Cockroach Prevention In Houston

Did you know that nearly 30 types of cockroaches are known to exist in Texas? Thankfully, only a few are considered indoor pests. The vast majority of cockroaches in Houston live their entire lives outside, and that’s just fine by us!

In the Houston area, there are three types of cockroaches that are common for homeowners to encounter. These are German cockroaches, American cockroaches and Oriental cockroaches.

• German cockroaches are tiny, little, tan things that breed like crazy. If you see one scurry across your floor, you can be sure that there are quite a few of them living in your walls as well.
• American cockroaches, often called “palmetto bugs”, are recognizable by their size. They are a reddish color and can grow to about 2 inches long…yuck! If you see one of these nasty buggers, it is sure to make an impression.
• Oriental cockroaches are a shiny black color and are most commonly found trying to get into buildings through cracks, holes or sewer lines. They tend to feed on garbage and other decaying matter.

Cockroaches don’t bite, but they are considered dangerous because they can carry bacteria and disease into your food cabinets, drawers and other places throughout your home. So, if you find cockroaches in your Houston home, then it’s time to fight back with various, cockroach prevention and treatment tactics! Measures you can take to make your home less appealing to cockroaches include:

• Cleaning and disinfecting your floors regularly. Be sure to get those hard-to-reach places, like under the fridge, behind or on the sides of your stove and at the back of your cabinets.
• Don’t leave a puddle, anywhere. Roaches need a water source, so they will feed (literally) off any puddle in your home. If you have leaky faucets, a loose shower door or a dripping dishwasher, then we highly recommend getting them fixed.
• Not leaving crumbs on plates or the floor. Roaches love a midnight snack, but don’t we all? Keeping clean surfaces where food once was deflects cockroaches from festering for food.
• Keep your trash can covered at all times.
• Removing piles of papers and cardboard. Especially when damp, paper sources are attractive to roach females when it comes time to laying their eggs.
• Clean your dishes immediately. Don’t let them sit around with food on them because that gives roaches the chance to climb in your sink and feast.

The cleaner your home, the less attractive it is to cockroaches. DIY cockroach control methods, like traps and bait, can help keep the critters at bay, but they don’t get to the root of the problem. If you’ve tried the cockroach prevention methods listed above and are still noticing these pests, then have a professional, cockroach pest control technician assess and roach-proof your Houston home.

Don’t risk your family’s health. Contact Holder’s Pest Solutions today for your cockroach pest control issues.