Mar 9, 2023 | Pest Control
Laurens Pest Control: Eliminating Cockroaches
A lot of homeowners believe that a tidy home will keep cockroaches away, but that’s not always the case. Cockroaches can find themselves in the tidiest of homes and it’s due to the availability of food, water, and shelter. The sight of even just one roach in your home should raise some alarms. These pests can multiply quickly and seeing just one typically means more are hiding nearby.
The main reason you should be wary about cockroaches in your home is that they can carry bacteria on their bodies and feet. They tend to walk across various surfaces and can pick up many unwanted germs. They are also known to bring on allergic reactions and asthmas attacks.
Signs of Cockroaches:
- Dead cockroach bodies
- Small, brown, oval-shaped eggs or eggshells
- Dark, powdery droppings that resemble coffee grounds
- Musty odor
If you begin noticing these signs of roaches, then it might be time to call your local pest control company. In the meantime, here are some simple cockroach prevention tips that will help lessen the chances of a roach infestation:
- Clean thoroughly. After each meal, clean the dishes and put them away. Get rid of the crumbs and mop up the spills right away. Throw all trash away in a bin with a lid.
- Declutter: Keep rooms decluttered and maintain a regular dusting schedule. When storing items, use plastic bins instead of cardboard, which is a major attractant for roaches.
- Eliminate Moisture. Roaches thrive in moist areas and need water to survive, like most pests. Regularly check for any leaks or standing water in or around your home.
- Call the Professionals. If you have done everything you possibly can but are still experiencing roaches, give your local pest control company a call today. An experienced technician will be able to determine the best plan perfect for you and your home.
Feb 25, 2023 | Pest Control
Cockroaches are common household pests that are highly adaptable. They are skilled at finding their way indoors and multiplying quickly to establish an infestation in your home. It is important to know what attracts roaches to your home in order to prevent them. There are 3 main things that will bring roaches to your door: food, water, and shelter. By eliminating these 3 things, your home will become much less attractive to these and other pests. Here is our step-by-step guide to preventing cockroaches from infesting your home.
Deny Food
Cockroaches are scavengers. While they prefer sugar, carbs, and protein, they will eat just about anything. Clean up any leftover food or spills and crumbs on tables, counters, and appliances. Store your food in airtight containers. Rinse cans, bottles, jugs, etc. before throwing them away. Empty your garbage regularly and use trash cans with lids. Don’t leave your dirty dishes out overnight. Wipe down your counters with disinfectant every night. Try to limit food consumption to one room (e.g. the dining room) to help reduce spills and crumbs throughout your home. Store your pet food in sealed containers and don’t leave pet food bowls out overnight.
Deny Water
Roaches can actually go for a week or 2 without it if they are getting enough moisture from their food. Despite this, they will ultimately require water to survive and will seek it out in your home. Remove any standing water both in and around your home. Don’t leave any water in sinks or near drains, especially overnight. Keep excess moisture out of your home, basement, and crawlspace with a dehumidifier. Consider installing a moisture barrier or crawlspace enclosure. Repair any damaged or leaky pipes immediately. Clear blocked drains in the home. Keep gutters free of debris. Don’t leave your pet’s water bowls out overnight.
Deny Shelter
Remove clutter from your home, garage, and attic. Get rid of any old cardboard boxes, newspapers, and magazines. Dust and vacuum frequently. Paint or varnish your wood shelves to seal cracks and crevices where roaches can hide, or consider replacing them with metal or plastic shelving. Check walls, skirting, electrical outlets, sinks, cabinets, and baseboards for cracks and crevices and seal any that you find. Inspect all items before bringing them into your home, including packages, storage boxes, grocery bags, and used appliances. Seal around utility pipes and wall junctures. Make sure windows and doors are sealed and use weatherstripping on them. Trim back any heavy vegetation from your exterior walls and try not to stack firewood against your house.
Cockroaches can be dangerous to you and your family, contaminating surfaces and triggering asthma and allergies. If you have problems with a cockroach infestation, contact your local pest control company for an inspection and cockroach treatment plan.
Dec 26, 2022 | Pest Control
Cockroaches have a negative connotation in the minds of the general public, but this is not always the case. Cockroaches are attracted to a tidy home because of the availability of food, water, and shelter. Although the sight of even a single cockroach in your home is likely to cause some level of alarm, it is unlikely that this lone insect is indicative of a widespread problem. Roaches are social pests that can quickly multiply. It’s likely that if you see one, there are others hiding in the shadows or in some crevices, and the situation could quickly escalate into a full-blown infestation.
Humans should avoid coming into contact with cockroaches because the bacteria they carry on their bodies and feet can spread to any surface they walk across. They also have the potential to bring on allergic reactions and asthma attacks. A cockroach infestation might exist even if you don’t spot any of the insects yourself. Signs of cockroaches include dead bodies, small, brown, oval-shaped eggs or eggshells, dark, powdery droppings that resemble ground coffee, and a persistent musty odor.
Preventative measures are the most effective means of cockroach control. Cockroach prevention can be accomplished by:
Cleaning Thoroughly
The crumbs and dirt that humans leave behind are a magnet for roaches. After each meal, clean the dishes and put them away. Get rid of the crumbs and mop up the spills right away. Get rid of the trash every night. Remove all grease from cooking surfaces. Put perishables in containers that can’t be opened easily. Make regular use of a broom, mop, and vacuum. Do not leave pet supplies out overnight.
Declutter
Remove potential hiding spots for roaches by clearing away any clutter. Keep rooms decluttered, especially those that aren’t used frequently, and maintain a regular dusting schedule. Skip the cardboard boxes and opt instead for plastic containers with secure lids. Roaches thrive in cardboard and newspaper, so get rid of it.
Seal Them Out
Roaches can enter homes through crevices and under doors. By locating these entry points and sealing them, you can prevent cockroaches and other pests from entering your home. The areas around the windows and doors, the foundation and the roof, the attic and the crawlspace vents, and the openings for the utility and plumbing lines should all be thoroughly inspected. Caulk can be used to fill in tiny cracks and holes. Use steel wool and foam to seal larger holes, especially those near pipes. It is possible to use fine mesh wire to create a seal around roof vents and chimneys.
Eliminate Moisture
Moisture is essential for the survival of roaches and most other pests. For this reason, roaches can be lured into your home by the presence of standing water or an abundance of moisture. Make it a habit to routinely check for leaks in the plumbing system and to fix any you find. Inspect for leaks and excess moisture around the faucets, sinks, refrigerator, and other appliances in the home. Extra moisture in homes often originates in the crawl space. If you’re worried about moisture under your house, an enclosed crawlspace may be the answer.
Call The Professionals
It can be very challenging to get rid of a cockroach infestation. In the fight against roaches, prevention can only go so far. Get in touch with a professional pest control company if you think you have an infestation so they can help you figure out what kind of roaches you have, where they are getting in, and what they are eating, and then create a customized plan for cockroach control and elimination in the future.
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Sep 27, 2022 | Pest Control
It’s never ideal to encounter cockroaches in your home. If you do, it’s best to know what types of cockroaches you’re dealing with to help determine the best way to eliminate them. Failing to remove these pests can lead to unpleasant outcomes, like allergies, that can potentially increase your chances of getting asthma.
We have broken down the three most common cockroaches found in the south and how to keep them away; let’s check it out!
American Cockroach
This large out-of-the-house infesting roach can get up to 1.5 inches in length. These roaches develop wings towards the end of their life cycle, with males having some longer than their bodies. You can usually identify them by the yellow band located behind their head.
The American cockroach can typically be found where food is abundant. They also prefer drains that aren’t used as often. In the wild, they prefer dark or damp wood piles.
German Cockroach
One of the most common species found worldwide, the German cockroach is generally light to dark brown and has two stripes near the back of its head. This species does have wings. They prefer dark, moist places. Since they don’t do well in the cold, they thrive in the southern climate.
Brown-Banded Cockroach
This species first entered the U.S. in 1903 and is now found nationwide. The brown-banded cockroach got its name from the two light brown bands that appear across its wings. They prefer warmer, drier, and higher locations in a room and can be found mostly in cabinets and behind picture frames. This species will typically hide its egg cases in or underneath furniture.
Prevention Tips
- Focus on the Kitchen: Clean up any spills or crumbs immediately and take out the trash regularly.
- Declutter: Remove old newspapers, utilize plastic containers over cardboard, and make sure clothing isn’t piled on the floor.
- Limit Moisture: Roaches need water to survive. Be sure to fix dripping faucets and leaky pipes. If you have a basement, employ a dehumidifier to take care of any moisture. Also, consider getting your crawlspace enclosed to ensure no moisture is found.
While prevention can help keep cockroaches away, sometimes it’s best to get a professional involved. A local pest control company will be able to inspect your home and provide you with the best treatment and prevention plan going forward.
Sep 22, 2022 | Pest Control
Oriental cockroaches are one of the larger species of roaches. Despite their name, they are thought to have originated in Africa. They are also known as waterbugs (because of their habitats) and black beetle cockroaches (because of their appearance). Like any other roach species, these cockroaches can spread diseases to humans, contaminate surfaces in your home, and trigger allergies and asthma.
Although they are active year-round, oriental roaches are more prevalent in the warmer months. They are often found crawling around toilets, pipes, and sinks. In fact, once indoors they are known to live in rarely used sink drains, garbage disposals, under cabinets with plumbing, and in bathroom voids. Outdoors they are found in flower beds, under mulch, in woodpiles, or anywhere there is moisture. They get into your home under doors, gaps in siding, through pipes, sewers, and drains.
Oriental cockroaches are smooth and shiny black in appearance. They grow to about 1″ in length. Males are smaller than females and have wings. Females are much larger with no wings. Although the males have wings, they are unable to fly.
Once you’ve identified the oriental cockroach, the next question is why are they in your house? Oriental cockroaches are attracted to moisture; in fact, they depend on it for survival. If you’re seeing oriental cockroaches, odds are you have excessive moisture somewhere in your home. This could be a leaky pipe or faucet, leaky roof, moisture-laden crawlspace, clogged gutters, standing water in your yard, overpopulated flowerbeds that hold moisture, etc.
To get rid of these pests, check out these oriental cockroach prevention tips:
- Vacuum often and sweep up crumbs.
- Keep kitchens and bathrooms clean.
- Use a dehumidifier, especially in crawlspaces, to help control moisture.
- Seal entry points with a silicone-based caulk.
- Consider crawlspace enclosure.
- Eliminate standing water on your property.
- Divert water away from foundations with downspouts and splash blocks.
- Keep gutters clean or consider installing gutter guards.
- Repair any leaks immediately.
If you have a problem with oriental cockroaches or other pests, contact your local pest control company for a thorough evaluation.
