When you wake up and stumble into the bathroom, the last thing you want to see is a cockroach running for cover. As you open the kitchen spice cabinet, you don’t want a cockroach greeting you. If there is one Florida insect we can’t stand in our house, it is the cockroach.
If you have seen a cockroach in your Jacksonville house, or if you suspect they are in your home, you need the experienced Jacksonville pest control experts from Trad’s Pest Control. The qualified technicians from our family-run company know how to stop cockroaches in their tracks!
Hidden Insects: Rooting Out The Hidden German Cockroaches
German cockroaches are masters of sneaking into Jacksonville homes. These Florida bugs latch onto cardboard boxes, hide in appliances, and are stowaways in grocery bags. German cockroaches slip into homes through cracks as small as 3/8 inch wide. Once inside the house, they hide in crevices near food and water sources.
Finding these elusive night creatures begins with examining areas with the following:
- Drains
- High moisture
- Leaky pipes
- Garbage disposals
- Garbage cans
- Yard debris
- Poor drainage
Cockroaches like the American cockroach (aka Florida palmetto bug) prefer warm, moist areas with temperatures above 70℉. Common locations include the basement, crawlspace, cellar, kitchen, and bathroom areas.
Phases Of The German Cockroach Lifestyle
A female German cockroach deposits an egg capsule, called ootheca, containing up to 50 eggs. After a month, nymphs emerge from the eggs and begin shedding skin (i.e., molting) as they grow. After six molting cycles, the cockroach is an adult.
An adult German cockroach lives six to seven months. During its brief lifespan, the cockroach enjoys a lifestyle of foraging for food during the night and reproducing the next generation. The light brown German cockroaches will eat anything – including glue and soap!
These winged yet flightless insects enjoy a life of crawling over garbage, sewage, and fecal matter. As a result, the spines on their legs pick up disease-causing pathogens. As they travel over surfaces at night, the bacteria, viruses, and parasitic worms fall off their body and contaminate food. As they travel, they often defecate and pollute surfaces.
German Cockroach Prevention Tips For Jacksonville Residents
Avoiding an infestation of German cockroaches starts with the following cockroach prevention tips:
- Fix leaking pipes.
- Repair poor drainage in tubs, sinks, and showers.
- Close gaps into the house.
- Screen windows and doors.
- Clean out and sanitize the kitchen cabinets and the pantry.
- Wipe down countertops after each meal.
- Wash dishes and put them away after each use.
- Remove piles of debris from the lawn.
- Seal food products in plastic or glass containers.
- Store pet food in containers and do not leave it out overnight.
- Remove pet droppings from the yard.
- Keep lids on both outside and inside garbage can lids.
- Provide proper drainage on the property.
- Inspect boxes, bags, and second-hand items brought into the home.
- Vacuum the house regularly and use a wand attachment to suction cracks and crevices.
- Elevate firewood off the ground and move it away from the structure.
Taking preventative steps to remove food attractions is key to discouraging Florida cockroaches from entering your Jacksonville home. Removing high moisture areas will also avert an infestation of German cockroaches.
Professional German Cockroach Extermination In Jacksonville
When you see German cockroaches, you need the roach exterminator near you, Trad’s Pest Control. We have been providing pest control services in Jacksonville for over 50 years. We will inspect your home, identify the cockroach species, and develop an effective strategy using safe treatment methods. Contact us for a free estimate for your home or business.