Cockroach Infestation

One of the amazing facts, unknown to some, about cockroaches is that they have been around for 400 million years, with 57 known species dwelling only in the United States. They live in our kitchens and bathrooms, hiding throughout the day, and coming out only at nights, as certain species are nocturnal. One of the most common signs of cockroach penetration is if you find any feces lying around that look like grains of black pepper and/or brown egg cases. As cockroaches flourish in warm and damp atmospheres, they come out at nighttime and feed on whatever they can find in the house. If you have found any cockroaches running about in your house or have seen the egg cases, cockroach penetration control should be complied with instantly.

Causes

To help understand why this issue occurred in the first place, you need to know what causes cockroach penetration. Here are some facts about cockroaches that might help understand the entire picture.

• Un-kept and unsanitary environment aid cockroach penetration.
• Already infested areas attract female cockroaches that are carrying the egg sacs on their belly.
• Unwanted sources of water and food become their hiding places.

Solutions

Infestation of cockroaches is a major pest control problem. Here are some specific suggestions and solutions to this horrible menace.

Solution 1: The very first home remedy is to clear away any standing water and food scraps that might have fallen from kitchen counter or plates. Standing water under the bathroom or kitchen sinks are the first things cockroaches get attracted to. Plus, the food scraps that could've fallen on the floor or around the house need to be cleaned or vacuumed out immediately. Any leftover food on the kitchen countertops that is left behind after you've finished cooking, should be cleaned and sanitized as well.

Solution 2: Next comes the laundry piles, stacks of boxes (which haven't been moved for a long time), and trash bins around and outside the house. Hiding in such common locations is easy and at times, we forget to look at these obvious places. You have to keep all these areas clear, so that cockroaches don't find a corner or crevice to get in. Seal all the openings and crevices with a strong tape, so that there is no way for cockroaches to come or go out.

Solution 3: Don't leave dirty dishes in the kitchen sink. Leftover food particles can attract a big cockroach penetration and make the entire situation worse. Clear the dishes as soon as you're done with lunch or dinner, and clean the sink before you retire for the day.

Solution 4: Purchase glue traps and pesticides, especially perimeter sprays which kill and deter cockroaches away from your house. The spray works its magic for about a month or two. Prepare soapy water to wipe the insides of your cupboards and drawers. Spray the pesticide in all the corners and place glue traps near the refrigerator, dishwasher, around the kitchen and house. Keep a regular check on the glue traps and get rid (kill) of the cockroaches that got caught.

Until a professional exterminator can come and finish the cockroach infestation problem once and for all, you can follow the suggestions mentioned above. Try not to step on any of the cockroaches, because if they happen to be females, the eggs could be left behind to hatch later on. At times, even clean and tidy houses can become infested. Make sure you or the exterminator try to get to the bottom of the issue, so that cockroach penetration doesn't bother you again.