Which pest do you consider the grossest? Centipedes? Spiders? Perhaps ants? These are all great contenders, however, there is one pest who is distinctly more disgusting than all the rest. We are talking about cockroaches. Known for living in and consuming filth, cockroaches are about as dirty and gross as a creature could be. When inside homes, roaches pose several serious dangers that put homeowners and their pets at risk. If you would like to avoid a cockroach infestation, we have ten easy and effective solutions for you to try.
What Are Cockroaches?
Cockroaches can withstand up to 900 times their body weight in force. That being said, if you stomped on one, they wouldn’t stand a chance. Cockroaches are also able to run at fast speeds and have no trouble transferring from vertical to horizontal surfaces without breaking pace.
If you have never seen a cockroach before, they are flat, sleek, long, and equipped with 6 legs and a pair of antennae. Depending on the species, a cockroaches size can range from ½ of an inch to over 2 inches long. Their color can also vary from reddish-brown to brown, to black.
How Dangerous Are Cockroaches?
Cockroaches live to cause trouble. If you know anything about the correlation between filth and sickness, it shouldn’t be hard to understand why cockroaches are as dangerous as they are. Because of their dirty lifestyles, cockroaches have been known to carry many sickness vectors including 33 different bacteria, 8 human pathogens, and 7 parasitic worms. When inside homes, they spread these vectors over food, countertops, and other surfaces.
Another thing that makes cockroaches dangerous are the allergens they produce through their fecal matter, urine, and shed skin. These particulates get into the air of homes and cause asthma attacks and allergic reactions. As the severity of an infestation increases so does the likelihood of health complications.
Factors That Attract Cockroaches
Cockroaches are drawn to homes by a variety of factors. Most commonly, they come inside to find shelter, food, and water. These resources present themselves in many ways. Food can be found inside cabinets, on tables, beneath kitchen appliances, and even inside pet bowls. Water is found from leaky piping and fixtures, droplets left in sinks, or even from condensation. Finally, cockroaches will live in small, confined spaces. They're most comfortable when their backs and bellies touch a solid surface at the same time.
How To Prevent Cockroaches
Now that you know why cockroaches invade homes, let’s talk about some practical ways you can prevent them. Here are ten tips that our experts at Bay Pest recommend to keep cockroaches and other pests away from your Bay Area home.
- Identify cracks, gaps, and holes in your home’s exterior, and seal them using a caulking gun.
- Check your home’s weather stripping, door sweeps, and screens to make sure they are all in good order.
- Repair leaky piping and fixtures in and around your home.
- Make sure your gutters are flowing properly.
- Use a dehumidifier inside your home.
- Keep your yard well maintained and free of clutter.
- Clean your home regularly. Be sure to clean underneath large appliances as well.
- Invest in trashcans that have tight-fitting lids.
- Before going to bed at night, pick up and clean out your pet’s food and water bowls.
- Store leftover foods inside airtight containers.
For an easier solution to cockroaches, invest in year-round pest control services courtesy of Bay Pest. We have everything your home needs to remain cockroach-free year-round. We also offer elimination services for current pest problems. If cockroaches or any other pest is causing trouble around your home, just let us know. Give us a call today for more information.