Cockroach Exterminator

As one of the worst household pests to plague homeowners in the Chicago and Hampton Roads areas, chances are you already know a lot about cockroaches. It's a given that we dread them, perhaps more than any other insect on the planet. We know they're filthy, eat everything, spread countless diseases, and turn our homes into uncomfortable and unsanitary messes. We also know how hard they are to get rid of.

Could they survive a nuclear blast? Many scientists say yes, but the fact that they survive most of the over-the-counter pesticides we throw at them nowadays is much more of a pressing concern. They've developed immunities that make them harder to exterminate than ever before. Their genetic evolution has been interesting, to be sure, but there are quite a few other things about cockroaches that you might find fascinating and surprising.

Surprising Facts About Roaches

• Yes, cockroaches enjoy alcohol, especially beer and sugary cocktails. They can even become intoxicated if they drink too much. They like a good stiff drink just as much as we do. They breathe through holes in their body, not their face.

• People have reported these bugs living as much as a week or two with their heads cut off. Of course, they still need their head to eat food and drink water, but they can survive as long as a month without either.

• A female needs one mating and could stay pregnant for life. (Sorry, boys, she's done with you.) German cockroaches, one of the most common species, live about a year and produce a new generation of offspring every 60 days. They are so prolific that a small infestation can grow to millions within mere months.

• They're delicious. Okay, so we don't really like to eat them here in the United States, but they are considered a very tasty snack in many parts of the world and nutritious, too. So, if you can't beat them, fry them?

• Cockroaches are cannibals. But this one doesn't surprise us that much. They eat feces, so they'll eat each other as well, alive or dead. When crushed, their bodies expel oleic acid, which smells like dinner. And if you happen to squish one, it attracts other roaches.

• They fart about every 15 minutes, according to scientists. Cockroaches release so much methane that they have even profoundly affected global climate change.

• Cockroaches like to groom themselves. For such a dirty bug, it is impressive to watch one groom its legs and antennae with its mouth just like a cat bathes its limbs, but that is what they constantly do.

The Professional Control You Deserve

As much as they might surprise us, cockroaches disgust and upset us more than anything else. Having them in your home can be traumatic, both physically and emotionally, but there is a solution. If you are experiencing problems or suspect you might have an infestation, contact Tonys Pest Killers. We're the most trusted professional cockroach control service in your community, and we'll help give you the pest-free home you deserve.