Like most insect bites, cockroach bites cause the skin to react by swelling up and becoming itchy. In the rare case that a cockroach bite becomes infected, the area will become inflamed and fill up with pus. The bite may then become as large as your hand.
Cockroach Bites Are Not Poisonous
However, it is wrong because cockroach bites are not venomous but will only give red marks and can be itchy. Even though the pest is not poisonous, you should immediately treat the bite because cockroaches are dirty creatures and they carry several bacteria.
Wash the bite site with soap and water, and apply an antiseptic. Apply a cold compress or calamine lotion to the bite site to help reduce local pain and swelling. You can also take an antihistamine to relieve the swelling and itching. These medicines should be readily stocked in your DIY first aid kit.
Cockroach bites typically show up as small, red, raised bumps on the skin. In some cases, individuals can suffer from a severe allergic reaction to a cockroach bite. This can result in localized swelling, skin rash, shortness of breath, and even anaphylaxis.
What Do Cockroach Bites Look Like? Roach bites are bright red and will cause there to be small raised bumps on your skin. They will likely be slightly larger than bed bug bites and there will usually only be one bite. Bed bugs bites would be more likely to occur in a line or a cluster.
Cockroaches are nocturnal, so if they do bite, it will most likely occur during the night while you are sleeping. They also tend to bite areas that may accumulate food residue like the face, mouth, hands, and fingernails.
Because cockroaches eat a wide range of food, including rotting garbage, it is believed that they spread a number of diseases to humans including salmonella and gastroenteritis. Recent studies have indicated cockroaches can also cause allergies.
Like most insect bites, cockroach bites cause the skin to react by swelling up and becoming itchy. The bite from a cockroach can last up to a week.
Home remedies like diatomaceous earth, baking soda, boric acid, citrus, essential oils, and borax can be effective ways to get rid of roaches. If you want to take a more aggressive approach to eliminate roaches, glue traps, bait stations, and liquid roach deterrent concentrates are all excellent options.
Cockroaches carry a host of diseases
If you touch a cockroach, you risk becoming infected with some serious diseases, including bacteria that cause dysentery. According to the World Health Organization, cockroaches commonly transmit these diseases to humans: Salmonellosis. Typhoid Fever.
And it's not just artificial light that cockroaches dislike. They're not fond of natural light either. Because of this, you're unlikely to see them during the daytime. If you do notice one during the day, it may be because the roach got crowded out of its home or was forced out of hiding due to a lack of food.
Cockroaches seek places where they can find ample food. Food crumbs, spills, leftovers, and pet food are the most common food sources. Kitchen trash and grease on stovetops and countertops can be inviting for roaches, and they may also get into stored food items.
Peppermint oil, cedarwood oil, and cypress oil are essential oils that effectively keep cockroaches at bay. Additionally, these insects hate the smell of crushed bay leaves and steer clear of coffee grounds. If you want to try a natural way to kill them, combine powdered sugar and boric acid.
Cockroaches prefer to shelter in narrow cracks and crevices. Check behind refrigerators, under sinks, and in dark drawers or cabinets. They forage for food at night, eating a wide variety of foods and non-food materials. This allows them to survive even in clean homes.
You may be wondering: "I saw one cockroach, should I be worried?" If you spot even one roach during the daytime, it can mean the infestation has been going on for some time or that it has progressed to the point where drastic action must be taken immediately.
Symptoms of cockroach allergies can vary but may include itchy skin, scratchy throat or itchy eyes and nose. Allergy symptoms can become stronger, including severe, persistent asthma in some cases. Roaches are often carried into homes through groceries, furniture, and luggage.
Cockroach eggs look like small tan, brown or black capsules shaped something like a pill or a purse. German and American cockroach eggs are approximately 1/3-inch (8 mm) long, while those of the Oriental and SmokyBrown cockroaches are slightly longer, reaching lengths of almost ½ inch (12 mm).
Cockroaches lay multiple eggs at one time inside a single casing called an ootheca, and these cases are dark-brown or reddish-brown. They range in size from 5 to 13 mm long. Finding a visible cockroach egg case can be a sign of an infestation in your home.
Cockroach feces are easy to identify. Droppings from small cockroaches resemble ground coffee or black pepper. Larger roaches leave behind dark, cylindrical droppings with blunt ends and ridges down the side.
Australian cockroaches can carry Salmonella and other germs. You certainly do not want these insects to love your cooking and to colonize your home. They can also damage plants when cool temperatures force them into a confined space such as a nursery.
It's a fact that cockroaches are afraid of humans and other mammals or animals that are bigger than them. They see us as predators and that fear triggers their instinct to scatter away. However, they dislike strong and distinctive scents such as citrus, peppermint, lavender and vinegar.
Cockroach lifespan
Each species of cockroach has their own estimated lifespan but on average, cockroaches live for about one year. Factors such as food supply, habitat and climate affect lifespan. American cockroaches can live for about one year while German cockroaches are estimated to live for about 100 days.