There are many pests that are capable of invading your San Antonio home, but cockroaches are one of the most common. One of the best ways you can defend your home against these filthy insects is by learning more about their habits and what could attract them to your property in the first place.
What do American cockroaches look like?
Adult American cockroaches are reddish-brown in color and about 1.5 inches in length, making them the largest cockroaches to invade San Antonio homes. Both male and female cockroaches have wings, although male cockroaches have longer wings. While all American cockroaches have wings, they almost never use them to fly. American cockroaches are also called palmetto bugs and are one of the most common home-invading cockroach species.
What do American cockroaches eat?
It’s difficult to keep cockroaches away from your San Antonio home if it is providing the food and moisture they need to survive. American cockroaches are opportunistic omnivorous feeders, which means they can and will eat just about anything. These disturbing insects feed on all kinds of foods and even coffee grounds, tea, beer, cheese, glue, the starch found in book bindings, and dead skin and hair particles. In some circumstances, cockroaches will eat other cockroaches if they are dead or wounded. With a pest that eats almost anything, it’s not easy to know what your next step should be as a homeowner. It can be difficult to remove all the potential food sources for cockroaches from your property. Early prevention and control are essential to ensure you avoid the problems cockroaches cause. These filthy insects are not just disturbing to find crawling across your kitchen counters, but they are dangerous as well.
Problems Cockroaches Cause
Aside from the obvious disturbances American cockroaches can cause in your home just by being there, cockroaches are incredibly dangerous pests. As cockroaches feed on and crawl across unsanitary materials, they pick up harmful bacteria and pathogens. Once cockroaches infest your San Antonio home, the bacteria they’ve picked up can contaminate food items, counter surfaces, and water sources. American cockroaches also produce odorous secretions from their bodies which can alter the taste of foods they crawl across. Additionally, cockroaches skins and feces contain allergens which can trigger allergic reactions and asthma attacks in some individuals. Cockroaches are capable of causing several major problems in your home, no matter how large or small your infestation is.
Cockroach Prevention Tips
Keeping American cockroaches out of your San Antonio home is no walk in the park, but there are a few tips you can follow to avoid attracting these filthy pests to your property.
- Keep your garbage cans sealed
- Store pet food in airtight containers when not in use
- Locate and seal gaps, cracks, and crevices around the exterior of your home
- Install door sweeps
- Consider purchasing a dehumidifier to reduce excess moisture
- Repair leaky pipes and faucets
- Clear debris from your gutters to ensure water is directed away from your home
- Cut thick brush, trees, and shrubs away from your exterior walls
- Clean crumbs and food remnants from under your stove, fridge, and other heavy appliances
If cockroaches still invade despite the preventative measures you take, avoid wasting your time on over-the-counter sprays and cockroach chemicals. Instead, reach out to the licensed pest professionals at Family Pest Control. We understand how important it is to keep your San Antonio home pest-free all year long, which is why we offer several pest control programs and treatment methods to fit every need and budget. Give Family Pest Control a call today to ensure your home stays cockroach-free!