Are you sick of turning on the lights only to see cockroaches scatter? Maybe you’ve been noticing their feces, smelling a weird odor, or seeing roach egg casings. Could this be a cockroach that has entered your home or even a serious cockroach infestation?
You may be dealing with just a few stray roaches or a full-blown infestation. Whatever the case is, you need them gone! Read below for cockroach extermination strategies as well as searching for “a roach exterminator near me”.
We’re going to discuss how to get rid of cockroaches and ensure they never return.
The Ugly Truth About Roaches
Cockroaches are an interesting pest and there are multiple myths that float around about them. The truth is, these bugs carry diseases that can make you sick!
Additionally, there are over 4500 known species of cockroaches in the world. However, there are only about 30 species that are thought of as pests. Of these 30, the most common ones found in the U.S. are the German and American Cockroaches.
Find Their Hiding Spaces
Many people believe that if you see one roach there are more hiding. This is often true but isn’t a constant rule. Should you see a roach in your home, you should look for others before deciding that your space is infested.
Cockroaches like warm, dark, moist places. Unfortunately, this leaves many places in your home that are perfect for their hideouts. Cracks and crevices in your home are favorite hiding places of cockroaches.
Drawers that aren’t used often, under the refrigerator near the motor, and in/around floor drains are prime hiding spots for these pests. The easiest way to check for them is by using a flashlight.
Unfortunately, any space that offers darkness and is rarely disturbed can be attractive to roaches. This means that you will need to remove clutter from your home.
This clutter may include boxes that haven’t been unpacked from a move, old magazines or mail. Even dirty dishes that have been left in the sink for a couple of days may be part of the problem, especially if they are stacked together and have remnants of food.
Just because you don’t see actual cockroaches, it doesn’t mean there isn’t a problem. Roach feces is often visually compared to coffee grounds and can be found anywhere.
If you haven’t recently spilled your container of coffee, this is a red flag and could lead you to their hideout! Eggs can also be found without their parents. These ‘eggs’ are actually sacs and can contain 16-50 roaches. They look like very small pieces of chocolate.
Secure Entry Points
Identifying cockroaches’ hiding spots will help you determine where they are coming from. These bugs can fit almost anywhere by flattening their bodies which means even the smallest of cracks can let them in.
Take time to seal windows, doors, and plumbing to ensure that there is no entry point available. You may need to use various sealants including silicone caulk, vinyl door sweeps, or even tape.
Remember that roaches don’t always sneak in from the outside. You can also bring them into your home. Used furniture, moving/shipping boxes, and grocery bags have all been culprits of infestations.
Ideally, when you receive a package, open the box outside and bring the contents in. Warehouses are often full of these pests and roaches can easily catch a ride from one place to another.
If you live in an apartment, you will have to be diligent about shared walls as cockroaches can live in and slip under them.
No More Food & Water
Roaches will eat anything to survive but much like humans, they prefer tastier options. For a cockroach, food that has been left out, crumbs, and dirty dishes are all delicious, fair game.
To keep roaches from returning to your home, you must take away these tasty treats and sources of water. Doing this won’t immediately rid your home of pests, but the lack of food will be unattractive.
While removing obvious sources of food is great, a deep clean is typically necessary. You should ensure that food is stored in airtight containers and does not spill. Wipe the insides of your cabinets, pantry shelves, and appliances to get rid of the tiniest of crumbs.
Over time and combined with other methods, you will see a decline or elimination of the roach population in your home.
Use Bait
Spraying pesticides will help eliminate cockroaches but can leave you with contaminated surfaces, funky smells, and even sick children or pets. There are several types of treatment that are effective, including insecticide sprays and baits. With this said, it is best to use roach baits for cockroach control.
Baits will attract roaches and trap them inside. This leaves you with almost no risk of inadvertently contaminating other surfaces or food with dead roaches.
These products are great because you can set them out and forget about them until they need to be changed. The packaging will tell you how often you need replacements and you shouldn’t have to deal with many roaches outside of the baits.
How to Get Rid of Cockroaches: Call for Help!
Being that roaches eat anything, can squeeze into small spaces, and prefer areas that aren’t often used, anyone can find themselves with an infestation. Although having a clean home can lessen the chance of this issue, it does not eliminate the possibility.
There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach of how to get rid of cockroaches. What works for one household may not work for yours and vice versa.
When you are facing what seems to be an impossible problem, a professional exterminator is a great option. Opting to hire a pest control expert will allow you the peace of mind that comes with knowing your home is protected.
Learn more about our residential pest control services to see if we may be of service to your family!
Internal
https://synergy2ms.com/roaches-in-the-house-where-they-come-from-and-how-to-get-rid-of-them/
External
http://npic.orst.edu/pest/roach.html
https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef614
https://www.domyown.com/cockroach-prevention-guide-a-459.html
https://www.pestworld.org/pest-guide/cockroaches/american-cockroaches/
https://www.pestwiki.com/best-roach-home-remedies/
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