How Do I Get Rid Of Cockroaches Permanently?
Give us a call or fill out the contact form and we’ll schedule a thorough inspection to recommend the best treatment plan individualized to your needs. Our regularly scheduled monthly and quarterly plans also take care of several other types of pests simultaneously, so there’s no risk.
What Kinds Of Cockroaches Do We Have Along The Gulf Coast?
Along the Gulf Coast, we mainly deal with American, Smokey Brown, and German cockroaches.
Smokey Brown cockroach species usually live around the exterior of a house in the trees and landscaping. The males of this species are usually the ones to gain entry to the home, which is not their normal element. If they cannot find a type of food source, they will ultimately end up dying.
The German cockroach, however, thrives inside homes. They can be found in kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms, and laundry rooms. They are more of a sanitation of issue. They like the same things we like (mostly). They like our food. They like to hide in piles of dirty clothes and cluttered spaces. German cockroaches feed on a multitude of things; anywhere from crumbs that we have, to glue. Part of their diet is starch, which is found in glue.
Is There Anything I Can Do On My Own To Get Rid Of Cockroaches?
As far as treatment, we’ve seen a few methods that work temporarily, but no method that works to eliminate cockroach infestations long-term.
The first thing to do to reduce any potential infestation is to just make sure the exterior and the interior of your home is clean and tidy. Roaches thrive in areas that we call harborage areas. These are usually dark, moist and undisturbed. Harborage areas could be anywhere from mulch to piles of dirty clothes and other clutter. They hunker down in these areas and come out when they feel it is safe to feed. Sanitation inside and outside is a huge way you can help control cockroaches.
Are Cockroaches Dangerous Or Just An Annoying Nuisance?
Roaches are very unlikely to bite except in cases of extreme infestation, but they can trigger asthma attacks. They can also spread disease. They are often found in sewers. They like to live in very unappealing places and are very unsanitary.
How Do You Inspect For Cockroaches?
In cases where the home is clean and tidy and there is still evidence of cockroach infestation, we perform a complete assessment and thorough inspection of the property.
Most of the time, when we are dealing with the American or Smokey Brown cockroaches we find down here, we perform a treatment in the attic, roofline of the home, and even the bases of trees in the yard.
These roaches are capable of flying short distances. Often they will climb a tree, fly a short distance, land on the roof, and enter in through very small areas. Cockroaches can flatten down to about as thin as a credit card. Weatherstripping, door sweeps, and caulking up gaps will help reduce the chance of invasion by these pests.
The most important part of the inspection we perform is determining what species of roach we’re dealing with. Once we know what species we’re dealing with, that will determine the treatment.
If we find evidence of German cockroaches, for example, we know that they live inside the infested home, and it will be a combination of housekeeping, maintenance, and treatment.
Depending on the severity of the infestation, we offer a cleanup service where we flush the roaches out and force them to contact a treatment barrier that we have applied. We use HEPA bags to vacuum up as many of the roaches and egg sacs (called oothecas) as possible.
Removing the oothecas is key because depending on the size species of the cockroach, you could have one to two dozen or even more eggs hatch from an egg sac the size of a black bean. These oothecas don’t sit long, either. It does not take much time for the larvae to hatch and become reproducing adults.
How Do You Treat To Prevent Cockroaches?
Treatment for cockroaches involves a two-pronged approach. Good housekeeping and decluttering in combination with a good baiting program will eliminate an infestation. Maintaining clean spaces and regular application of baits will keep the home free of roaches as long as the program is continued.
There are a few types of bait we use. We have a granular type that we place in the attic. We apply insecticidal dust to cracks and crevices around plumbing and other entry points to the home.
Gel baits are excellent for cabinets and pantries. These distract roaches from eating the same food that you eat, and they control the population at the same time.
To get started, just give us a call or fill out the contact form and we will schedule a thorough inspection and determine proper treatment plan for you.
