What You Ought To Know About American Cockroaches In Costa Mesa

Cockroaches are synonymous with filth. When you have a cockroach infestation in your home or apartment, it can be incredibly embarrassing. As clean and tidy as you may be, as much as you try to get rid of them, these stubborn insects persist and can make living comfortably difficult.

Of all the home-invading cockroaches, the American cockroach is the largest and most obtrusive. If you’ve got American cockroaches in Costa Mesa, here’s what you need to know.

About American Cockroaches

While other species like the German cockroach and Oriental cockroach can be relatively small in size, the imposing American cockroach averages about two inches in length. Their large size coupled with their well-known speed can make them especially distressing to have on your property. American cockroaches are reddish-brown in coloration with a figure-eight pattern on the back of their head.

These nasty bugs aren’t actually American but are thought to have come to the U.S. from Africa. They are peridomestic, meaning they live around human habitats. While they prefer outdoor life, they will gladly come indoors in search of food and water.

Why You Don’t Want American Cockroaches

The American cockroach’s reputation for being carriers of filth and disease is well-deserved. Cockroaches often congregate and breed in disgusting environments like dumpsters, bathrooms, and sewers. Surrounded by filth, they pick up hazardous bacteria like E. coli and salmonella, which they can then transfer to surfaces like kitchen counters, tables, other high-traffic human areas.

Additionally, cockroaches are known to cause allergies and even asthma. As an infestation develops, droppings and saliva left by roaches accumulate and trigger allergic reactions in certain people.

Cockroaches have been known to infest pantries and cupboards where and can easily contaminate your food supply once they begin feeding.

How To Prevent American Cockroaches

Cockroaches are incredible survivors and have evolved over centuries to be especially difficult to kill. You may have heard that roaches can survive a nuclear blast and live for months with their head chopped off. While that isn’t necessarily true, American cockroaches are durable creatures that are hard to get rid of once they infest your property.

So, the best thing you can do is to prevent an infestation from developing in the first place. Here are a few pointers for preventing an American cockroach infestation in your home or business:

• Seal points of entry. Look for any gaps or cracks around electrical wiring and plumbing and seal with opening with caulk. Check weather stripping under doors and windows and replace if needed.

• Clean up and clean often. Make sure there are no food scraps or spills around that can attract roaches. Don’t leave dirty dishes out in the sink.

• Put garbage in a secure receptacle. Cockroaches love all the rotten treats that can be found in human garbage, so make sure your trash is disposed of properly. Use a bin with a tight-fitting lid, and if possible, keep trash bins as far away from your property as possible.

• Store food strategically. Consider using sturdy plastic, metal, or glass containers to store your pantry foods. Roaches can slip into paperboard boxes or chew their way through, contaminating your food.

If you’ve spotted American cockroaches in your home or business or simply want to make sure you never get them, get the professional assistance you deserve. At Smart Pest Control, we have years of experience in solving pest problems in Costa Mesa. We will safely eliminate the cockroaches on your property and make sure they never return. Contact us today for cockroach control in Costa Mesa.