Roaches are creepy, crawly, and utterly disgusting. If you’ve discovered that you have roaches in house, just where are they coming from, and how can you get rid of them?
There are a few things you can do to eliminate these nasty pests in your home.
Read on to discover where roaches can get into your home and what you can do to squash these disgusting bugs once and for all.
Where Do Roaches Come From?
You might assume that roaches only live in dirty homes, but that’s not always the case. These pests can come from a variety of sources outside and eventually make their way into your house, even if it’s clean.
Some species of roaches can catch a ride inside your grocery bag, cardboard boxes, and even luggage. If you bring a pregnant roach inside, you’ll likely have an infestation in no time.
Inspect any containers you bring into your home before you take them inside. Many roaches enter the home through the plumbing.
Roaches love water, and they travel along with the plumbing lines inside sewers and within common walls such as apartment buildings. You may even see them enter your home through the sink, shower, or tub drain.
Other roach species like the Oriental cockroach might get into the house through the floor underneath your crawl space or under the cracked or open door and window jambs of the house.
Basically, any open area for entry is not immune to roaches attempting to get inside. Any water source is also especially enticing for roaches.
For more information on specific types of roaches, please visit:
https://www.pestworld.org/news-hub/pest-articles/cockroaches-101/
Roaches in House? Here’s Where They’re Found
Each species of roach has a preference as to where it likes to hang out. Indoor roaches are typically found in larger multifamily residences like condos and apartment buildings.
German cockroaches like their living conditions to be in a dark, warm, and humid place. They tend to gravitate toward anywhere they can easily find food and water.
You’ll typically find these roaches in the kitchen, in cracks of cabinetry, and near sinks or appliances. They are also often found in the bathroom due to the presence of water.
Oriental cockroaches like cool, dark places and areas where there is a lot of organic material like woodchips and mulch. You may discover these pests near your patio, sidewalk, or in between the soil and the foundation of your home.
Indoors, Oriental cockroaches tend to live in sewer drains and basements since they like things cool and dark. Keep an eye out for them near leaky pipes and underneath your sinks and refrigerator.
The brown-banded cockroach prefers things warm and dry. They live in higher areas, usually at eye level or higher and tend to hang out in cabinets, pantries, closets, and even behind pictures.
You might also see brown-banded roaches in house near the television set, refrigerator motor, and other items that are warm. Keep an eye out for egg cases which could be on the walls or on textured ceilings.
American cockroaches are typically indoor dwellers. These roaches spend most of their time in restaurants and grocery stores since they love to live where food is stored or prepared.
The American roach prefers warm, moist areas like a boiler room, basements, and anywhere there is a wet floor drain. You’ll also see them in sewer systems.
Getting Rid of Roaches
Now that you know more about where these pests come from and where they live, how do you get rid of them? There are several things you can do to eliminate these germ-carrying pests from your home or business.
Try these helpful tips so you can be rid of roaches once and for all:
- Check for leaky plumbing and get it fixed as soon as possible.
- Close all drains in your home that are not being used.
- Seal all window and door jambs, and use window screens to keep roaches outside.
- Check entry points like sewers and drains, and apply a treatment to keep roaches at bay.
- Always seal screens and any areas with a large opening outside windows, drainage lines, and sewer vents. You can use steel wool as a temporary fix.
- Seal all food items and keep them airtight. Throw any uneaten food away immediately.
- Take your trash out on a regular basis to avoid tempting the roaches with a food source.
- Contact a professional exterminator if you cannot get rid of the roaches on your own.
- Use a roach bait whenever possible and avoid sprays so you can keep surfaces from getting contaminated.
- Clean up clutter around your home. Roaches tend to hide or nest in dark areas such as piles of clothing or trash.
- Always check items like luggage and used furniture for roaches before you bring them into your home.
With these simple tips, you should be able to avoid having roaches altogether. And, if you start to see them, there are some measures you can take to get rid of them.
Looking for additional tips on controlling cockroaches in your home or business? Try these websites:
https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef614
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20140918-the-reality-about-roaches
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockroach
https://synergy2ms.com/how-to-get-rid-of-cockroaches/
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/a47840/how-to-get-rid-of-roaches/
http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7467.html
Don’t Let Roaches Bug You
Although roaches are a nasty fact of life, you don’t have to deal with them in your home. If you see roaches in a house, take the proper steps to get rid of them as fast as possible.
Once you know how they get into your home and where they live, you’ll be better prepared to eliminate them so you can live in peace.
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