Lots of people have joked that cockroaches can survive anything – even a nuclear disaster – but that doesn’t have to be the case at your home. If you’ve spotted a few of these nasty little crawlers, no doubt you want them out of your life for good. Here’s how you can banish cockroaches from your home.
First, make sure you are, in fact, dealing with American cockroaches. These bugs, also commonly called waterbugs, are usually around two to three inches in length with a brownish red or mahogany color. They also have a distinctive yellow band outlining the base of their heads. American cockroaches also have wings that enable them to fly, making them even more of a pest (and exponentially increasing the fear factor). However, these bugs don’t fly nearly as much as they scurry, which they’ll do if they’re startled, generally heading for somewhere dark and less trafficked.
If you’ve noticed cockroaches in your home, you need to act now. These bugs are notorious for spreading germs and they can even aggravate allergies and asthma. To get rid of them, start by putting away all food items, including pet food. Removing food will deter the pests from entering your home, as there will be nothing for them to feed on. Make sure opened items are closed tightly or resealed to prevent roaches from accessing what’s inside. You can also seal off any entry points the bugs may have been using, such as cracks under doors or in your foundation.
You’ll also want to call a Brevard County pest control professional, who can assess the infestation and determine the proper course of action. Cockroaches can be tough to eliminate – hence all the jokes about surviving a nuclear blast – so most infestations are best left for the pros to handle.