Why Cockroaches Are Hard To Get Rid Of On Your Own In Western Massachusetts

Boy. Where do we start? There are so many reasons why cockroaches are hard to get rid of on your own, whether you live in Western Massachusetts, or anywhere in the world—with the obvious exclusion of Antarctica. Cockroaches are robust and resilient insects that have developed genetic defenses to conventional pest control.

Licensed professionals, working off of information provided by industry experts, know what products and strategies are currently the most successful for exterminating cockroaches and managing cockroach activity. Property owners don't have access to this information or the experience technicians develop over time as they work to control these elusive pests. Let's take a look at a few key ways cockroaches can make your DIY roach control a challenge.

Chemical Resistance

Roaches shed their skins as they grow. They do this several times before they reach their adult stage. Each time they shed their skins, they have the ability to make their new skins more resistant to any harmful chemicals found in their environment. If you use a product that is meant to kill roaches and some roaches survive exposure, they're going to get stronger. What's worse is, cockroaches can pass this on to their offspring.

Over the last century, homeowners and professional pest control technicians have thrown a lot of chemicals at pest roaches in the United States. The roaches we find in Western Massachusetts are not your grandparent's roaches. They're stronger, heartier, and able to walk across a long list of synthetic materials that have been used in the past to exterminate them.

When a licensed professional uses synthetic insecticides to deal with cockroaches, a mixture of products is usually applied. This gives the coverage needed to ensure success. They will also use safety protocols to make sure no harm comes to the human occupants of a structure being treated.

The Problem With Cockroach Bait

Do you know that roaches can develop bait aversion? If they determine that a food source is unsafe to eat, they'll avoid it. Makes sense, right? Roaches would probably be extinct by now if they didn't have this ability. You may already be aware of this.

What you might not know is that some cockroaches have actually genetically altered their taste receptors to reject carbohydrates used in certain baits. That means their offspring are born with an aversion to these baits. If you purchase a bait that is known to be ineffective against roaches, you may have no idea that your bait is failing to get the job done. This will allow roaches to continue to present a threat to your health and damage your property.

Another thing to consider with bait is that if you happen to select the right bait, but you deploy it wrong, you can cause the roaches in your home to become bait averse. This will make it more difficult for you to get control of them, and it could cost you more when a licensed professional comes to address the issue after you've tried.

Licensed professionals have methods to determine what bait the pest roaches in your home will take. When an appropriate bait is administered, your technician will also perform evaluations to make sure the bait continues to do the job.

Sanitation

An effective cockroach control program includes sanitation. This is because roaches eat decaying food, dead skin, hair, fingernail clippings, feces, and other unsanitary things. But, as you can probably imagine, it is very difficult to clean your home enough to remove everything a roach can eat. You have to clean, deep clean, and re-clean. Sanitation, on its own, won't get the roaches out.

Licensed professionals see poor sanitation as an attractant. Where possible, sanitation services are applied to deter cockroaches and prevent continued entry into the structure, or to deter roach activity. When sanitation is part of a multi-pronged control strategy, it gives a much-needed layer of protection.

Exclusions

One key reason why do-it-yourself cockroach control often fails is that exclusion is not considered. You can remove roaches from your property all day every day and never get rid of them, if you don't take time to address gaps and cracks in your exterior. Professionals know that exclusion is essential for long-term cockroach control and management, and technicians are trained to locate common entry points and apply appropriate products to deter roaches from getting inside.

The Best Solution For Cockroach Control

If you live in Western Massachusetts, let the licensed residential pest control professionals here at American Pest Solutions address the cockroaches in your property and establish a barrier around your home that repels and deters roaches from getting inside. Our technicians use Integrated Pest Management and industry-leading solutions to achieve the best results possible. Connect with us today for immediate assistance.