How To Get Rid Of Cockroaches: A Comprehensive Guide For Jacksonville Homeowners

There are many ways to discover a cockroach problem. You may go into the bathroom and notice a roach clinging to a wall or tucked into the gap at the base of your toilet. You may hear skittering noises on your hard bathroom floor at night. You may find black spots on fabrics, floors, or walls. It is never fun seeing signs of cockroach activity. Not only are cockroaches terrible houseguests, but they're also mysterious insects.

If cockroaches have invaded your house, there's no way to know how many roaches there are or all of the places they're hiding. It is also hard to control these insects and surprisingly easy to walk away from an encounter, thinking that nothing on this planet can take out a cockroach. Fear not! We're going to help you get a better understanding of these sneaky pests.

In this article, we'll show you the different types of cockroaches in Jacksonville, how to tell them apart, some unique ways they behave depending on the species, and simple steps to protect your family. As always, contact your Lindsey Pest Services team for advice about pest control or when you need professional pest control in Jacksonville. We're here for you.

Physical Characteristics Of Roaches: How To Identify Them

Cockroaches stand out from other insects in three key ways. The first thing you'll notice is that a cockroach has tiny, pointy spines on each of their six legs. They use these spines to "feel" their environment. They are highly sensitive to touch stimuli. The other trait you'll notice is that a cockroach has an exoskeleton. But, with some cockroach species, it is harder to see the exoskeleton because of the wings covering it. The wings stack on top of each other. If a cockroach has wings, those wings may cover the third trait that can help you identify a cockroach. Roaches have two small appendages called cerci. These stick out at an angle from the rear of the roach's abdomen.

It is helpful to tell whether or not you have a cockroach in your home or some other insect infestation, like beetles. Many beetles are harmless insects that prefer to live outdoors. If they get inside, they only stay for a short period. Most pest roaches can stay indoors permanently.

If you find a cockroach in your house, it is time to take action. They are unsanitary insects. While beetles crawl in the dirt, they're not actually dirty, so to speak. Cockroaches climb in sewers, dumpsters, trash receptacles, through pipes, and more. They are dirty in every sense of the word. It is smart to take steps to protect your family. 

Health Risks Associated with Cockroaches: Protect Your Family

Cockroaches are the opposite of stingy. They don't hoard things for themselves. They like to spread things around. They're very generous. Unfortunately, the things they spread are potentially harmful to us. Let's consider a few ways cockroaches can make you sick and what you can do to reduce the risks.

Germs: Cockroaches feed on decaying food matter and pick up germs. They can spread these germs to surfaces, cutting boards, dishes, etc. You can limit their exposure by considering ways to reduce decaying food matter, such as:

• Replacing your kitchen trash bin with a smaller container can force you to take the trash out more often and reduce the amount of time food sits and decays within your receptacle.
• Getting a trash receptacle with a cover that seals can keep roaches out. Unfortunately, they're not convenient. It is better to remove trash frequently and wash your barrels routinely.
• Wash up spills as soon as possible and disinfect counters with a cleaning agent.
• Consider storing certain foods in sealed containers. Cockroaches can chew through paper and cardboard packaging.
• Store silverware in a sealed container until you address your infestation.

Waste: Cockroaches leave their feces in many places. When you see their black fecal matter, it is essential to clean it up as best you can and disinfect the contaminated areas. Wear gloves and a respirator when dealing with cockroach droppings.

Allergens: The shed materials left by cockroaches can cause respiratory issues and are a serious risk for individuals with asthma. Studies reveal an increase in hospitalizations for asthma in homes with cockroach infestations. Routinely vacuum floors to remove shed materials left by roaches.

Materials: Cockroaches have exoskeletons that are resistant to harmful materials. If you apply a cockroach pest control product, the roaches in your home may spread it around your house. We recommend that a licensed professional select and administer professional-grade products to address an infestation. 

Use these tips to prevent cockroaches from spreading harmful things around your home. Now, let's turn our attention to Jacksonville cockroach control methods and look at how your local experts deal with pest cockroaches in Jacksonville. 

Expert Cockroach Elimination: Call In The Pros Right Away

There are many ways cockroaches can make you ill. But, even if they didn't, they're definitely not welcome in your home. Cockroaches breed quickly, leave their droppings around, and get into your food. The best way to deal with roaches is to hire a trained and experienced technician.

Here are a few ways your technician will help you:

• A technician performs a professional inspection and considers the factors that relate to your infestation, such as conducive conditions, vulnerabilities, and entry points.
• Based on the findings of the examination, a technician will develop a multi-pronged treatment plan to stop all roach activity within your home.
• Your technician will prepare you for your treatment and help you take the steps needed to ensure everything goes off without a hitch.
• During your treatment, your technician will follow field-tested strategies to ensure products are placed correctly and in appropriate amounts according to all specifications.
• A technician has the appropriate licensing needed to use professional pest control materials. That means you know they are following all safety guidelines.
• A technician will evaluate the success of the treatment program. They'll track the success of the products, look for continued activity, and check monitoring devices.

Cockroach control is a process. There is no simple fix. But, when performed by a trained pest management professional, you'll get the results you want. If you need assistance in Jacksonville, contact Lindsey Pest Services.

Preventing Cockroaches In The House: Proactive Measures

Once the cockroaches are gone, how do you proactively guard against cockroach infestations and potential health concerns in the future? As with cockroach treatments, prevention is complicated. There are many factors you'll need to consider:

• Inspection: It is essential to routinely inspect your property for roach activity so you can catch a problem early on. You're looking for cockroach exoskeletons, droppings, ootheca, ootheca casings, and (of course) the roaches themselves.
• Patch Entry Points: Use expanding foam to seal gaps in your exterior, particularly around windows, doors, pipes, wire conduits, air condition units, etc.
• Weatherproofing: When you seal your house to keep the hot Florida air outdoors, you'll also work to keep cockroaches and other insects out of your home as well. Replace seals around your doors, install sweeps, and use caulking to seal windows and doors.
• Remove Hiding Places: Cockroaches hide in damp, dark places. They do this to avoid getting dehydrated. Remove objects on the ground near your house, particularly in your landscaping. These are common hiding places for roaches.
• Trash Management: Clean your trash barrels to reduce smells that can attract cockroaches to your home, and frequently remove trash to minimize the time food has to decay. Make sure all of your receptacles are covered.
• Cardboard Management: Cockroaches eat cardboard. If you have a pile of boxes sitting in your garage, consider picking them up and storing them in a plastic tote. Not only do cockroaches eat the cardboard, but they like to tuck themselves into the tight spaces they provide.
• Keep Your Home Clean: Cockroaches are looking for food. If you keep your home clean, it can deter them. But, it is important to know they can also live in a well-sanitized home.
• Remove Food Options: There are many ways to remove things that cockroaches will eat. A good example is managing your dishes. Store dirty dishes in soapy water so cockroaches can't nibble the food off them as they sit in a dry stack next to the sink.
• Manage Pest Food: Do you have a dog or cat? Do they have a set mealtime? Consider putting their food down for a short period and picking the dish up afterward. Cockroaches can and will eat their food.

These tips should get you well on your way to keeping roaches out. Remember that you're never alone when it comes to fighting pests. A residential pest control plan can give your exterior the protection it needs to keep cockroaches out. Connect with us today to learn about our Good, Better, And Best Pest Control plans. And, of course, contact us any time if you need help with cockroaches and to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in Jacksonville.