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Cockroaches: The Filth Pest
Cockroaches are six-legged insects known for their ability to adapt and survive in a variety of hiding places and environmental conditions, along with their tendency to eat practically anything available to them. Infestations occur in a variety of places, and different species of cockroach have unique preferences for which environment they choose to live in. But in many cases, as long as they have access to a steady source of food and water, they will stick around until they are eradicated.
Cockroaches are also known for their unhygienic nature. Their presence alone is often affiliated with ideas that their chosen place of infestation is unsanitary or undesirable. This is not always the case, but since cockroaches are often found in kitchens, pantries and bathrooms, especially commercial ones, their presence can be a source of worry and disgust. Due in part to their tendency to infest unclean locations, they are also potential sources of disease and allergens. Furthermore, they breed rapidly and can be difficult to kill.
Environmental Factors That Attract Cockroaches:
Cockroaches will show up just about anywhere that has food or moisture, though when they aren’t feeding, they prefer to stay hidden in dark, moist, hard-to-reach places. Depending on if you have American cockroaches, German cockroaches, or oriental cockroaches, you may observe different behaviors. However, in general, cockroaches are attracted to:
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Sewers
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Drains
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Bathrooms
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Kitchens and appliances, like refrigerators
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Outdoor mulch, leaf, and firewood piles
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Alleyways
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Basements and crawl spaces with excess moisture
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Attics
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Standing water
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Trash cans
How Do Cockroaches Invade?
Cockroaches can use many different entry points to get into a home or business, including water pipes, air vents, wall gaps, window screens and cracked doors. They may also be carried inside with containers like cardboard boxes or attached to dirty clothing and shoes. Once inside, they will often hide under sinks, in or on top of cabinets, in cracks and crevices in walls, and behind electronic devices. Certain species that prefer to live in leaky pipes can sometimes be seen climbing out of drains and faucets, which is why they’re often given the name “water bugs”.
Cockroach Food Sources:
One of a cockroach’s favorite places to infest is the kitchen and pantry, much to the dismay of many homeowners and cooks. Because they’re so small and can move to practically anywhere they want, it’s easy to not see them until they start investigating food sources, dirty dishes, and prep stations. They make dark, out-of-the-way corners and spaces behind work surfaces and equipment into hiding places, and then come out at night or whenever they won’t be disturbed to find leftover food.
Cockroaches will also eat almost anything they have access to, from the contents of your pantry to the contents of your trash can. Take a look at the diagram to the right to find out what they will consume.
How to prevent cockroaches?
While it’s true that cockroaches will infest anywhere that has accessible water and food sources, keeping them away from your home or business isn’t that difficult. Cockroaches are called a “filth pest” for good reason: they are attracted to waste and decomposition. So they will be less likely to infest a location that is clean and sanitary. Here’s what you need to know about preventing cockroaches.
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Dispose of trash
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Clean the kitchen
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Protect your pantry
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Clean the bathroom
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Do home maintenance
How to Get Rid of Cockroaches:
If you have a cockroach problem, Bug Shockers Pest Control has the skills and equipment to help you get rid of them. Cockroaches are difficult pests to eradicate, but it is possible to do so with the help of professional pest control experts. You can DIY solutions like boric acid or diatomaceous earth to keep roaches out and manage an active cockroach infestation, but it might not work. A pest control company will have access to professional-grade pesticides and baits, and Bug Shockers exterminators are trained to know what areas in the home to target. Contact us today for an inspection! To learn more about what our roach treatments look like click to learn more below.