What is it about late-night snack attacks that always lead to cockroach confrontations. All you want is a quick bite to eat to satisfy your midnight hunger but instead, you find yourself face to face with a roach after flicking on the kitchen light. Does this situation sound familiar to you? Are you constantly being surprised by roaches around your Springfield home? We are here to help you find out why cockroaches have come inside and to give you one simple trick to get them out.
Cockroach Species Common Around Springfield
Spring field is home to three different species of cockroaches German, Oriental, and American. Here is a brief description of each.
To start, all cockroaches have flat bodies, six legs, and long antennae.
- German cockroaches are ½” to ⅝” in length, light brown to tan, and have a pair of dark parallel stripes located on their backs.
- Oriental cockroaches are 1” long and are shiny black.
- American cockroaches can grow to be upwards of 2 ⅛” in length, are reddish-brown, and have a yellow figure-eight pattern located on the back of their head.
How Dangerous Cockroaches Can Be
Cockroaches may not look dangerous, but they are one of the most harmful pests in America. Able to spread over 33 different forms of bacteria, 8 human pathogens, and 7 parasitic worms, cockroaches pose several unique threats to the residents of the homes they infest. Just a few of the most common diseases cockroaches are capable of spreading through these vectors include salmonellosis, typhoid fever, cholera, dysentery, and plague.
On top of spreading disease, cockroaches also spread allergens through homes in the form of fecal matter, urine, and shed skin. These particulates get into the air and trigger asthma attacks and allergic reactions in certain individuals. As cockroach infestations become more severe, this particular issue will become more noticeable.
Factors That Attract Cockroaches To Homes
Cockroaches look for three things in a home: safety, food, and moisture. Safety is often found inside tight spaces where a cockroach’s back and belly can both touch a surface at the same time. These types of spaces are typically found beneath kitchen appliances, laundry machines, and low to the ground furniture. Cockroaches find sustenance throughout homes in the form of left out food, dropped crumbs, and general messes. A cockroach will eat practically anything including paper, glue, ear wax, saliva, and nail clippings. Finally, cockroaches will seek out water from leaky pipes, broken fixtures, and general humidity. If your home has these three attractants, cockroaches will be likely to invade and stick around.
How To Prevent Cockroaches
When it comes to preventing cockroaches, there are only two things you as a homeowner should do, eliminate entry points, and reduce attractants. Here are some practical ways our experts recommend you do this.
- Using a caulking gun to fill in gaps, holes, and cracks around the exterior of your home.
- Make sure all of your window and door screens are in good condition.
- Repair or replace weather stripping and door sweeps around your home that has been damaged.
- Address moisture issues in and around your home by fixing leaks, repairing damaged gutters, and using a dehumidifier indoors around particularly humid areas of your home.
- Keep your yard well maintained and plants trimmed at least five feet from your home’s exterior.
- Clean your home regularly and do not neglect to get in hard to reach places such as beneath furniture, appliances, and washer and dryer units.
- Don’t leave food out for roaches to find, instead store leftovers in airtight containers.
- Pick up and clean out your pet’s food and water bowls each night before going to bed.
For an easier and more reliable solution to cockroach problems, get the experts here at American Pest Solutions involved. We will quickly remove roaches from your home and put in place methods to keep them out for good.
Call us today to find out more about our pest control options or to schedule a service visit for your Springfield home.