COCKROACH EXTERMINATION
What You Need to Know About Cockroaches
Learning a few facts about cockroaches will make getting rid of them a little easier. Cockroaches range in size from ½ inch to 3 inches long, and yet they are really good at hiding during the day. They are nocturnal by nature and typically come out at night to seek food. Cockroaches are attracted to water and food sources that are conveniently close to their designated hiding spots.
Cockroach nests can thrive in any season because they can live almost anywhere inside your home. With our professional help, we can help you to locate the nests and get rid of them for good. Find an exterminator in our directory!
Cockroaches love to hide inside small openings within your home. Adult roaches are light brown, oval body shape, with long antennae. Their egg capsules are light tan and around 30 baby roaches can come out of one capsule egg! Roaches eat all kinds of food and cockroaches love to travel. They can hide in almost any object from any market, thus making them hard to see when you bring those items inside your home.
Roaches carry bacteria that can cause food poisoning, staphylococcus infections, allergies, diarrhea, and skin rashes. When there are a lot of cockroaches, a distinct foul odor can be detected. The three most common types of cockroaches found in homes are the American, German, and Oriental cockroaches but there are thousands of species of cockroaches that can be seen around the world. Luckily, the common house cockroach does not bite.
Cockroaches have a distinctive look that includes flattened bodies, long antennae, and long hind legs. They are either brown or black and have wings that can fold flat to their backs. These insects like to seek out shelter in warm humid places located in kitchens, closets, and bathrooms in which they can live and multiple.
Face it. No one wants bugs in their home; especially those nasty and disgusting cockroaches! Cockroaches are one of the most common pests found in households and they can spread nasty bacteria and diseases ruining your family’s homemade food creations and peace of mind. The good news is, there are things you can do to get rid of these unwelcomed cockroaches. We will provide you with some DIY tips and there is always the option of hiring a professional pest control company to get rid of them quickly and efficiently. A combination of homeowner efforts and the use of a qualified exterminator usually yields the best results.
There are thousands of types of cockroaches around the world but listed below are the five types that are most commonly seen in the home.
German cockroaches are the most common in American homes. They are small at .6 inches and have a light brown color. They inhabit the entire United States. These insects can hatch a lot of eggs, as many as 30,000 cockroaches can be produced in one year! This type of cockroach can enter the home from packages, used furniture, clothing, through walls, purses, and more.
Brown banded Cockroaches are one cockroach that prefers dry, warm spots such as inside electronics, televisions, and refrigerators. They are small at .5 inches long and their color can go from dark brown to golden tan. They also have two light yellow stripes on their wings. They can be found all over the United States. They often enter a home in various ways. They entry the home while being carried in on packages, clothing, used furniture, visitors clothing and bags, and other items that are easily carried or transported.
Ways to Get Rid of Cockroaches
When a homeowner or a renter discovers cockroaches, it is important to act quickly as cockroaches reproduce rapidly at an alarming rate. If you see one cockroach, you can be sure that there are hundreds or even thousands more at various nests. If there is no urgency in getting rid of cockroaches in your home or apartment, the problem can get worse fast. Calling a pest control expert professional is the most effective strategy. However, if you do not want the problem to keep coming back, you must also act. How to get rid of cockroaches effectively includes a combination of strategies.
Cockroaches in kitchen cabinets are especially troublesome. To get rid of and keep them from returning, remove all food and items from the cupboards and cabinets that has been affected or could be affected by cockroaches and clean the spaces thoroughly.
Only put back well sealed uncontaminated foods. It is essential to not leave dirty dishes and leftover food laying around especially overnight no matter how convenient or tired you are. In addition, an often-missed area where cockroaches like to congregate is behind your refrigerator. Periodically pull out your refrigerator to clean behind and underneath it with a strong disinfectant. Consider leaving roach bait containers in strategic places in and around your kitchen. Behind your refrigerator would be an ideal spot.
The use of borax, boric acid, and other chemicals to kill roaches is also an effective solution. Borax and boric acid must be used as directed and used correctly to ensure its effectiveness. Also, borax and boric acid along with other chemicals should not come in contact with children or pets.
Baby cockroaches and cockroach eggs are difficult to find and get rid of because they will be back in the hidden nest where they are hard to find. Most cockroach activity appears in kitchens. Even if the adults are killed in active areas, these eggs back at the nest can grow up and re-infest the home. Most nests can be seen behind refrigerators and other compact spaces. If you discover egg casings, cast skin, and dead cockroaches; that is a tell-tale signs that can indicate an infestation and of an active cockroach nest. Therefore, it is essential to hire a professional exterminator who knows how to find the nests and eliminate the entire population of insects.
Cockroaches in an apartment present a unique challenge. The renter can get rid of roaches only to have them come in again from a neighboring apartment. Really, the only effective way to get rid of cockroaches would be to treat the entire building and not just the separate apartments. Some methods include using bait in containers, pesticide dusts, and sticky traps. Report the insect problem to the apartment building owner and ask them to hire an exterminator to take care of the whole building all at once.
Getting rid of cockroaches overnight is a nice thought but it often takes time and effort to get rid of them permanently. The quickest way to get rid of cockroaches almost overnight would be to hire an exterminator to come in for a one-time treatment or regularly scheduled visits. Since roaches come out at night, leave them traps, bait stations, or sticky traps and clean away the mess in the morning.
Tips on How to Get Rid of Cockroaches
A combination of owner prevention actions such as de-cluttering and cleaning and a good exterminator can get rid of roaches and keep them from coming back for good. Keep in mind, some areas are more prone to cockroaches than others. While having cockroaches are a pain to deal with, they are not impossible to get rid of. Choose only the most effective and affordable pest control methods you are comfortable utilizing can help to keep you, your loved ones and your home cockroach free for years to come.
Find out from the exterminator when it is safe to clean and what cleaning protocols are recommended after any cockroach infestation treatments have been completed. Chemical treatments often continue working for up to two weeks killing insects.
What an Exterminator Would Do to Get Rid of Cockroaches and the Associated Costs
When the homeowner or renter discovers a well-established cockroach infestation, it is best to call in a good exterminator to get a jump on getting rid of all of the adult insects, babies, and eggs. Initially, the exterminator will quote a price for the work. The cost can range from $110.00 to $500.00 or more depending on how large the house or space is and how bad the infestation is. The exterminator will treat the problem the same day or schedule a time to conduct the service. Severe infestations might require more than one visit. Before agreeing to have work completed to exterminate cockroaches or signing a contract, it is always best to request references and proper credentials.
Exterminators typically use stronger and more effective professional grade methods (such as pesticides and chemicals) to kill and get rid of pests than what you would normally find in your typical local store available to nonprofessionals. These pesticides might include baits, aerosol sprays, and even foggers. Use an exterminator who will provide information on the chemicals they use. Some companies use more environmentally safe chemicals than others.
If you have pets, it is important to talk to the exterminator to make sure they have a treatment option that keeps your beloved pets safe.
When a serious infestation is treated with strong chemicals, it is advisable that the family, including pets, leave the house during the treatment and stay away for at least one hour after the exterminator leaves.
It is also a nice gesture to inform your neighbors that you are having the exterminator treat your property for this insect infestation. Giving them a heads up will give them time to prepare for any cockroaches that may escape your home and seek refuge in their homes.
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ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS
Alternative do it yourself methods to help get rid of pests inside your home.
Cockroach extermination methods
- Cockroach Bait Gel
- Cockroach Insecticides Sprays
- Cockroach Pheromone Traps
Tips to stay cockroach free
- Remove any food or trash deposits daily.
- Make sure not to leave any food over night on the kitchen counter or near the sink.
- Clean off the food residue from dish wear.
- Sweep or vacuuming fallen crumbs.
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