survival, they have to rely on food sources such as leftover food, crumbs, garbage, pet food, and the like. To prevent your home from harboring these pesky creatures, the first step is to conduct a thorough cleaning of all the areas in your house.

First, you’ll need to start with the most easily-soiled locations, like the kitchen, dining room, or bathroom. Before, during, and after meal preparation, for example, make sure that food scraps are properly thrown in a waste disposal bin. Avoid leaving out any scraps on the table or in the sink, as these could attract the cockroaches.

For your dining area, on the other hand, make sure that every surface is free from grime or grease. When not in use, wipe each countertop, stove, table, and chair with an all-purpose cleaner. Make sure there is no residue or bits and pieces of food left.

In the bathroom, as well as other general areas inside the house, it’s a good habit to dust, clean, and mop every day, if possible. Sanitize every surface with the right cleaning implements and organize the space to ensure proper sanitation.

 

Cockroach Traps

Another effective roach control practice that you can do is to place cockroach traps in different locations around your home. These can easily be purchased in your local hardware, supermarket, and department stores at a low cost — make sure to buy as many as you need to get all areas of your house covered.

Place cockroach traps in strategic locations, such as the kitchen, dining area, living room, or even your bedroom. These traps don’t take a long time to set up: Simply leave the adhesive surface facing upright and wait at the end of the day to inspect if there are any pests that fell prey to them.

 

Chemical Baits

Dead cockroach on floor

Similar to cockroach traps, you can also purchase chemical baits that are just as effective. Many homeowners usually practice this technique in combination with other tips to get the best results.

The formulation for chemical baits is similar to popular insecticides in the market, but they’re easier to use for two reasons: One is that you don’t have to move around the house yourself just to simply catch the cockroaches in action. Second is, you only need to lie in wait until the bait attracts these pests.

A cockroach chemical bait contains a food-based substance — which attracts the cockroaches — as well as slow-acting insecticides. Once ingested, it will take only a few seconds until a minute until the cockroaches get poisoned and die.

 

Diatomaceous Earth

If you prefer natural and toxic-free remedies for your home, then the diatomaceous earth is the most suitable choice. It’s a powder-like compound that contains natural ingredients such as silica and diatoms — made out of fossilized animal remains. This product isn’t difficult to find and is oftentimes sold in hardware or even online shops.

Diatomaceous earth products may have different recommendations when it comes to the application, but it typically involves spreading the substance using a teaspoon in the affected area. Aside from cockroaches, this substance can also kill a vast range of other bugs and insects like bed bugs, fleas, silverfish, ants, and the like.

Set out the powder in such a way that it forms a line. Pests will instantly die upon contact with the powder. For best results, avoid vacuuming the powder or dusting it off.

 

Key Takeaway

In this guide, you’ve found out some of the cockroach control home remedies that are effective against this, and other types of pests. As mentioned before, using these techniques in combination without the other is a good practice. Consistently practice them and you’ll soon have a cockroach-free home.

Need to exterminate cockroaches and other pests in your home? Topbest Philippines’ team of pest control service personnel can get the job done for you. Click here to get a free consultation!

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Don’t Let Cockroaches Live in Your Car with These Pest Control Tips

Don't Let Cockroaches Live in Your Car with These Tips

What are the best pest control tips to prevent cockroaches from living in your car?

  • Don’t eat in your car.
  • Clean your car regularly.
  • Avoid parking close to drains, sewers, and garbage bins.
  • Set up traps or spray insecticide inside your car.

 

Have you ever thought about just how powerful cockroaches are? How they can break the calmness and serenity of an otherwise quiet room by performing some aerial antics? And how they can scare the daylight of a person that’s behind the wheel and cause said person’s car to crash – yes, this has happened, and in multiple occasions, which is why you definitely have to up your pest control game.

Cockroaches wander off into cars for the same reason they enter a home which is to find shelter, food, and a place to lay eggs and build a colony. The worst part about cockroaches in your car is that they aren’t just harmless bugs like ants and spiders. They transmit more than 30 types of bacteria, which have serious health consequences.

Aside from this, if you’re scared or easily startled, they can cause you to lose control of your vehicle as they climb up your legs or fly by your face. In a sense, it’s actually more dangerous if they settled in your car than in your home – but, of course, you wouldn’t want either.

So, if you want to save yourself and your passengers from any surprises in the form of a flying cockroach, follow these effective tips that are guaranteed to keep them out of your vehicle for good!

 Don’t Eat in Your Car

(Source: topgear.com.ph)

Don’t Eat in Your Car

No matter how careful you are with eating in your car, small crumbs are bound to fall onto the floor and there is nothing in the world that attracts cockroaches more than food. They are food-lovers and seek it out naturally, so of course, they will crawl into your car if it is filled with food.

Admittedly, it’s tough to follow this tip because a lot of people eat in their car. Most do it on the way to work, some let their kids have snacks, while others just enjoy a drive through every now and then.

If it’s impossible to not eat in your car due to your busy schedule, then at the very least bring a box or container to eat in and catch all the crumbs and immediately throw trash away.

 

Clean Your Car Regularly

Another good tip for those who like to eat in their car is to clean it regularly. By clean, we mean run a vacuum through every nook and cranny including the carpets and the space between the seats and the sides of the door. And by regularly, we mean at least once or twice a week.

It’s not just food sources you have to remove, you also have to throw away boxes, cups, containers, and other items that have no business being in your car. Cockroaches treat these storage containers as shelter, so unless you want to provide them with free lodging, it is best that you discard them.

If you need to store items in the trunk of your car, then we suggest you keep them in a hard plastic container that has a tight lid so the little bugs won’t be able to go inside.

 Avoid Parking by Drains, Sewers, and Garbage Bins

Avoid Parking by Drains, Sewers, and Garbage Bins

Avoid parking in these areas where cockroaches thrive. Leaving your car by these places is like an open invitation to these creatures. The minute they take interest in your car, they can easily climb in through the air conditioning vents or undercarriage.

Once they’re in, it won’t take long for them to find shelter and lay eggs. Before you know it, your car will be home to more than a dozen cockroaches.

 

Set Up Traps or Spray Insecticide Inside Your Car

If you suspect that cockroaches are already in your car or just want to be extra cautious, then there’s no harm in setting up traps and spraying insecticide inside your car.

The traps you can simply place underneath the seats or in the truck and leave overnight. The insecticide, however, must be used on a day that you won’t be using your car or at least a couple of hours prior. It’s not safe to do it right when you’re about to head out because even though inhaling a full bottle won’t kill you, it is still poisonous to the body.

 

Key Takeaway

Cockroaches are simultaneously scary, amazing, and utterly irritating. Even though you can easily call pest control when you find them inside your home, the situation isn’t that simple when they’re in your car. They may cause you to crash before you even notice they’re there and nobody wants that.

Truly, the best way to prevent jump scares and accidents caused by these flying creatures is to keep them out of your car with the tips given above. If there was an unfortunate accident that involved another car because of this pest, then the victims can talk to a criminal lawyer in orlando, fl.

Granted, some of them aren’t ideal like completely forgoing eating in your car, but the others are easily doable, so try to stick with them. After all, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

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4 Most Commonly Found Cockroaches in the Philippines

4 Most Commonly Found Cockroaches in the Philippines

What are the most commonly found cockroaches in the Philippines?

  1. German Cockroach – it has two dark vertical stripes running the length of its head shield.
  2. American Cockroach – an adult American cockroach is reddish brown in color.
  3. Brown Banded Cockroach – it has light bands across its abdomen.
  4. Oriental Cockroach – it is darker than most cockroaches.

 

If you live in the Philippines, then you’re no stranger when it comes to cockroaches. More than that, you probably harbor a fervent aversion towards them, and that the very idea of cockroaches already makes you shudder in disgust. Plus, when they start flapping their wings and blindly soar through the air? That will certainly have anyone screaming.

Cockroaches top the list of pests that need to be controlled. Aside from the multitudes of measures that you need to take—such as rodent control—managing cockroaches can be a nerve-wracking yet satisfying venture. Nothing feels more gratifying than finally seeing your beloved home devoid of this pest.

However, contrary to what you might think, cockroaches don’t look alike, and there isn’t just a single type of cockroach prowling out there. There are, in fact, thousands of species out there. But this post will only tackle the 4 most commonly found cockroaches in the Philippines. Read on to know more about them!

 German Cockroach

Source: Wikipedia

German Cockroach

Its scientific name is Blatella germanica. This particular species is the reason why cockroaches have such a dreadful reputation.

The German cockroach is spread all over the globe, and they can’t subsist in areas that have no human activity. Their survival is also hampered by cold temperature, which is the primary reason why they’re so drawn to the Philippines and its scorching heat. This makes pest control—especially cockroach control—even more crucial.

An adult German cockroach is 10 to 15 millimeters in length. Its distinct characteristic is the two dark vertical stripes running the length of its pronotum (or head shield).

In order to distinguish the males from the females, there are features that you need to look out for. Males have a thin and slender body, and its back is not covered by tegmina (or is leathery outer wings). The male is also rendered in a light yellowish brown color.

On the other hand, a female German cockroach has a plump body, and its back is covered by tegmina.

A female generates 4-9 oothecae (egg case). Each ootheca contains 37-44 eggs. Lastly, the adult life cycle spans for more than 100 days.

 

American Cockroach

Its scientific name is Periplaneta americana. The American cockroach is the largest of the most common cockroaches, with an average of 4 cm in length.

An adult American cockroach is reddish brown in color, with a light brown or yellowish band around the rim of the pronotum. Males are much more substantial than females because their wings can extend from 4 to 8 mm beyond the abdomen.

A female produces one oothecae every 10 months, with around 16 eggs per ootheca. The adult life cycle lasts from 100 days to 3 years.

 Brown Banded Cockroach

Source: thefollisreport.com

Brown Banded Cockroach

Its scientific name is Supella longipalpa. This is a domestic cockroach, which means that its whole life is spent indoors. Yes, aside from rodents that you need to control, there’s also this particular cockroach that has a penchant for hiding in your home.

An adult brown banded cockroach resembles the German cockroach a bit, especially with their tiny size and body shape. But the two can be set apart by the absence of dark stripes on a brown banded cockroach. Instead, they have light bands across their abdomen.

The adult males are 13-14.5 mm in length, while adult females are 10-12 mm. Another distinct trait is that males fly when they are perturbed, while the females can’t fly. Lastly, a female brown banded cockroach has a considerably bigger abdomen than a male.

A female generates up to 13 oothecae, which comprises of around 16 eggs. An adult typically lives 90 to 115 days.

 

Oriental Cockroach

Its scientific name is Blatta orientalis. It’s approximately 1 inch long, and is darker than most cockroaches. Some of them, in fact, already veer to black.

Males have wings that envelope almost ¾ of their body. On the other hand, females have extremely short wings. Despite this, both of them cannot fly.

The life span of oriental cockroaches ranges from 1 to 6 months.

 

Key Takeaway

Aside from rodent control, you should also concern yourself with cockroaches; they definitely top the list of pests that you need to control.

There are thousands of species of cockroaches available in the Philippines, although these four are the most common. Regardless of the species, however, it’s your duty to ensure that your home or establishment is completely devoid of this horrifying pest.

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7 na Peste na Madalas Makita sa Pilipinas

7 na Peste na Madalas Makita sa Pilipinas

Ano ang mga peste na madalas makita sa Pilipinas?

  1. Langgam
  2. Anay
  3. Daga
  4. Ipis
  5. Lamok
  6. Surot
  7. Kuto

 

Ang mga peste ay isa sa problemang kinakaharap natin ngayon. Hindi mo agad masasabi kung mayroon na bang mga insektong nagtatago sa iba’t-ibang sulok ng iyong tahanan. Kaya naman dapat ay maging kaugalian na ang paghikayat sa pest control.

Ngunit may mga pagkakataong hindi mo na kayang kontrolin nang mag-isa ang mga insektong ito. Kapag nangyari ito ay dapat ka ng humingi ng tulong sa propesyonal na pest control operator para maagapan agad ang sitwasyon bago pa ito lumala.

Ano nga ba ang mga peste na parating nanghihimasok sa mga tahanan?

Tatalakayin ng post na ito ang 7 na peste na madalas matagpuan sa Pilipinas.

 Langgam

Langgam

Kung mahilig ka mag-iwan ng mga pagkain kung saan-saan, kailangan mong mag-ingat dahil baka sinusugod na ng peste na ‘to ang bahay mo.

Maraming klase ang mga langgam. Mahahati sila sa dalawang kategorya o dalawang kulay: itim o pula.

Ang itim na langgam ay madalas matagpuan sa loob ng tahanan. Madalas silang sumisingit sa mga mailiit na butas, lalung-lalo na kapag iniiwan mong nakabukas ang iyong mga pinto at bintana.

Para naman sa mga pulang langgam, sila ‘yung sobrang makati kapag kinagat ka. Karaniwan silang matatagpuan sa labas, sa hardin o ‘di kaya’y sa bakuran.

Kapansin-pansin na bihira mong makitang nagsosolo ang mga langgam. Lagi silang kabilang sa isang hanay o grupo.

Gaano nga ba kalaki ang pinsala na kayang idulot ng mga maliliit na insektong ito? Una ay kaya nilang mamerwisyo ng mga tao. Tapos ay kaya rin nilang atakihin ang mga pagkain mo, lalung-lalo na kung hindi ito nakaimbak nang maayos. At idagdag mo pa rito ang gimbalang pwede nilang maidulot sa mga halaman—minsan ay gagawin din nila itong pagkain.

Buti na lang ay marami namang mga paraan para sugpuin ang mga langgam—mga pest control na kayang-kaya mong gawin bago ka tumawag ng pest control operator. Nangunguna na nga rito ang paggamit ng insecticide. Pero kung masyado nang nakakagambala ang presensiya ng langgam sa iyong bahay at ‘di mo na ito maagapan, dapat ay kumonsulta ka na sa propesyonal na pest control operator.

 

Anay

Mahirap detektahin ang mga anay sa iyong bahay. Ang mga anay ay maliliit na insektong may hawig sa langgam. Nginangatngat nila ang kahoy at iba pang materyales.

Mahirap mang tuklasin ang presensiya ng mga anay sa bahay mo, mayroon namang mga senyales na dapat mong bantayan—ang mga senyales na ito ang magpapahiwatig na nagtatago na nga ang mga anay sa sulok ng iyong tahanan.

Una ay pwede kang humanap ng mga dumi at alikabok na iniiwan nila, o kaya’y isang tambak ng dumi na ginagawa nilang lagusan para mapasok ang iyong tahanan. Kapag binantayan mo ang mga babalang ito ay maaagapan mo agad ang presensya ng anay.

 Daga

Daga

Isa ito sa mga pinakamalaking pesteng nanggigimbala ng mga tahanan.

Ang pinakasimpleng paraan para sugpuin ang mga ito ay akitin mo sila palabas ng iyong bahay o patayin mo sila. Maaari kang maglagay ng pagkain malapit sa isang patibong, lalung-lalo na at madali silang matukso sa pagkain. Maliban dito, marami pang ibang paraan para kontrolin ang mga daga sa bahay mo.

 

Ipis

Isa sa mga pinakakinatatakutang peste ang ipis. Marami ang nanginginig sa takot masilayan lamang ito—lalung-lalo na ‘pag nagsimula na itong lumipad.

Madalas matagpuan ang ipis sa mga madidilim na lugar; dagdag mo pa rito ang sulok na puro dumi, kalat, at tubig. Ang mga pagkaing iniiwang nakatengga ay pwede ring mang-akit sa ipis. Buti na lang ay may pest control para padaliin ang pagsugpo sa pesteng ito.

 Lamok

Lamok

Ang mga lamok ay lumilipad na insektong sumisipsip sa iyong dugo sa bawat pagkakataong mahahanap nito. Madalas silang mangagat ‘pag gabi o ‘pag ikaw ay nasa labas.

Maliban sa pagiging makati, ang kagat ng lamok ay maaari ring maglaganap ng iba’t-ibang malubhang sakit, kagaya na nga lang ng dengue at malaria.

Karaniwang natatagpuan ang mga lamok sa lugar na may tubig. Ugaliing ‘wag mag-imbak ng tubig at magpahid din ng mga produktong kontra sa mga pesteng ito (kagaya na lang ng lotion).

 

Surot

Hindi ganon kalaganap ang mga surot, lalung-lalo na kung ikukumpara mo sa ibang peste. Pero importante pa ring maagapan silang kaagad.

Madalas silang nakikita sa mga kutson, karpet, at iba pa.

 

Kuto

Ang kuto ay isa ring peste na mahilig ding sumipsip ng dugo. Matatagpuan sila sa ating ulo, kung saan naaakit sila sa dumi ng buhok. Parehong tao at hayop ang pwedeng maapektuhan ng kuto.

Mabuti na lang ay mayroon ng mga shampoo at ibang produktong kontra sa kuto. Maaari ka ring gumamit ng suyod—isang suklay na ginagamit para alisin ang kuto sa iyong buhok.

 

Konklusyon

Hindi na bago ang peste sa Pilipinas. Maraming tahanan na lang ang ginagambala nito araw-araw. Kaya naman importante ang maging pamilyar sa mga pesteng madalas sumalakay sa iyong tahanan at alamin ang nararapat na pest control na pwede mong gawin. Mahalagang maagapan mo ang mga ito bago pa lumala ang sitwasyon.

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Diseases Cockroaches Can Bring to Your Home

Diseases Brought by Cockroaches

With how unhygienic the streets of the Philippines are, cockroach prevention and control is extremely important if you live in the city. A cockroach infestation is extremely stressful, frustrating, and can actually expose you to multiple health issues. If food is not properly sealed or if one doesn’t practice good hygiene, then he can be infected. Below is a list of example diseases that cockroaches have been known to carry.

 

Salmonellosis

Cockroaches accumulate the salmonella bacteria in their bodies by eating contaminated food. The bacteria can remain in their bodies for a month. They are disposed of when the cockroach vomits or defecates which they can do on your food.

When humans have salmonellosis, they experience diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. These symptoms usually surface 12-72 hours after infection. With a constant supply of fluids, one can recover from this disease in 4-7 days.

Typhoid Fever

This is also caused by the salmonella bacteria. Typhoid fever is fairly common in areas with poor sanitation and limited access to water.

Symptoms of typhoid fever include high temperature, head and muscle aches, constipation, diarrhea, exhaustion, and stomach pain. With the correct medical treatment, one can recover in 3-5 days. Failure to do so can lead to serious complications.

Cholera

Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection that is caused by the Vibrio cholera bacterium. It is common in areas with poorly managed environments.

Just like Salmonella, the disease is spread when cockroaches with the bacteria vomit and defecate on food and surfaces that get into contact with food. Although 80% of infected people do not experience any symptoms, the bacteria will be present in their feces for 1-10 days. For the 20% of people that do develop symptoms, 80% of them experience mild to moderate symptoms while the rest develop acute water diarrhea that leads to severe dehydration. There are 28,000-142,000 deaths recorded per year due to cholera.

Dysentery

This is a type of gastroenteritis which causes diarrhea with blood. This is acquired consuming foods or drinks with shigella bacteria or entamoeba, and poor hand hygiene. Symptoms of this disease include diarrhea with blood and mucus, painful stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and a high temperature. Although the symptoms may seem harsh, a person infected with the disease could recover within a week without medical treatment.

The disease has two types:

  • Bacillary: aka shigellosis, caused by the shigella bacteria
  • Amoebic: found in tropical areas, caused by Entamoeba

Leprosy

Cockroaches have also been known to carry bacillus mycobacterium leprae which causes leprosy. While this is not high infectious, failure to treat this could lead to permanent damage to the skin, nerves, eyes, and skin. The damage could be as severe as disfigurement and deformities.

Since leprosy incubates for 5 years, symptoms may take as long as 20 years in order to appear. Treatment of this is multidrug therapy or MDT. These are just a few of the multiple diseases that can be brought to your home and/or establishment. You and your loved ones are more likely to get infected with these if you have an infestation. If you feel that you have a cockroach control problem, call a professional right away.

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Eco-Friendly Pesticides to Use at Home

homemade insecticides

Often, pesticides contain chemicals that can be harmful to you or your family’s health. However, products like these are essential – especially in the Philippines – for controlling termite and cockroach infestation. Still, it would be nice if pesticide formulators and manufacturers can create a product that will prevent deadly pests from residing in your property without harming your loved ones.

However, if those products are not available in the market, do not worry. You can always contact a professional pest control company. These experts are skilled in eliminating harmful insects and rodents as safely and efficiently as possible. But if you do not have the time or funds to schedule an appointment right now, do not fret, here are eco-friendly DIY pesticides that you can temporarily use to keep those pesky pests at bay!

Garlic Spray

One of the eco-friendly pest killers that you can prepare at home is the garlic spray. Its pungent odor will make your home an undesirable place for insects, like mosquitoes, to stay and lay their eggs on. Do not worry about the garlicky smell wafting in the air after spraying it because the odor will not last long.

Ingredients:

  • 120 g / 4.2 oz. fresh garlic
  • 2 tbsp. mineral oil
  • 20 g / 0.7 oz. natural soap powder
  • ½ liter water
  • Spray bottle

Steps:

  1. Get some garlic and chop it into small pieces.
  2. Mix it with mineral oil, natural soap powder, and water.
  3. Afterwards, pour the mixture into an open container.
  4. Leave the concoction for 2 days and then strain it.
  5. Pour the strained mixture into a spray bottle.
  6. Spray it in areas where there are pest infestations.

 

spray bottle

Hot Pepper Wax

This homemade repellent deters spider mites, aphids, whiteflies, lace bugs, and other pests from come inside your property. The hot pepper wax is safe to use inside your home, even if have indoor plants, and on your garden. 

Ingredients:

  • 6 peppers (habanero, Anaheim or cayenne)
  • 2 cups of water
  • Cheesecloth or Paper Coffee Filter

Steps:

  1. Put six (6) peppers and 2 cups of water in a blender.
  2. Blend the peppers and water at high speed.
  3. After blending, put the mixture into a closed container.
  4. Leave it for 24 hours.
  5. Put a cheesecloth or paper coffee filter through the strainer.
  6. Strain the mixture into a clean 1-quart glass jar.
  7. Fill up the jar with top water.
  8. Spray it into areas where there are pests. 

Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/barbcrawford/402739799

Neem Oil Spray

Neem, which originated in India, is a powerful plant that is sometimes used as a medicine for skin diseases. However, do you know that it is also powerful in keeping pests away? The neem oil spray can block an insect’s life cycle as this DIY pesticide can make them lose their appetite after several days.

Ingredients:

  • ½ oz. high-quality organic neem oil
  • ½ tsp. of mild organic liquid soap

Steps:

  1. Mix the high-quality organic neem oil and mild organic liquid soap and stir slowly.
  2. Then, pour the mixture into a spray bottle.
  3. Spray it into the areas where there are pests.

Try any of these DIY pesticides to see which can help keep pests away from your home. However, you should remember that the effects of products like these are only short-term. If you want something more long-term, then you should contact an expert. Professional pest control companies can help you effectively manage your pest issues.