Roach infestations are frustrating events that happen to homeowners all over Dallas. The irritating pests might be small, but they are resilient and adaptable. Homeowners need to know what attracts roaches. Taking steps to avoid these things keeps roaches from entering homes.
The pesky insects can enter through cracks and crevices, on pipes, through vents, and in paper bags and cardboard boxes. Keep reading to learn more about cockroach behavior to avoid having to deal with unfortunate infestations.
What Attracts Cockroaches
Cockroaches want what all species want: access to food, water, and shelter. When they find it in Dallas homes, they move in quickly.
Crumbs and Spills
Houses have a readily-available supply of food sources and water sources. Crumbs lying around kitchens and pet-food stations are all the more enticing. Clean spills often to prevent cockroaches from moving in to devour the scraps.
Dense Vegetation
Cockroaches also like to hide in vegetation near home foundations. When they find shelter in bushes and flower beds, they are more likely to find cracks and crevices in your home’s foundation. Keeping your landscaping trimmed and away from your home’s foundation will keep roaches from entering your home.
Dirty Dishes
Another useful tip to keep roaches away is to clean your dirty dishes as soon as possible. Roaches love to eat food scraps and oil on pots, pans, and dishes. They’ll climb into the sink, up walls, on counters, and on your stovetop to get to the morsels you’ve left for them.
Excess Moisture
Like other pests, cockroaches need to drink water. If you’ve got moisture in hiding spots, roaches will find it. They especially love dark crawl spaces, bathroom cabinets, and laundry rooms.
The CDC recommends keeping your home’s humidity between 30 and 50 percent to help with cockroach prevention. You can measure humidity with a hygrometer and maintain an ideal level with a dehumidifier.
Garbage
Trash cans filled with food scraps are like buffets for roaches. They love the warmth, moisture, and darkness inside of the bins. If you keep your trash bins in your garage or near an entrance, roaches will eventually migrate from the bins into your home.
Pet Food
Roaches eat all types of organic material, including pet food. To prevent an infestation, seal all pet food bags and canisters and clean your pet’s food bowls every night.
Common Cockroaches in Dallas Homes
Globally, thousands of cockroach species exist, but only a handful enter Dallas homes.
American Cockroaches
These are the largest cockroaches that move into Dallas homes. They measure 50 mm and have yellow bands behind their heads.
Brown-Banded Cockroaches
These small, light brown roaches measure 11 to 14 mm and have brown bands on their wings.
German Cockroaches
These roaches are a small species with two black stripes behind their heads.
Oriental Cockroaches
Oriental cockroaches are about 25 mm in length. They are shiny black insects, and they do not fly. They tend to live in mulch beds and weedy landscaped areas.
Problems Caused by Cockroaches
Preventing infestations is important because cockroaches carry diseases that spread intestinal diseases. Some of those diseases include cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, and typhoid fever.
Roaches also trigger asthma and allergy attacks because of the saliva, skins, and excrement they leave behind. Homeowners can use a disinfectant with hydrogen peroxide and ethanol to clean infected areas.
Roaches spread disease because they crawl over decaying organic material and animal feces. They pick up pathogens on their bodies, then spread them on kitchen counters and food prep areas.
Cockroaches also destroy household items because they chew on organic things like paper, glue, cloth, and wood. They also stain household items and leave an odor with their urine, droppings, and remains.
How to Keep Cockroaches Away
You can deter cockroaches by removing excess moisture and clutter from your home and keeping your landscaping in check. Also, maintain a clean house through proper food storage.
Unfortunately, simple prevention methods aren’t always enough. That’s why the professionals at Romney Pest Control are available to help get rid of roaches and keep them from coming back.
