Pest Spotlight: How To Handle A Cockroach Infestation In Jacksonville

The dreaded cockroach! Cockroaches are dirty, creepy pests that no one wants to find inside their homes. They are a common reason for people to contact Jacksonville pest control companies. Cockroaches can cause a real danger to the health of your family, especially when left untreated. They are not pests that will go away on their own.

Here in Jacksonville, we have several different types of cockroaches that will find their way into our homes. You can read on to learn some tips on cockroach identification and some of the characteristics of cockroaches that can help us to spot a problem before it becomes a massive infestation.

How To Identify Common Types Of Cockroaches

Proper cockroach identification can help us to figure out how and why they are entering our homes. Here are some of the different types of cockroaches we find in Jacksonville:

• American cockroach: This roach is sometimes called a palmetto bug. They are typically reddish-brown with a yellow figure-8 pattern on the head.
• German cockroach: This roach species is the most common in the world. They are light brown to tan with two dark stripes on their backs.
• Oriental cockroach: This species is commonly referred to as a water bug, primarily because they hang out in damp areas. They are shiny black to dark reddish brown.
• Smokybrown cockroach: This species of roach is primarily in the southeastern part of the United States. They are dark brown to black, with wings that are longer than their bodies.

This list encompasses the species of cockroaches most likely to be found invading homes in our area.

How Dangerous Are Cockroaches?

One characteristic of cockroaches that is crucial to know is that when they invade our homes, they can cause various health problems for our families. Cockroaches travel through the most disgusting places, like dumps, sewage, and decay, picking up all kinds of pathogens. Then they enter our homes and contaminate every surface they touch.

Cockroaches can spread 33 kinds of bacteria, including salmonella and E. coli; they also carry parasitic worms. Both American and German cockroaches can aggravate allergies and asthma through their shed skins, saliva, and droppings. We often see this in children, but it can happen to all age groups.

If you notice any signs of a cockroach infestation, be sure to get in touch with a company familiar with roach pest control as soon as possible. Cockroaches breed incredibly fast and can become massive infestations in no time.

Eliminate Factors That Attract Cockroaches Into Your Home

If you are now wondering how to deter cockroaches from entering your home, here are a few factors you can eliminate that they are attracted to:

• Inspect the outside of your home for cracks roaches can sneak into, especially around the foundation, drains, and vents.
• Use dehumidifiers to reduce moisture in your home. Cockroach infestations often start because they have found a source of water and humidity in the house.
• Reduce clutter and debris, both inside your home and outdoors as well.
• Take care to properly seal any trash cans or compost bins that cockroaches will find attractive.

Working with a company familiar with roach pest control can be your best asset. They can help you learn more ways to keep cockroaches away from home.

The Best Cockroach Control Solution For Your Home

The best cockroach control solution for your home is to team up with a company experienced in cockroach pest control. Spotting even one cockroach in your home is a sure sign that there are more to follow; they are social insects. Reach out to B&T Pest Control today if you would like more information on how to deter cockroaches or help to deal with a cockroach infestation.