Cockroaches definitely have a reputation, and they’ve earned it. These resilient insects infest homes all over Los Angeles and can be hard to remove. So if you’re finding roaches around your house, you need good pest control in Los Angeles. Kat’s Pest Solutions is your best option for cockroach treatments because we know exactly how to remove them and keep them from coming back.
Habits And Behaviors Of Common Cockroaches
There are two types of cockroaches that are found in Los Angeles; American cockroaches and German cockroaches. American roaches can be up to 2 inches long. They’re reddish-brown with a yellow marking on their heads. They have wings but are more likely to run.
German cockroaches are much smaller, only about 1/2 an inch long. They’re lighter brown and have two darker stripes on their backs. Like American roaches, German cockroaches can fly but don’t very often. Both species of cockroaches are nocturnal and prefer to live in warm, humid environments.
A sighting is the clearest sign of a cockroach infestation, but these insects don’t like to be seen. They run fast and stay in the dark as much as they can, so you might not see them. Instead, keep an eye out for other signs, like molted skins. Cockroaches leave egg capsules, which can be light or dark brown, and are often found stuck to surfaces around the house. You might find cockroach droppings, which will look like black specks or smears. When cockroaches are found in groups, they emit a musty smell you might notice.
Why Cockroach Infestations Are Such A Health Hazard
Cockroaches have a reputation for being dirty pests, and that isn’t exactly unearned. Roaches are known to carry dozens of pathogens, including the salmonella and E. coli bacteria, as well as diseases such as typhoid fever, cholera, and gastroenteritis. Cockroaches often walk across food and food preparation surfaces, which is why the diseases they spread are often related to food poisoning.
Some people are susceptible to allergies or asthma flare-ups when they’re around cockroaches. The saliva, urine, and fecal matter of the cockroaches cause this. Children, in particular, are vulnerable to this kind of reaction.
Five No-Nonsense Cockroach Prevention Tips
Because cockroaches can be so harmful, it’s best to try and keep cockroaches away from your Los Angeles home. These insects are durable, and infestations can be difficult to treat, which means that it’s easier to prevent cockroaches from moving into your home in the first place.
Take these steps to keep cockroaches out:
- Seal cracks and holes in the walls
- Install mesh screens over drains and vents
- Keep food put away and your kitchen sanitized
- Address anything causing excess moisture
- Dispose of trash properly and keep receptacles clean
Even the biggest cockroaches are not very big, and they’re flat. Any crack, gap, or hole in the walls of your home can let cockroaches in. They’ll sometimes travel through pipes and vents, which is why mesh screens can be beneficial to keep them out.
One of the biggest reasons cockroaches enter homes is to find food—yours. Keeping all your food stored in airtight, solid containers keeps cockroaches from smelling it and walking all over it. Additionally, keeping trash cans clean eliminates another food source for roaches.
Cockroaches thrive in humid environments. Whether you have a leaky pipe or a basement that collects moisture, that water could attract cockroaches. Repairing these things makes your home less hospitable to roaches.
Cockroach infestations can be tricky to handle. And with the risk of disease, it isn’t worth taking time to find the right do-it-yourself (DIY) home remedy that might treat the infestation. Instead, call a Los Angeles cockroach control professional for help.
The Best Cockroach Control Solution For Los Angeles Homes
With Kat’s Pest Solutions, you never have to worry about the effectiveness of your pest control. We use a variety of methods for cockroach control, so you can be certain that the infestation is totally gone. We offer free inspections, which allow us to evaluate your needs and how we can best help. Call Kat’s Pest Solutions today for help with cockroaches and to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in Los Angeles.