The Safe And Effective Way To Get Rid Of Roaches In Your West Chester Home

Clear Signs You Have A Cockroach Problem In Your Home

One of the most common signs of a cockroach infestation is seeing a cockroach. Roaches also emit a musty smell that you may notice, especially if there are large numbers of them.
 
A few different types of roaches can be found in West Chester.
 
American cockroaches are the most significant species, growing to be up to 2” long. They’re reddish brown in color. These cockroaches can fly short distances. The eggs are small and dark-colored and may be seen stuck to surfaces near food. American cockroaches prefer warm, dark, damp environments and are often seen near sewers and drains. 
 
German cockroaches are another common roach species. Typically only about 1/2” long, these are light brown with two dark stripes on their heads. . Like American cockroaches, German roaches prefer warm, humid places. These pests eat almost anything, including paper, soap, and glue. 
 
Brown-banded cockroaches get their name from the two light brown bands across their bodies. Their eggs are yellow and usually stuck underneath furniture. Brown-banded roaches prefer drier climates and are typically found in higher locations such as upper cabinets. Male brown-banded cockroaches can also fly. Like German cockroaches, brown-banded cockroaches will eat paper and glue products in addition to human food. 
 
Oriental cockroaches are sometimes called water beetles because they tend to gather near water sources. These roaches are shiny black and about an inch long. 
 
Pennsylvania wood roaches often become a problem when firewood is brought in from outside. They tend to live in or around wood, so homes in or near the woods sometimes attract these roaches. 

Cockroaches Trigger Allergies And Spread Disease

Cockroach saliva can cause allergies and asthma flare-ups, especially in children. They also spread dozens of diseases to humans. Cockroach legs have little spines that pick up pathogens when they walk. So when a cockroach comes inside your home, they bring a little piece of where they were before. Unfortunately, that’s usually sewage, decaying plants or animals, and who knows what else. Cockroaches are known to spread E. coli, salmonella, at least six kinds of parasitic worms, and dozens of other bacteria and human diseases. You don’t want these pests walking around your home, so treating an infestation as quickly as possible is essential. 

The Problems With D.I.Y. Cockroach Control

Unfortunately, cockroaches are essentially indestructible if you don’t know what you’re doing. You may have heard that they can live for a week without their heads. This is, unfortunately, not a myth. Cockroaches are built to survive just about anything, and they reproduce quickly. Cockroach infestations proliferate quickly, meaning that do-it-yourself methods aren’t enough in most cases. 

How To Safely And Effectively Get Rid Of Roaches

Even though total cockroach elimination is hard on your own, exclusion techniques are vital to preventing and minimizing infestations.

• Keep food put away

Storing food in airtight glass or plastic containers keeps cockroaches away from it. Although they can find other food sources, especially the ones that feed on glue and paper, keeping as much off limits as possible can help prevent an infestation.

• Seal cracks in your walls

Cockroaches are nearly flat, so they can slide through tiny gaps or cracks. This includes poorly fitting doors and windows. By caulking holes in your walls, you eliminate many potential entrance points.

• Remove points of excess water

Most cockroach species prefer to live in humid environments. By fixing leaky pipes, airing out your basement, or investing in a dehumidifier, you can make your home less hospitable to cockroaches.
 
If you’re struggling to deal with an infestation, these tips can help. But what works best to get rid of cockroaches is calling in a professional pest control company. Masters Touch Pest Solutions offers cockroach treatment plans because we know just how hard it can be to get rid of an infestation on your own. After performing an inspection, we’ll work with you to eliminate the cockroaches from your home. Call Masters Touch Pest Solutions today to schedule an inspection so that you can have a cockroach-free home.