There are thousands of types of cockroaches in the world and several types of cockroaches in Birmingham. However, there's one local roach that intimidates homeowners more than the rest. The American cockroach is one of the largest house-invading cockroaches in the area; also known as the palmetto bug, this species grows to over two inches long. To learn more about this cockroach and how to protect your home from it, keep reading.
Identifying The American Cockroach
You could assume that American cockroaches are from the US, but you'd be wrong. They came over to this country years ago and have prospered ever since. Across the country, these roaches cause issues for homeowners.
Out of all the cockroaches in Birmingham, the American cockroach may be the easiest to identify. If you have an adult cockroach in your home, it will be larger than a German cockroach. The size is one of this roach's most identifiable characteristics. You can also identify this cockroach by its reddish-brown color and the yellow band outlining its head.
While American cockroaches are capable of flight, they can only fly short distances. You're more likely to see one scampering across your floor at night than you are to see it flying around.
Why Are American Cockroaches So Bad?
Like other types of roaches, American cockroaches thrive in filthy environments. They hang out in places full of bacteria and then enter your home carrying diseases. Every time they run across your counter or step on your food, American cockroaches have the potential to make you sick.
Furthermore, these cockroaches trigger allergens. People who are vulnerable to these allergens could experience sneezing, itchy eyes, and other symptoms as a result of a cockroach infestation.
Cockroaches also make your home a less welcoming place. Because cockroach feces have pheromones in them, they create a foul smell. These pests also leave behind smear marks on your walls and can ruin sentimental belongings.
Ways To Deter American Cockroaches
If you don't want to have any run-ins with American cockroaches, there are a few things you can do:
Vacuum And Mop Your Floors
If there are crumbs or spilled drinks on your floors, your home will be appealing to cockroaches. Clean regularly, especially after meals.
Wipe Down Your Surfaces
You might not realize how many crumbs accumulate on your tables and counters. Every day, use soap and a sponge to wipe down your surfaces. When you do, there will be less food for cockroaches.
Deep Clean
Take a peek behind your oven or under your refrigerator. What do you see? If you're like most homeowners, you have more than a few crumbs there. Cockroaches only need a few of those crumbs to survive for weeks, so it takes a deep cleaning to make your home inhospitable to these nasty pests.
Reduce Moisture
American cockroaches like moist environments, which makes bathrooms and basements highly appealing to them. If you want to prevent cockroaches from taking over, you should check for moisture issues. Repair leaky fixtures, broken pipes, and clogged drains. If you don't have a vent in your bathroom, install one, or use a dehumidifier.
Eliminate Entrances
To keep American cockroaches outside, close up any possible entryways to your home. Check around your plumbing and wiring for gaps. When necessary, seal up the openings with caulk. Check under your doors and around your windows for openings and seal those as needed.
Work With Experts
All too often, homeowners use toxic sprays to keep cockroaches away or to eliminate infestations. But doing so risks your health and wastes your money. Contact the Harvard Pest Control professionals when you notice signs of American cockroaches for safe, efficient, and effective removal.