When it comes to pests in your Plano home, there aren’t many things quite as disconcerting as seeing a big, fat cockroach scurry across the floor. When it comes to home-invading cockroaches, none are bigger than the American Cockroach. Unfortunately, American cockroaches aren’t just big and gross; they’re dangerous, too. As such, you need to know the preventative measures you can take to keep these unwanted pests out of your Plano home. Furthermore, should you find yourself dealing with an American cockroach infestation, you need to know the effective cockroach treatments you can count on to get rid of them.
American Cockroach Need-To-Know Basics
American cockroaches are the largest home-invading cockroaches in the country, measuring anywhere from 1 ¼ to 2 1/8th inches in length. They are reddish-brown in color and feature a pale-yellow figure-eight pattern on the backs of their heads. Both male and female American cockroaches have wings and can fly, but only for short distances.
American cockroaches prefer to live in warm and humid areas, typically in close proximity to food sources. When they invade homes, they can often be found in kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms.
Threats Posed By American Cockroaches
American cockroaches are considered to be dangerous due to the number of harmful bacteria and human pathogens they have been known to spread. They pick up these harmful substances on their spine-covered legs whilst living in contaminated areas such as sewers and trash bins. When they come into our homes, they spread those bacteria and pathogens to any surface that they touch. This has led to people contracting dangerous diseases such as salmonellosis, typhoid fever, cholera, gastroenteritis, dysentery, plague, listeriosis, and giardia.
American cockroaches have also been known to trigger allergies, especially in the elderly and children. To make matters even worse, cockroaches are hard to get rid of once they nest inside a home. Ultimately, there are tons of reasons you don’t want American cockroaches infesting your house.
American Cockroach Prevention Methods
In order to keep American cockroaches away from your Plano property, it helps to know what attracts them to homes in the first place. Usually, cockroaches will enter a home because there is easy access to food or water. Therefore, if you have improperly stored food, improperly stored trash, or leaking pipes in your home, you could be attracting American cockroaches. They might also enter while seeking shelter if there are easy ways inside. As such, to keep American cockroaches out of your Plano home, you should remove factors that attract them inside and seal off any potential entry points. To accomplish these tasks, you need to:
- Store all food in airtight containers or in the fridge.
- Store trash in bins with tight-fitting lids and take out the trash regularly.
- Use dehumidifiers to address any moisture buildup in your home.
- Fix leaky pipes and fixtures and ensure all drains are draining properly.
- Fill in cracks in your home’s foundation with caulk.
- Install door sweeps under exterior doors.
- Seal off any holes around your home’s exterior such as around vents, pipes, or utility lines.
Effective Cockroach Control For Your Plano Home
If you do find yourself dealing with an American cockroach infestation in your Plano home, don’t fear, the good folks here at All-Safe Pest & Termite are here to help. Not only will we effectively eliminate any cockroach infestation with which you are dealing, but if you opt for one of our ongoing pest control plans, we will ensure your Plano home remains pest-free all year long. Don’t let American cockroaches threaten the health of your family. Give us a call today to get started with a cockroach control plan that works for you.