Cockroaches, also known as waterbugs, croton bugs or palmetto bugs, destroy food and damage fabrics, book bindings and other materials. When cockroaches run over food they leave filth and may spread disease. They secrete an oily liquid that has an offensive and sickening odor that may ruin food. This odor may also be imparted to dishes that are apparently clean. Excrement in the form of pellets or an ink-like liquid also contributes to this nauseating odor.
Some people are allergic to cockroaches and become ill.
Types of Cockroaches Several types of cockroaches include Woods Roach, American, Smoky-Brown, Brown, Australian, and German. Though they are generally found outdoors, they can become an indoor problem when they migrate or are carried indoors. The largest cockroach, the Florida Woods Roach, will also enter dwellings from the outside or from beneath the house. Outdoor cockroaches do not survive well indoors and many times people overreact to the presence of these cockroaches. Often, removal of these outdoor cockroaches from the house is all that is needed for management.