It’s late at night, and you’re starving. You go to the kitchen to get a snack and turn on the light. Then your heart starts pounding as cockroaches flee to the nearest hiding place. Cockroaches in the kitchen are both annoying and disgusting, not to mention upsetting. After all, this could indicate that you have a roach infestation that you are unaware of. Roaches frequently infest kitchens because they have everything cockroaches require to survive. This includes water, food, and plenty of hiding places. How do get rid of cockroaches in kitchen at night?
If you discover cockroaches in your kitchen, it’s time to take action to keep these pests at bay. How you deal with the problem is partly determined by the type of cockroach you find. You may or may not have an infestation, depending on the type. Let’s learn more about the cockroaches that are most commonly found in American homes.
IDENTIFYING YOUR HOME’S COCKROACH SPECIES
Because of their size, finding larger cockroaches in your kitchen can be more frightening than finding smaller ones. Oriental cockroaches are about an inch and a half long and half an inch wide. The color of these roaches is dark brown or black. American cockroaches are larger and have a medium reddish-brown color. They can grow to be two inches long and half an inch wide!
Both American and Oriental cockroaches can run at speeds of several miles per hour, which is astounding (even more so, some roaches can fly!). Even so, finding an American or Oriental cockroach indoors does not necessarily indicate a roach infestation. In many cases, these roaches inadvertently make their way inside from the outside. They live outdoors in nests they build in rotting logs or beneath vegetation piles. They occasionally venture inside in search of warmth, food, or water.
German cockroaches in your kitchen may be less shocking. German roaches are significantly smaller than their American and Oriental counterparts. This roach grows to be less than a half-inch long and a quarter-inch wide. These cockroaches are usually tan or light brown in color and do not come in from the outside like other, larger roaches. They are usually introduced into your home by accident. They occasionally hitchhike on grocery bags, luggage, or furniture.
Unfortunately, German cockroaches reproduce rapidly. In their lifetime, female German cockroaches can lay hundreds of eggs. If you find even one German cockroach in your kitchen, you may have a full-blown infestation. Cockroaches of all kinds are excellent at hiding in dark, protected areas. These hiding places include the refrigerator, stove, and kitchen cabinets. Because these insects are so good at hiding, people can have cockroach infestations that they are unaware of. Atap is the best company for roach exterminator near me. Always contact them to get their exceptional services.
Because of the problems that cockroaches can cause, cockroach infestations should be treated as soon as possible. Cockroaches will eat anything they can find in a typical kitchen. Crumbs and grease splatters, as well as pantry food not stored in airtight containers, fall into this category. They’ll eat paper products like paper towel rolls, wallpaper, and books, as well as the glue that holds book pages together.
Cockroaches will eat almost anything, and they create unsanitary conditions in the kitchen. Cockroach infestations have also been linked to respiratory problems such as asthma. Furthermore, these pests are carriers of a variety of diseases, pathogens, and bacteria.
MAKE YOUR HOME LESS APPEALING TO ROACHES
Getting rid of cockroaches on your own can be a time-consuming and difficult, if not impossible, task. Still, there are many things you can do to make your kitchen and home less appealing to these pests. Here’s a list of things homeowners can do to make their home less appealing to roaches:
- Keep your kitchen clean by wiping up crumbs, spills, and splatters on a daily basis.
- All foods, including pet foods, should be stored in sturdy containers with tight-fitting lids.
- Maintain an airtight container for all garbage, recycling, and compost. Outside garbage cans should be kept away from the house. If the bins are close to the house, they may attract roaches and other pests that may try to get inside.
- Avoid leaving pet food and water bowls out overnight, when roaches are most active.
- Fix any leaking faucets or pipes both inside and outside. These water sources may attract roaches.
- Cockroaches can squeeze through extremely small openings. Repair any gaps or tears in or around the house’s windows, doors, screens, vents, or pipes. Wool mesh should be used to fill weep holes in brick exteriors.
- Indoor plants should not be overwatered. Cockroaches will occasionally live or hide in a well-watered houseplant.
- Keep your grass and bushes trimmed, and remove dead leaves, branches, and brush. These are all potential nesting sites for American and Oriental cockroaches. When there are fewer roaches outside, there are fewer roaches inside your home.
- All of these steps will help keep cockroaches at bay. However, if you have a cockroach infestation, these steps will work best in conjunction with professional treatments. A pest control specialist can identify the cockroaches you have and where they are nesting in your home. They can then advise you on the most effective pest control measures.
Cockroaches Can Climb Walls
If you see a cockroach running across your floor, you might wonder if cockroaches can climb walls. Unfortunately, they can and do it very well.
Cockroaches have an incredible ability to climb almost any surface. They grip so tightly that they can walk upside down without falling. Their legs and feet are covered in tiny barbs that allow them to grip onto any surface with a little texture. Cockroaches are incapable of climbing vertical surfaces that are extremely smooth, such as glass or smooth metal. However, if the surface is slanted, textured, or both, a cockroach will have no trouble scaling it.
This is why cockroaches can be found in any room on any floor of the house, not just the ground floor. People’s homes are made of textured materials that roaches can climb, such as brick, wood, and drywall. If a cockroach enters your home on the first floor, it will easily climb to the second floor.
Cockroaches, of course, prefer to live in places where there is plenty of food, water, and shelter. Kitchens, bathrooms, and utility rooms are typical examples. If you eat in your bedroom, any crumbs you drop may attract roaches. Cockroaches are also attracted to paper products. Bookcases brimming with books and magazines can be enticing to roaches. Keeping your home clean will help to keep cockroaches at bay. This is especially important in the kitchen and any other area where food is consumed. Roaches are attracted to water sources such as dripping faucets and pipes, pet water bowls, and overwatered potted plants. Roaches can be deterred by repairing any leaks and removing any standing water.
Limiting cockroach entry into your home will also aid in the fight against these pests. Many roaches that live outside find their way inside through small openings like weep holes, tears in window screens, or gaps around vents. Keeping roaches outside, where they belong, will be easier if these types of openings are repaired or blocked off.
Even people who take all of these precautions may still have roach problems in their homes. This is where a ATAP specialist comes in handy. These professionals have the knowledge and skills, as well as the products and techniques, to get rid of a roach infestation. Controlling these pests may take some time as well as multiple treatments and techniques. The sooner you consult with a pest control professional, the sooner you’ll be able to reclaim your home.
Cockroaches do they shed?
Many insects shed their exoskeletons and wings on a regular basis; do cockroaches do the same? As they develop from nymphs to adults, cockroaches shed their skins, or exoskeletons. If you discover shed cockroach skins in your home, you have a cockroach infestation. These skins are shed by young cockroaches as they grow and progress through their life cycle.
Shed skins aren’t always the only indication of a cockroach infestation. Cockroach eggs, which are small, hard egg cases laid by female roaches, are another common sign. Cockroach droppings may also be discovered. Roach droppings resemble tiny black dirt particles or brownish-black dots and smears. These may appear on shelves or walls, under sinks, or in any other area where cockroaches congregate.
Another common sign of an infestation is the discovery of cockroaches, whether dead or alive. There is also a distinct, unpleasant odor produced by roaches in homes with heavy infestations.
If you notice these signs, it’s time to get professional help to diagnose and address your pest problem. Roaches can be hazardous to one’s health and sanitation. These pests can infest even clean, well-kept homes. They can also survive for long periods of time without food or water, so “starving them out” by removing food and water sources may not be effective. In many cases, contacting a professional is the quickest and most effective way to deal with a cockroach problem in your home. These professionals have the best products and techniques for eliminating these pests.
Atap Can Develop A Comprehensive Roach Treatment Strategy
Don’t waste any more time trying to control roaches on your own. Contact ATAP Home & Commercial Services for an effective pest treatment plan. Our experts are highly trained and will be able to bring you and your family members peace of mind. Learn why cockroaches hard to kill. Atap exterminators are expert roach exterminator. You can contact us at 773-701-7705.