If you’ve ever flipped on your lights to find several cockroaches scurrying across your floor, you know just how off-putting a cockroach infestation can be for Fort Worth homeowners. Furthermore, if you have found cockroaches in your Fort Worth home, there is a good chance they were American cockroaches. American cockroaches are a species of cockroach that are common invaders of homes and businesses alike. What’s worse, when they invade, they can bring all sorts of harmful bacteria and pathogens with them, spreading these contaminants throughout homes in the process. You need to know the cockroach prevention techniques you can rely on to keep these unwanted pests out of your Fort Worth home. Furthermore, should your home become infested, you should know the effective cockroach control options in your area.
What Does An American Cockroach Infestation Look Like?
American cockroaches are large roaches that are predominantly reddish-brown. They have flat, oval-shaped bodies and feature a distinct pale-colored figure-eight pattern on the backs of their heads. American cockroaches have fully developed wings and can fly for short distances. Still, American cockroaches prefer to run and are very quick on their feet. Besides spotting the cockroaches themselves, there are some other ways you can tell if you have an American cockroach infestation in your Fort Worth home. These include smear marks on your walls, shed exoskeletons on the surfaces of your home, and a musty odor throughout your home.
Threats Posed By American Cockroaches
American cockroaches can often be found in unsanitary locations such as drainpipes, sewers, and trash bins. While in these locations, they can pick up harmful bacteria and human pathogens on their spine-covered legs. Then, when the cockroaches come into our homes, they bring these harmful contaminants with them. Such contaminants can lead to diseases such as salmonellosis, typhoid fever, cholera, gastroenteritis, dysentery, leprosy, plague, listeriosis, and giardia.
American Cockroach Prevention Tips
American cockroaches often come into homes in search of food, water, or shelter. Common factors that attract them inside include moisture issues, the improper storage of food, and the improper storage of trash. To keep American cockroaches out of your home, you should try to cut down on such factors. Moreover, sealing off potential entry points can also help to prevent American cockroaches from coming into your home. To accomplish these goals, you should:
- Store all food in airtight containers or in the fridge.
- Take out the trash regularly before it overflows.
- Store garbage in bins with tight-fitting lids.
- Clean up spills from countertops and floors immediately.
- Pick up any uneaten pet food once your pet has finished eating.
- Use dehumidifiers to address any moisture issues in your home.
- Keep floors, storage areas, and crawl spaces free of debris and clutter.
- Install door sweeps under exterior doors.
- Seal any cracks in the foundation or exterior of your home with caulk.
What To Do If American Cockroaches Invade Your Fort Worth Home
While you should take every cockroach prevention measure at your disposal, the unfortunate truth is that American cockroaches are very tenacious pests that are excellent at slipping into homes. As such, even with the proper preventative measures in place, you could still find yourself dealing with an infestation. If such is the case, don’t panic; the professionals here at All-Safe Pest & Termite are here to help.
We offer quality residential and commercial pest control solutions that you can count on to effectively eliminate any infestation with which you are dealing. Don’t let cockroaches threaten the health and safety of your family. Give us a call today.