Do cockroaches bite and how else can they be dangerous

What cockroaches live in apartments

Domestic cockroaches also calledSynanthrope / Merriam‑Webster Dictionary synanthropic. This means that they can only exist next to a person. From people to them neededWhat Causes Roaches (and Makes Them Go Away) / Cockroach Facts food, water and shelter.

Some, like Prussians and blacks, can only live in houses. And others, such as American ones, also live on the street and in unheated non-residential premises.

Of the 30 species of cockroaches that adjoinDisease Vectors and Pests / CDC with a person, most often you can meet:

• red prusak (Blattella germanica);
• black (Blatta orientalis);
• American (Periplaneta americana);
• Australian (Periplaneta australasiae).

Do cockroaches bite

Yes, all kinds of cockroaches - and there are more than 4,500 of them -

can biteAll About Cockroach Bites / Cockroach Facts. But they do it very rarely. Despite the fact that they have very strong jaws, they almost never attack people and pets.

If they accidentally bite, then just to try, suddenly you are made of something edible. But usually they have more tasty food.

What to do if you are bitten by a cockroach

It will most likely never happen to you. But even if this happens, the bite will look about the same as after a mosquito, midge or bug. That is, you are unlikely to pay special attention to the red itchy bump on the skin.

Treat a cockroach bite needInsect bites and stings / NHS just like bites other insects:

• Wash skin with soap and water.
• If there is swelling, apply a cold compress.
• If necessary useStings from other arthropods / MSD Manuals steroid cream or antihistamines.

Usually bites pass and do not cause complications: there are no cases of an allergic reaction described in the literature. However, any wound can be infected. Therefore, you can not comb the skin, even if it itches a lot.

What else is dangerous cockroaches

As we have said, cockroaches are unlikely to ever bite you. But they can still harm human health.

They cause allergies

Saliva, feces, and parts of the chitinous covering, such as the carapace or legs, can cause in susceptible individuals allergy and asthma.

As with dust mite allergies, symptoms worsen when the dust is lifted into the air. They usually includeCockroach Allergy/ACAAI:

• cough;
• nasal congestion;
• wheezing;
• skin itching.

Sometimes ear infections and sinusitis also join.

They carry infections

On cockroaches foundD.G. Cochran. Cockroaches: their biology, distribution and control more than 40 types of bacteria, some of which are dangerous to humans. There were no mass outbreaks precisely because of cockroaches. However, they can carry, for example:

• salmonella;
• shigella - the causative agent of dysentery;
• coli;
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa;
• streptococci;
• staphylococci.

How to get rid of cockroaches

There isDisease Vectors and Pests / CDC four main strategies for dealing with them.

Take preventive measures

Cockroaches breed very quickly, so even one running past can become part of a huge family.

Make sure that there are no cracks and cracks in the house, especially in kitchens and bathrooms. Look at the items you bring into the house. For example, you can bring a cockroach from your vacation in a suitcase.

Keep Clean

Don't leave dirty overnight crockery, crumbs on the tables and drops in the sink. Clean the trash can regularly to remove food debris. Store pet food in sealed containers.

Set traps

Place traps on the walls of cabinets, under the sink, near the trash can, near ventilation and drains.

Use poisons

If all preventive measures did not help and cockroaches still multiplied, you can use insecticides yourself or call exterminators.