Are you scared of cockroaches? And do you want to know what happens if you touch a cockroach by accident or if it touches you? Cockroaches are known carriers of bacteria and germs, so you are right to be concerned about touching them.
Not only are they disgusting insects, but they are also the most common pests that plague our lives in houses, offices, and even stores. So, the chance of you seeing a cockroach around you is high. But what happens if you touch a cockroach? And where will you possibly see a cockroach? Read on to find out more.
What Are Cockroaches? Â
Cockroaches, also known as roaches, are insects. There are over 4,000 species of roaches, all of which belong to the order Blattodea. Out of the many species of cockroaches out there, you will get to see only about 20 species, and only 5 species are known to be pests.
These are the German cockroach, the brown-banded cockroach, American cockroach, the oriental cockroach, and the wood cockroach. Cockroaches have a flat body with wings on their backs and two pairs of antennae. Cockroaches can be brown, tan, black, or reddish-brown. Roaches are not big insects.
The most common type of roach, the German cockroach, measures only half an inch. These are the ones you will see inside your house. While the biggest roach in the world, the Australian burrowing cockroach only measures 3 inches. Cockroaches are mostly active during the night and hide during the day.
Where Will I Possibly See a Cockroach?
Here are the places you could see a cockroach:Â
- Inside your house:
When roaches are inside your house, you will find them in places like your kitchen, in tiny corners, moist places like your sink areas, dark places like basements, under your carpet or furniture, closets, wardrobes behind appliances, and sometimes inside appliances.
- Outside the house:
You will see cockroaches in piles of dirt, near or in trash cans, in the garden, decaying plant heaps, and wood mulch outdoors.Â
- In stores:
If you see a cockroach at the stores, it will most likely be in storage areas where there are packed cardboard boxes, around refrigerators, and in the recycling area.
- In the Office:
In the office, a cockroach will most likely be in break rooms where you take some food during your break. Another place is in IT server rooms. They are attracted to the heat in the servers and will sometimes try to eat the wires in the server room. The closet room is where you may see a cockroach because of the clusters in it.Â
What Happens If You Touch a Cockroach
If you mistakenly touch a cockroach, your first reaction will likely be to scream because you are frightened and also because roaches are disgusting insects, and you don’t want them touching your hands.
The next thing that will happen, if you are allergic to roaches, is that when you touch one, it will trigger your allergic reactions. You will start sneezing, coughing,, and sometimes experiencing breathing problems. Your hand is also contaminated with bacteria and viruses from touching the roach because roaches carry diseases and viruses.
What To Do If You Touch A Roach?
If you touch a roach, go and wash your hands immediately. Drop whatever you are doing and do it. Use soap to wash your hands and get rid of the bacteria on your hands. Then, use disinfectant wipes or alcohol-based sanitizer to clean your hands.
You may also want to check for a roach infestation in your house. Check the common places they are likely to be found, and if you find them, call a pest control service to deal with the problem.
Read also:Â What Do Oriental Cockroaches Eat?
ConclusionÂ
Cockroaches are disease-carrying insects, so try as much as you can to avoid touching one or letting one touch you. But if you do, wash your hands to get rid of the bacteria and germs on roaches.
When you are in places where you might see a cockroach, watch out for them, and do not let them touch you. What did you do when you touched a cockroach? I would like to hear from you. Please write a comment below.
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