Comprehensive Guide To Cockroaches In Longview

When you find signs of cockroaches in your home, is it cause for concern? Most of the time, yes. The common Longview cockroaches that like to get into houses are unsanitary pests. Today, we're going to take a look at these house cockroaches. We'll tell you how to identify them, the difference between them, how they impact your health, and the secret to house cockroach prevention. If you're already dealing with a cockroach infestation and you need help, skip to the end and learn about how Gecko Pest Control addresses cockroach problems. Better yet, you can call. Our service professionals are happy to answer questions or send a technician your way. Gecko Pest Control provides advanced solutions and trusted cockroach pest control in Longview. We're your hometown pest control company.  

Types Of Cockroaches That Typically Infest Longview Homes

There are many different types of cockroaches. Some are worse in some ways than others. The first step in preventing a cockroach problem is knowing your adversaries. Let's take a quick moment to look at each. 

German Cockroaches: German cockroaches are almond-shaped, tan, and have a black equal sign on the back. Their wings are shiny and hang past the abdomen. Adult German roaches are between ½ and ? of an inch in length. These are mostly indoor roaches and they sometimes hitchhike from one location to another. Be sure to check used furniture before you bring items into your home. 

Oriental Cockroaches: These roaches are entirely black and look like they have armor. They are about one inch long. You'll find these roaches in damp locations, such as gutters, landscaping, and puddles. Due to their high moisture requirement, these roaches are often easier to exclude.

American Cockroaches: These are massive cockroaches. No other cockroach compares to these mammoth roaches. An American roach is between 1 ¼ to 2 ? inches. On its back, between the head and wings, is a yellow marking that looks a little bit like a figure-eight. Often called water bugs or Palmetto bugs, these insects like to hide under leaves and in moist locations. 

Smokybrown Cockroaches: These roaches are chestnut colored, like an American cockroach, only you won't find a yellow figure-eight on its back. In some lighting conditions, they may look black, like an oriental cockroach. They're smaller than American roaches by quite a bit. A smokybrown roach is between 1 and 1 ½ inches in length. These roaches love humidity and will hang out in damp vegetation, sewers, gutters, and other moist environments.

When you find German, American, oriental, and smokey brown cockroaches in your Longview home, remember that Gecko Pest Control is available to help you evaluate your cockroach control issue and offer solutions.

Why Cockroaches Are Dangerous Pests To Have

There are many ways these pests can present a danger to your health. According to the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), cockroaches are known to transmit 33 kinds of bacteria, 7 human pathogens, and 6 parasitic worms. The World Health Organization (WHO) consider them to be an ancient and highly successful form of insect life that is prone to unsanitary environments. It is essential to know the risks.

What diseases do cockroaches carry? Several roaches are linked to salmonellosis, E. coli infections, typhoid fever, cholera, dysentery, listeriosis, giardia, gastroenteritis, and more. 

Recent studies all show that cockroach saliva, droppings, and urine can cause an allergic reaction in certain individuals, resulting in asthma attacks. The data indicate an increase in hospitalizations for asthma issues in homes with cockroach infestations in urban centers.

It is not good to have cockroaches in your home if you can help it. But there are ways to minimize these health risks.   

How To Minimize Your Risk For Cockroach Infestation

The most important facts to know about cockroaches in Longview relate to how you can keep cockroaches out of your home and how to limit their ability to make you sick. These go hand-in-hand because many factors that attract cockroaches also contaminate them. At the heart of any cockroach control plan is effective sanitation practices.

Exterior Control: Cockroaches are attracted to homes that provide what they need. If you remove these attractants, you'll have fewer cockroaches exploring your exterior.

• Clean your trash receptacles with soapy water. The scent of a dirty receptacle can catch the attention of a cockroach from a distance.
• Keep your trash covered. A cover will help to contain the scent of garbage and help a little with keeping cockroaches out.
• Properly mix any compost piles you have. If your compost smells bad to you, it smells delicious to cockroaches. 
• Pick up dog waste so it doesn't sit in the yard. As gross as it may sound, dog waste is a food source for cockroaches. 
• Address moisture problems, such as clogged or damaged gutters. Most cockroaches are drawn to damp environments and high humidity. When they are comfortable exploring your perimeter, they'll be in a position to enter your home.
• Remove objects cockroaches can hide under. There are many things roaches hide under: piles of leaves, leaf litter, brush piles, campfire wood, construction materials, stacked stones, bricks, and more. 

Pest-Proofing: Cockroaches get into your home because they can. They're not able to create tunnels, like some other pests do. They will access your home through gaps and holes that already exist. If you patch these holes, roaches may just stay outside.

• Seal gaps around water mains, other pipes, and PVC conduits. A caulking gun and a few cans of expanding foam can help you with gaps like these.
• Patch cracks in your foundation with mortar. 
• Patch damaged screens and make sure your screen frames are sealed all the way around. There are helpful videos online for making simple and cheap repairs to screens.
• Replace damaged door sweeps and replace weatherstripping if you can see gaps. If you have double doors, you may have to take the doors off and realign them to get a proper seal.

Sanitize Your Home: A clean home is a roach-resistant home. There are many ways to clean your home in a way cockroaches will notice. Unfortunately, it isn't an easy job.

• Wash the sides of your oven to remove oil and grime. Cockroaches are drawn to tight spaces and are prone to getting between an oven and a wall. They're also attracted to the scent of this desirable food option.
• Clean mop buckets and mops. Keep in mind that a roach can go from your mop bucket to your food cabinets in a matter of seconds.
• Wipe down shelves and keep counters clean. Cockroaches love finding powders and sticky substances on shelves.
• Clean dishes as you go. Keep in mind that storing your dishes in a dishwasher will not likely protect them from roaches. These pests can infiltrate most washers with ease. 
• Clean your bathroom, particularly toilet rims. Cockroaches eat feces, dead skin, and hair. They'll also feed on toothpaste.
• Dispose of pizza boxes in a large plastic bin with a cover. Cockroaches eat decaying cheese and pizza crust. They also eat cardboard.

Hide The Food: Cockroaches eat human food. They also eat pet food. When you protect your food from cockroaches, you guard against health risks and deprive them of a food option.

• Put pantry foods in sealed containers.
• Always keep food covered when dishes are sitting on your kitchen counters.
• Create a mealtime for your pets and put food down only at that specific time. When mealtime is over, pick the food back up. Cockroaches are nocturnal, and pet food is a good source of nutrition for roaches at night.   

If you work hard, you can make your home resistant to cockroaches. If you don't have the time or energy, remember that help is available. When you get year-round pest control for your home, you get protection from a long list of pests, including cockroaches. Connect with us and ask us about Healthy Home Plan, Healthy Home Plus Plan, and Healthy Home Premier Plan. These are great jumping points for getting the pest control you need for the pests that concern you most. 

Why Homeowners Trust Gecko Pest Control For Cockroach Treatment

When roaches get in your home, it is time to get cockroach pest control in Longview. We hope you'll choose Gecko Pest Control. Our service team is one of the best in the business and we get results. You can expect the following:

• A thorough inspection of your home to evaluate your pest control needs.
• A free quote that provides a customized plan tailor-fit for your home.
• The option to choose a one-time pest control service to immediatly address any pest problems found.
• The option for monthly or quarterly service visits all year long to get guaranteed, long-term protection from common Longview pests.
• Follow-up visits until your pest control problem is solved.

Plus, all of this comes with our satisfaction guarantee. If you'd like to learn more or need to schedule service for your home, connect with us by navigating to our contact page. We look forward to meeting and surpassing your expectation.