Cockroaches are some of the most infamous pests in the world. They’re small, hard to kill, and just plain gross. With winter approaching, they’ll be trying harder than ever to find warm secure places to stay for the season. Don't let this be your Sumter home. Cockroaches carry harmful bacteria that can make people very sick, so knowing how to keep them out of your home is crucial.
How Do You Identify A Cockroach?
Most species are dark brown or black, with colored streaks behind their heads. The average length of a cockroach is around 4 centimeters or 1.6 inches, and some species are capable of flight. The four types of home-invading cockroaches we have in our service area are American cockroaches, German cockroaches, Oriental cockroaches, and brown-banded cockroaches.
How Cockroaches Get In
Cockroaches are extremely good at getting into homes, even if it may seem like there’s no way in. Cockroaches can squeeze through the smallest spaces by flattening their bodies down to a quarter of their original height. A German cockroach nymph can even squeeze through the hole in an electrical outlet. That is pretty small! If cockroaches are around the outside of your home, they may be able to get inside through gaps and cracks in the foundation or outer walls, through the space under doors, or broken screens, as well as other areas.
Cockroaches: Unkillable?
Cockroaches are hard to kill, due to their incredible resilience. They can survive being completely submerged in water for up to 40 minutes, just by holding their breath. And they can live for about a week without their head! (Then they only die because they can’t eat or drink without a mouth.) It is even rumored that cockroaches could survive a nuclear blast. But though they may seem "unkillable" it is possible to eradicate an infestation with the right tools and know-how.
Can Cockroaches do Harm?
Cockroaches can carry pathogens into homes and contaminate surfaces and food. Roaches are known to spread a multitude of illnesses to humans. What attracts cockroaches in your home? Leaving food and drink out for extended periods and not cleaning in hard-to-reach places can cause cockroaches to stick around if they manage to get inside.
Cockroach Prevention Tips
While over-the-counter roach sprays can be hazardous to your health if used improperly and are not 100% effective in most cases, there are some things you can do to keep roaches from getting into your home in the first place.
- Clear your yard of debris and clutter. Roaches love to hide underneath objects.
- Remove sources of water from your property to remove drinking spots for roaches.
- Clean up food sources such as fallen fruit.
- Keep garbage in containers that have tight-fitting lids.
- Seal up any gaps, cracks, or holes in your exterior.
- Repair or replace damaged screens.
- Make sure you have door sweeps on all exterior doors.
Getting Roaches Out
By keeping your Sumter home clean and getting rid of food immediately, you reduce the chance that cockroaches will stick around if they get in. But the only sure way to completely get rid of a roach infestation is to partner with professionals. For truly effective cockroach control, contact the professionals at The Original Bugman Pest Elimination, Inc. today.
Schedule Your Free Inspection
Complete the form below to schedule your no-obligation inspection.