Cockroaches are one of the most common pests Florida homeowners deal with. Not only are they just alarming to have inside your home, but they can also spread diseases and trigger allergies! Luckily, there are several methods you can use to prevent and eliminate a roach infestation! Let’s dive into some easy tips and tricks to help you keep your home roach-free and the types of roaches common in our area.
Common Roaches in Florida
Understanding the types of roaches you may encounter could help you tackle them more effectively. Let’s review the common cockroaches in Rochelle:
- German Cockroaches: These roaches are light brown with two dark stipes on their back. They prefer warm, humid environments like our kitchens and bathrooms. Once they’ve infested, they will quickly breed and take over a home.
- American Cockroaches: Reddish-brown and larger than most roaches, you will often find American roaches in your crawl spaces and around drains. They are known to fly and seek your home to find food and water.
- Smokybrown Cockroaches: These roaches are dark brown to almost black with a shiny body. They prefer warm, moist outdoor areas but will go indoors to find food and water sources. You’ll often find them near outdoor lighting since they’re attracted to light.
Tips to Prevent a Roach Infestation
Here are some easy, do-it-yourself steps you can take to keep roaches out of your home.
- Wiping down counters, tables, and floors to clean up spills and food crumbs, especially after a meal.
- Store your food using airtight containers in your pantry and avoid leaving food out overnight.
- Regularly empty the garbage cans and use bins with tight-fitting lids.
- Avoid leaving dirty dishes in the sink overnight.
- Repair any leaky faucets, pipes, or appliances.
- Consider enclosing your crawlspace to reduce moisture and deter roaches and other household pests like termites, ants, and more!
- Look for cracks around windows, doors, and the foundation and seal them with caulk.
- Reduce clutter throughout your home by removing old newspapers, magazines, and cardboard boxes.
- Organize storage areas by removing unnecessary items and using plastic containers with lids to store items.
Roaches are extremely resilient and once a roach infestation occurs, they can easily grow overnight! If you’ve noticed one too many roaches on your property, contact a pest control company near you for a free inspection and the recommended treatment and prevention plan.
