Is That A Cockroach Crawling Across Your Jacksonville Kitchen?

Identifying pests inside your home can be quite a challenge. You might spot a pest scurrying around behind objects or across the floor and not know what it is. If you live in Jacksonville, there’s a high chance you may encounter cockroaches in your home. These pests are incredibly common around the Jacksonville area due to the warm, moist climate and abundance of organic matter.

With over 4,600 species of cockroaches in the world, identifying which kind you’re dealing with is hard. There are a few local species that are more likely to invade your Jacksonville home. The most common are American cockroaches (sometimes called palmetto bugs) and German cockroaches. The former is reddish-brown in color, while the latter is just brown. Both species have a large set of wings that lie flat on their backs.
 
You may also encounter Asian or Australian cockroaches. Asian cockroaches look almost identical to German cockroaches, except they are smaller and are more likely to fly. Australian cockroaches look more like American cockroaches, but they have yellow bands on their abdomens and rounder heads.

What Attracts Cockroaches In Your Home?

Although there are some differences between these four species, they generally share the same motivations that attract them to homes: moisture, warmth, and food. Areas like kitchens and bathrooms are havens for cockroaches since they provide warm, moist environments and food sources. You might find roaches in areas with moisture buildup such as under sinks, under bathmats, inside bathtubs/showers, in basements; or in places with potential food sources such as inside cabinets with open food containers, behind stoves, or in yards with grass/leaf piles.
 
Even though making your house dry and cool will help combat these roaches, certain types aren’t deterred by this. German and American cockroaches can adapt to cool, dry environments. On top of that, if cockroaches find a food source in or around your home, anything from rotting vegetables and fruits to grass clippings to pet droppings, they will begin to multiply rapidly.

What To Do If You See A Cockroach?

If you see a cockroach, avoid allowing it to make contact with your skin. Cockroaches can spread diseases and can trigger severe allergic reactions. Most roaches will scurry out of sight once you enter the room, so eliminating them is difficult. There are a number of ways you can try to treat an infestation on your own, although most DIY solutions often come up short. These pests are incredibly resilient and are able to easily resist most DIY options. It is also impossible for homeowners to treat inside walls, so reaching out to a pest control professional is the most desirable solution. The experts at Lindsey Pest Service understand the threat cockroaches pose and how to effectively remove them from your Jacksonville Home.

What Kind Of Diseases Can You Get From Cockroaches?

Roaches carry several diseases that can put you and your family in danger. These range from gastroenteritis, Salmonellosis, cholera, and dysentery. Additionally, roaches can also trigger allergic reactions and asthma with their droppings, which often looks like black pepper.
 
If you’re struggling with a serious roach infestation, contact Lindsey Pest Services and let us eliminate them for you. We’ve been providing high-quality roach control since 1957 and utilize various techniques and tools to help us track down, eliminate, and prevent roach infestations in the future. Reach out to us today for prompt, professional assistance.