Why Are Cockroach Infestations Abundant In The Summertime?

With Georgia summertime upon us, the last thing we need to worry about is creepy, crawly bugs stopping by unannounced. For Georgia, cockroaches tend to explode in size during the summer months. The warm, humid weather that rolls in and sits for days on end creates an endless breeding ground and a healthy habitat that can be especially frustrating for homeowners. That is why it is so important to learn how to prevent abundant cockroach infestations.

What Permeates Cockroach Infestations?

Beat the Heat—Cockroaches are technically considered a year-round pest, however; their populations tend to swell in the summertime due to the heat. Like most insects, they are cold-blooded and have difficulty dealing with cold weather. Usually, roaches enjoy the heat but when it gets too hot, they scurry their way into our homes looking for respite and anything they can snack on. Due to this factor, they gravitate towards the southeast and generate obstacle after obstacle for both residential and commercial properties. Standing water is a big draw for these communities. If they can’t find it outside in the wild, they will make a break for the inside. A few problem places here include new fountains, bird baths, gutters, flowerpots, dirty dishes, sinks, and most areas in the bathroom that do not stay dry or ventilated.

Seeking Out Snacks—Many of us are under the impression that a clean home can prevent pests. While this can be a strong factor in keeping them at bay, the reality is that simply keeping your home prim and proper is not enough to avoid avid cockroach infestations. Roaches will seek out food wherever they can find it. Leaving food out overnight in the kitchen or allowing crumbs to collect in cabinets will only increase the likelihood of roaches taking up residence in your home. Keeping your space spotless is an exceptional practice, but cockroaches have been known to feast on wallpaper paste, cardboard, books, sitting grease, leather, soap, and even human hair. They love to hide in high, untouched places that hold forgotten treasures.

Pesky Pests—Roaches come in all shapes and sizes. Although some of the bigger ones might seem too hefty to fit through small cracks, these creatures are able to flatten their exoskeleton (almost to one-fifth its normal size), splay their legs to the side, and can keep running to quickly sneak into any space. This coupled with their ability to adapt to extreme situations makes them one of the most formidable pests around. If you suspect that you have uninvited guests, it is best to identify which type you have in order to accurately treat them. Below are the five most common types found in Georgia and where they are most likely to be located during an infestation.

1. American Cockroach: active at night and often found around sources of water.
2. German Cockroach: active at night and often found in kitchens near food and heated appliances.
3. Oriental Cockroach: active at night and often found outdoors when they feed on decaying matter or rotten food.
4. Asian Cockroach: active at night and often found outdoors under mulch, leaves, or high-grass. They also can fly and are attracted to lights, often misinterpreted as moths.
5. Smokybrown Cockroach: active at night, sometimes during the day, and often found in trees, attics, balconies, crawlspaces, forgotten closets, and sheds.

Check out our more detailed blog on the different types of cockroaches here!

How to Prevent Cockroach Infestations?

Seek them Out—The first thing you need to focus on is where exactly they are coming from. A majority of cockroaches are nocturnal. This means that they are active at night, and tend to find dark, protected areas to hole up in until nightfall. Decluttering your home is the first step to eliminating any potential hide-away spaces. Keep a close eye out for stray cardboard boxes, newspapers, and food containers that aren’t plastic or glass. Speaking of food again, be sure to manage all leftovers—either tightly packed in your fridge or in trash cans with tight-fitting lids. Also, be sure to check up on fall spaces such as in between stovetops and fridges where crumbs can fall into the deep depths.

Seal them Out—As we know from above, cockroaches have a knack for squeezing into unwanted spaces. Our best course of action is to try and fill any cracks to plug any unknown entryways. A good rule of thumb is if you can see daylight from a breach then cockroaches can make their way in. So at least once a year, inspect all around your house and outside of it for any stray cracks that can easily form with time. Prime places to check are: around windows, along door edges, roof foundations, attic entrances, crawl spaces, vents, closet corners, and holes used for electricity, gas or plumbing. It is best to seal most of these with caulk since it is an easy fixer-upper. Larger holes might take steel wool or foam, and fine mesh should be used for any bigger opening that leads outdoors.

Clear them Out—Now it’s time to get rid of them. Since roaches need water to survive, regularly inspect your home for leaky faucets, sinks, pipes, and excess moisture from appliances like refrigerators or appliances. This paired with all the previous prevention methods mentioned above will only get you so far. When it comes to how to handle cockroaches it can be so hard to figure out the correct way to eliminate them. Will it be pet safe? Will it be toxic for my family? How do I get in the hard-to-reach places? Nothing kills a pest faster than a professional service. If you suspect that you have a cockroach infestation, contact a pest control company that can thoroughly inspect your home to help identify which type of cockroach, the potential areas they are getting in from, and provide you with up-to-date control methods catered to your space!

For more tips about keeping roaches and palmetto bugs out of your home, check out our other article here!

Why Choose Lookout Pest Control?

Lookout Pest Control will not only treat the source of your cockroach infestation but help you come up with a game plan moving forward to keep these creatures out for good. Cockroaches are no joke. They are not only disgusting, a nuisance, but also avid disease spreaders that can lead to long-term allergic reactions. If you feel like your problem has become more than you can handle, call Lookout Pest Control, and we can get you more information on pricing and plan serviceability. One of our trained professional technicians will be out ASAP to get you the help you need!