Cockroaches: Don’t Ignore a Potential Pest Problem

Among the most dreaded pests that can infest your home, cockroaches top the list. Unfortunately, there is a stigma attached to a roach problem that may hinder many homeowners from reaching out to pest control experts. Not every home with roaches is dirty; in some instances, other factors contribute to the cockroaches’ access to your home.

Know Your Foe

Do you know what kind of cockroach you are dealing with? Identify the pest so you can find solutions to the problem. If you have cockroaches in your home, it is likely one of these four species:

• German cockroach
• Brown-banded cockroach
• American cockroach
• Oriental cockroach

Despite the fact that there are over 3,000 different types of cockroaches globally, these four are usually the ones that you would find in an infestation.

Don’t Feed Them

The best way to deter roaches is to cut off their food supply, but remember that some species will eat anything. While German cockroaches will look for crumbs, trash, and even dog food, some less-common roaches will eat things like glue or hair. The best thing you can do is to keep a clean home, wipe counters and floors regularly, and pick up pet dishes after mealtime.

Discover the Signs

Some signs of a roach issue include the sounds of scuffling when you turn on a light at night; roaches are typically nocturnal, so during the day they hide and can be difficult to detect. Cockroaches also leave a greasy excrement behind, so if you notice smudges or debris in cabinets, drawers, or other small spaces, you could have roach activity in your home.

Learn About Palmetto Problems

While technically roaches, Palmetto bugs don’t usually present the infestation risk of the more common German roach but are problematic nonetheless.

Palmettos can live on seemingly inedible food sources, so they can thrive in places like crawlspaces or dusty attics; they look like large roaches but often only enter your home because they can, rather than in search of something specific. Keep windows, doors, and cracks tightly sealed to prevent access, especially if you have foliage or trees nearby.

Keep Them Out

If roaches are not an issue in your home yet, prevent their access and a subsequent infestation. Roaches of all kinds will enter through cracks, and they are particularly drawn to a home that is hot or humid, so keep your interiors cool. Roaches also like standing water, puddles, or leaks, so keep things dry in and around your home to prevent roaches — and other pests — from being attracted to your property.

Realize the Roach Risks

Roaches are more than a mere inconvenience; these pesky pests can carry disease and bacteria. Their shed skin and excrement can cause respiratory distress among individuals with allergies or sensitivities. If you are dealing with an infestation, roaches may bite humans, usually on the fingers, hands, feet, and toes.

Understand the Emotional Toll

Don’t underestimate the emotional toll of roaches and an infestation; you may feel that your home is dirty and uncomfortable. An infestation may hinder you from inviting people over and enjoying your home environment. An infestation wreaks havoc on both your lifestyle and your nerves; treat the issue with a professional exterminator and resolve the pest problem for good.

Don’t let the stigma of an infestation prevent you from getting the help you need. Call a professional now to prevent a pesky problem from turning into a true pest crisis.

Ready to get rid of roaches? Talk to the experts at PermaTreat Pest and Termite Control to determine the best course of action to rid your home of roaches and other pests. The time to call an exterminator is at the first sign of an issue, rather than when pests are driving you from your own home.