As Fort Worth residents, we love going out and about. There’s tons to do in our city, but sometimes it’s nice to slow down a little. Kicking back on your recliner and watching TV is a great way to get out of the heat, and, of course, there’s no place like home. However, your living room will quickly go from cozy to creepy when you see a roach climbing up a wall or darting into a corner. And, to make matters worse, making your skin crawl is not nearly the most harmful thing that a roach infestation can do to you.
The Roaches Of Fort Worth
Three species of roach plague Fort Worth homes most often: the American cockroach, the Oriental cockroach, and the German cockroach.
As the largest of the three, the American cockroach strikes the most fear into the hearts of homeowners. Their brown/dark red bodies can grow to an inch and a half in length, but they’re easy to spot and can’t squeeze through small cracks very well.
The Oriental cockroach is very similar to the American, measuring up to an inch and a quarter in length. With a brown body and shiny outer coating, they almost appear to be a small armored tank, but they’re very skittish around humans.
The German cockroach is the smallest of the three and, therefore, the most problematic. These tan pests only measure up to about seven millimeters at the most and are often mistaken for crickets. They’ll also invade your home in large numbers. Combining their pack mentality and their ability to squeeze into tight spaces allows them to overrun your pantry and food stores very quickly if food isn’t stored properly.
Severe Health Hazards
While the German cockroach is the most problematic, all three of these roach species are dangerous to have in your house. Will they attack you? No. But will they harm you? Absolutely.
You see, a roach’s preferred habitat is ridden with bacteria: places like sewers, landfills, or dumpsters. This makes them dangerous carriers of bacteria. As they search your home for their next meal, they’ll spread harmful bacteria all over your walls, furniture, and food preparation surfaces that can cause diseases like E. coli and salmonella.
Furthermore, roaches secrete an allergen that can cause a reaction in most humans. This allergen can also stain your walls and leave a very musty odor when the infestation is severe. This musty odor, along with yellowing stains on your wall, are strong indications of infestation. Also, if you see a roach during the day, it’s a safe bet that there are plenty more within the walls, as roaches are mostly nocturnal and will stay out of sight.
Prevention Techniques
With so many negative health risks on the line, prevention, and immediate eradication are essential when it comes to roach infestations. Unfortunately, home remedies are largely ineffective forms of eradication, so your attention needs to be on preventative measures.
Whether it’s the small German cockroaches or the larger species, they can be very difficult to prevent. However, the following activities might give you a fighting chance:
- Vacuum and clean regularly: by keeping up with good cleaning practices, you’ll limit crumbs and other attractants that can lure roaches into your home.
- Store food and trash properly: roaches will infiltrate pantries and trash cans if they can gain access, so make sure all food and trash is in tightly sealed containers. You’ll also want to do the dishes every night, as leaving food on the counter or the sink overnight will attract roaches quickly.
- Address moisture issues: roaches love damp, dark spaces like basements, bathrooms, and behind kitchen appliances. By checking for leaking pipes regularly and limiting the amount of humidity in your basements and crawl spaces, you’ll be able to create a less desirable habitat for these invasive pests
- Seal potential entry points: checking for cracks/crevices in the foundation and along the windowsills can limit a cockroach's ability to get in. You’ll also want to monitor any screened areas on doors, windows, and porches for tears.
The frustrating thing about roaches is that you can execute everything on this list to perfection and still wind up with an infestation. For guaranteed results that can protect your home and family from disease-carrying roaches, call All-Safe Pest & Termite at the first sign of a problem.