It’s a nightmare scenario you’ve likely seen in TV shows and movies: A person enters a darkened room in their home or business, flips on the lights, and is startled by the sight of dozens—or even hundreds—of cockroaches scurrying for the cover of darkness. Sometimes it’s played for comedy, but it also wouldn’t be out of place in a horror film. In most cases, the scene results in an immediate and frantic call to a pest control company.
But how likely are you to encounter this trope in real life? And, more importantly, when should you call a pest control company in regards to a cockroach problem? At Advanced IPM, we specialize in residential and commercial pest control solutions for a wide variety of invasive insects—including cockroaches.
Why Do I Have Cockroaches?
Cockroaches love moisture, corners, cracks, and crevices. It’s where they thrive. There is a slight chance that cockroaches are already living in these hard-to-see and even-harder-to-reach places, such as the area behind or under your stove, oven, and refrigerator or a leaking pipe under the bathroom sink. In fact, the kitchen is a prime habitat for cockroaches because of the high concentration of possible food sources. Grease splatters, food crumbs underneath the fridge, and water spills on countertops are all attractive to cockroaches. Even clean houses can experience a cockroach infestation if they’re brought in via shipping or moving boxes, bags, and other external means.
Of course, cockroaches aren’t limited to homes. Restaurants, food packaging facilities, and even hospitals often have conditions that attract cockroaches, and in many cases, the consequences of having cockroaches can be greater due to health regulations and the risk of harm to your customers and employees.
Why Are Cockroaches Bad?
Aside from their well-earned association with filthy, disgusting places, cockroaches cause a severe risk to our homes and businesses. They are known for carrying diseases and bacteria on their bodies and legs, which they can spread to food and surfaces with which we come in daily contact. Roaches also release unpleasant odors and can aggravate allergies in children and others with compromised health. Unlike other insects, they’re not just annoying—they’re dangerous.
How Do I Know I Have a Cockroach Problem?
Because cockroaches are nocturnal, you likely won’t actually see them until there is a serious problem. Any cockroach you see during daytime has been displaced by other cockroaches. That means you need to pay attention to other signs, including roach droppings, the bodies of dead roaches, and egg casings shaped like ovals. Another major clue for cockroaches is a musty odor, particularly in your kitchen and bathroom. If you notice any of these warning signals, it’s best to call a pest professional. You will probably never find the cockroaches’ hiding places on your own.
How Do I Keep Cockroaches Out?
The best way to prevent cockroaches is to keep a sanitary and tidy house. Since the kitchen is a cockroach’s favorite place to be, your efforts should be focused there. Simple behaviors like using airtight containers for food and wiping up all crumbs from countertops and tables go a long way toward keeping them out, as do less common tasks like cleaning under appliances and taking out trash daily.
Since cockroaches love moisture, the bathroom is another possible place of refuge. Fill gaps around the tub or sink with caulk and check regularly for pipe leaks.
When Should I Call a Pest Control Professional?
If you know you have cockroaches in your home or business, it’s time to pick up the phone. DIY methods may appear to be effective in the short term, but cockroaches reproduce so quickly that they’re difficult to completely exterminate. In addition, a pest professional will know exactly where to look for signs of a cockroach infestation and can treat your whole home, inside and out, to both eliminate the cockroaches themselves and point out the conditions in your home or business that have made it attractive to cockroaches in the first place.
Contact Advanced IPM for Cockroach Control
Cockroaches are dangerous for homes and businesses because of the health risks they pose. The longer you wait to take care of your cockroach problem, the worse it will become. If you’ve noticed evidence of cockroaches in your home or business, contact the expert pest professionals at Advanced IPM as soon as possible. We have the tools, experience, and knowledge to eliminate your cockroach problem and help keep them from returning to your home.
