Creepy Cockroaches in Palmetto Florida

“As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect.” This quote from Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis is the stuff of nightmares. If you’ve read the book, you know that Gregor Samsa had become a cockroach. Yuck! This is a fictional story, you’ll never turn into a cockroach, but these pests can find their way inside a home, and they can be just as creepy and disgusting in real life. So it is important to know how to get rid of them!

Types of Cockroach

Did you know there are thousands of species of cockroaches? In Florida alone, 70 different types of cockroaches exist. Only four of these are home invaders, though. The four most common types of cockroaches you might find in your Palmetto home are American cockroaches, German cockroaches, Australian cockroaches, and Asian cockroaches.

These four species vary slightly in size and color, but they look similar. All of them are nocturnal insects that can come into your house in the fall to escape the winter cold and find food. All of them are equally unnerving when you see them scurrying up a wall or running across a kitchen counter.

Are Cockroaches Dangerous?

Many people are scared of cockroaches, but are they really dangerous? Cockroaches won’t bite or sting you, but they do bring problems. For one, cockroaches are known to carry bacteria. They’ve been linked to dysentery, salmonellosis, E. coli, and more. Because of these bacteria, and cockroaches’ tendencies to hang out around rotting materials, roaches can contaminate any surfaces they touch. They can find food in your kitchen and carry their germs over your cooking surfaces and your food products. As if that isn’t enough, cockroaches have also been known to worsen allergy and asthma symptoms. Their feces, shed skin, and saliva can cause allergic reactions in some people and can trigger allergy attacks. These bugs may not be giant biting creatures, but you still don’t want them anywhere near your home.

How to Avoid Attracting Cockroaches

Cockroaches are attracted to two main things: warm, moist places and potential food sources. In order to keep them out, you need to limit their access to these two things. To avoid moisture, fix any leaks or spills as soon as possible. Use a dehumidifier in damp areas such as your garage or your basement. In order to avoid having cockroach food sources, your best tool is cleanliness. Keep trash and compost tightly sealed and take the trash out often. Don’t leave spills or dirty dishes overnight, and never leave pet food sitting out. You can also prevent cockroaches by making their entrance harder. General maintenance and preventative measures can help, such as sealing cracks in the structure of your home and checking screens for holes or tears.

If you already have cockroaches living in your home, your safest bet is to call Keller’s Pest Control. Though you can buy over-the-counter products for cockroach elimination, many of these involve strong chemicals that are dangerous to use without proper experience. Plus, these methods are mildly effective at best, and will rarely solve your entire problem. Instead, Keller’s Pest Control has the tools, equipment, and experience needed for quick and effective cockroach elimination. We can’t keep these pests out of your nightmares, but we can keep them out of your home.