Some cockroach species are known to transmit disease-causing organisms, and are most often implicated in the transmission of Salmonella, often the causal agent of food poisoning. German cockroaches also cause respiratory problems to individuals sensitive to the allergens they produce.
Most cockroaches are tropical or sub-tropical in origin and generally live outdoors. However, some species have adapted well to living indoors with humans. Though it is true that they prosper in clutter, filth and grime, occasionally cockroaches infest even the most sanitary and well-organized homes and buildings.
There are at least 20 different species of cockroaches in Arizona, probably about 10 are native and rarely encountered in the urban environment. Those established in urban areas include: the American, Brown- banded, Field, German, Oriental, Surinam and Turkestan.
Cockroaches are often carried into homes in infested foodstuff, particularly dried pet foods and in seasoned firewood. They also enter around loose-fitting doors and windows, where electrical lines or water and steam pipes pass through walls. If a home or building is unoccupied and sinks are not used, allowing the P-trap to dry up will allow cockroaches access but they will not come through the sewer lines otherwise. Cockroaches will feed on any unprotected kitchen goods contaminating food with excrement and salivary secretions. Some will also eat materials such as leather, wallpaper paste and bookbinding.
1) Proper sanitation, both indoors and outdoors, effectively limits cockroach food sources. Do not leave unwashed dishes, kitchen utensils and uncovered food out overnight. Clean up all spilled liquids. Areas beneath and behind cabinets, furniture, sinks, stoves and refrigerators should be cleaned often, as should cupboards, pantry shelves and storage bins where particles of food frequently accumulate. Kitchen waste and excess refuse should be kept in cockroach-proof containers, and disposed of as frequently as possible. Dry pet food should be stored in tight containers away from the kitchen and other foods. If pets are fed indoors, leftover foods should not be allowed to remain in the feeding dish overnight. Garbage cans should be cleaned regularly, inside and out.
2) Eliminate all possible hiding areas such as paper, lumber, firewood and yard trash.
3) Seal any cracks of 1/8-inch or larger in the foundation and exterior walls. Check the seal around air conditioning units, windows, doors, pipes or other openings into the home. Repair cracks and holes in floors, walls and ceilings. Seal openings around plumbing fixtures, furnace flues, electrical outlets, windowsills and walls, and along baseboards and ceiling moldings. Thresholds on doors should be as tight as possible and cracks in porches and stoops should be sealed.
4) Leaky water faucets and pipes should be repaired since most species are attracted to water sources.
5) Avoid installing lights directly above doorways, or replace light bulbs with yellow colored bulbs that are less attractive to bugs.
Questions? Concerns? Call us at 520-393-3352. We’ll be happy to help!
Aina fulani za vipepeo huambukiza viumbe vinavyosababisha magonjwa, na mara nyingi huambukiza Salmonella, ambayo mara nyingi husababisha sumu ya chakula. Pia, vipepeo wa Ujerumani husababisha matatizo ya kupumua kwa watu wanaoathiriwa na visababishi vya mzio wanavyotokeza. Vipepeo wengi hutoka maeneo ya kitropiki au ya chini ya kitropiki na kwa kawaida huishi nje. Hata hivyo, spishi fulani zimezoea kuishi ndani ya nyumba pamoja na wanadamu. Ingawa ni kweli kwamba wao hufanikiwa katika fujo, uchafu na uchafu, mara kwa mara vipepeo huambukiza hata nyumba na majengo yenye usafi na utaratibu mzuri zaidi. Kuna angalau spishi 20 tofauti za vipepeo huko Arizona, labda karibu 10 ni za asili na hazipatikani mara nyingi katika mazingira ya mijini. Wale waliowekwa katika maeneo ya mijini ni pamoja na: Marekani, Brown-banded, Field, Kijerumani, Mashariki, Suriname na Turkestan. Mara nyingi vipepeo huingia ndani ya nyumba katika vyakula vilivyoathiriwa, hasa vyakula vilivyokaushwa vya wanyama-vipenzi na kuni zilizopikwa. Pia huingia kupitia milango na madirisha yenye umbo la kawaida, ambapo mistari ya umeme au mabomba ya maji na mvuke hupita kupitia kuta. Ikiwa nyumba au jengo halina watu na sinki hazitumiwi, kuruhusu P-trap kukauka itaruhusu vipepeo kuingia lakini hawatakuja kupitia mistari ya mifereji vinginevyo. Vipepeo hula vyakula vyovyote visivyohifadhiwa vinavyolisha chakula kwa umajimaji na umajimaji wa mate. Wengine pia watakula vifaa kama vile ngozi, karatasi ya ukuta na vifungo vya vitabu. 1) Usafi wa mazingira, ndani na nje, hupunguza vyanzo vya chakula vya vipepeo. Usiwaache vyombo visivyooshwa, vyombo vya jikoni, na chakula kisichofunikwa nje usiku kucha. Safisha kioevu chote kilichomwagika. Sehemu zilizo chini na nyuma ya kabati, fanicha, sinki, jiko na friji zinapaswa kusafishwa mara kwa mara, kama vile kabati, rafu za pantry na mabati ya kuhifadhi ambapo chembe za chakula hukusanyika mara kwa mara. Takataka za jikoni na taka za ziada zapasa kuhifadhiwa katika vyombo visivyoweza kuambukizwa na vipepeo, na kuondolewa mara nyingi iwezekanavyo. Chakula kavu cha wanyama-vipenzi kinapaswa kuhifadhiwa katika vyombo vyenye kufungwa vizuri mbali na jikoni na vyakula vingine. Ikiwa wanyama wa kufugwa wanalishwa ndani ya nyumba, chakula kilichobaki hakipaswi kuruhusiwa kubaki katika bakuli la kulisha usiku kucha. Vituo vya taka vinapaswa kusafishwa kwa ukawaida, ndani na nje. 2) Kuondoa maeneo yote ya kujificha kama vile karatasi, mbao, kuni na taka ya bustani. 3) Funga ufa wowote wa inchi 1 au kubwa zaidi katika msingi na kuta za nje. Angalia kufungwa kwa vyumba vya hewa, madirisha, milango, mabomba au milango mingine ya ndani ya nyumba. Kurekebisha nyufa na mashimo katika sakafu, kuta na dari. Kufunga vyanzo karibu na vifaa vya mabomba, flues tanuru, outlets umeme, windowsills na kuta, na pamoja baseboards na moldings dari. Vipande vya milango vinapaswa kuwa vyenye nguvu kadiri iwezekanavyo na nyufa katika veranda na matuta zinapaswa kufungwa. Vituo vya maji na mabomba ya maji yanayotiririka yanapaswa kurekebishwa kwa sababu spishi nyingi huvutiwa na vyanzo vya maji. 5) Epuka kuweka taa moja kwa moja juu ya milango, au badilisha taa za taa na taa za rangi ya manjano ambazo hazivutii wadudu. Maswali? Wasiwasi? Piga simu kwa ajili ya msaada wa msaada wa msaada wa msaada wa msaada wa msaada wa msaada wa msaada wa msaada wa msaada wa msaada wa msaada wa msaada wa msaada wa msaada wa msaada wa msaada wa msaada wa msaada wa msaada wa msaada wa msaada wa msaada wa msaada wa msaada wa msaada wa msaada wa msaada wa msaada wa msaada. Tutafurahi kukusaidia!