You flip the lights on and suddenly you see a bunch of cockroaches scattering - a very unpleasant sight to witness. Contrary to most people’s beliefs, roaches are not afraid of sunlight or any type of light for that matter. The shift of environment is what causes them to panic and run - their reaction is more from their fear of humans than any distaste for light. 

These insects know that they are more likely to stay alive in dark places where humans can’t get to them. Their gravitation towards dark and narrow places also makes it simpler for them to store food and to breed. Some common areas roaches love to seek refuge include bathroom vanities, kitchen cabinets, the spaces behind and under the refrigerator, in your electronics, attics, and basements. 

Can keeping lights on get rid of roaches?

The simple answer to this is, no! Because these nasty creatures prefer dark places, they will stay in their hiding spots and they will keep breeding until they become overcrowded. Roaches can thrive a month without food and they are aggressive breeders, so their populations grow quickly. Once they become too populous, they will start coming out even during the day to look for food.  In the world of roaches (and most living things), hunger overrides fear so if you spot a cockroach during the day in broad sunlight, it’s a sure sign that your house is infested. Roaches live in large groups, so if you see one roaming about, it’s probably not just a rogue roach that wandered in. Chances are high that there’s a colony hiding in your house.

You’ve spotted a cockroach in broad daylight. What now?

Roaches are tough creatures that can prove difficult to get rid of. Here are a few facts why: Not only can roaches go without food for a month, they can survive for up to two weeks without water! Interestingly, a cockroach can live up to a week without its head. A roach can hold its breath for up to 40 minutes. When you’re battling against a creature with such excellent survival skills, you’ll need to hire professional pest control services to get rid of them.

If you can’t locate the spots the cockroaches hide, your bug problem will continue to thrive. Professional exterminators, rather than just randomly spraying countertops, baseboards and other exposed surfaces, first perform a thorough inspection of the home or business to identify the breeding grounds. This way they know exactly where to spray to stop the roach colony from continuing.

Cockroaches are among the most common of pests so it’s not uncommon to find them in your house or place of business. The reason you need to get them eradicated as soon as you spot one is because they are disease-causing. Roaches move freely from filth to food spreading different kinds of bacteria and carrying parasitic worms. They can transmit salmonella and cause other illnesses. Also, their decomposing bodies can trigger allergic reactions.  To properly and safely eliminate a cockroach infestation, talk to Winnipeg pest control professionals and let us get your home or business back to being pest-free.