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Since South Bend sits right on the St. Joseph River, it is no surprise that we have lots of insects that love moist conditions. Moisture can cause wood rot which can produce tiny holes in your exterior walls. When this happens, all sorts of nuisance and dangerous pests can start getting into your home. Among these pests, cockroaches are undoubtedly one of the worst.
In this blog, we’ll focus on the types of roaches that are common home invaders in South Bend, the problems they present when they get into your home, and what you can do to keep them out.
Cockroaches In South Bend
Cockroaches can appear through no fault of the home or business owner. Bringing any object into your home from another location could move cockroaches along with it. While cockroaches come in many shapes and sizes, the three most common cockroaches in Indiana are American cockroaches, German cockroaches, and Oriental cockroaches.
American Cockroach are the largest cockroach species, reddish-brown in color, ranging from about 1.5 - 3 inches in length. They can be distinguished by the yellow band behind their heads. Males develop wings and can fly, while females do not.
German cockroaches are smaller than American cockroaches at about 1/2 - 5/8 inches in length, with light brown coloration and two dark stripes running down their backs. However, what they lack in size they make up for in reproductive capacity: a German cockroach can reach maturity in only three months, allowing them to quickly overrun a home.
Finally, Oriental cockroaches are dark brown or black in coloration and grow to around one and a half inches in length. Oriental roaches typically give off a foul-smelling odor in structures they infest, and they prefer to infest damp locations such as storm drains, sewers, basements, and cellars.
Signs You Have A Cockroach Infestation
The problem with cockroaches is less about where they are and more about where they’ve been. Roaches frequent locations like sewers, trash cans, and other unsanitary spots, and they pick up bacteria and parasites everywhere they go. This is why cockroach-infested homes spread salmonella, dysentery, gastroenteritis, and other diseases to people living inside, as well as potentially-severe allergic reactions.
Due to the dangers cockroaches pose and the speed with which they can breed, it’s essential to know the warning signs of a cockroach infestation in South Bend so that you can act quickly as soon as one appears. Here are some common signs that could tip you off that roaches have gotten into your home:
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Dead Roaches: Finding dead roaches around your home is a sure sign that live ones are present nearby. You will find them under sinks or in your bathroom since that is where they will find water.
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Droppings: Roaches leave droppings that look like grains of ground coffee or even flakes of pepper, the larger the roach the more visible the dropping. These are most commonly found in kitchens and pantries where they find food.
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Smell: If you have a cockroach infestation, you will probably notice a peculiar musky odor permeating your home.
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Live Roaches: Roaches are nocturnal and are rarely seen in the daylight. This means that should you see one with your naked eye, you likely have a severe infestation on your hands that lack of space has forced them out into the light.
Roaches Visible During the Day are unusual since they are nocturnal, so if you see them during the day it means there are so many they no longer fit in their nesting areas during the day.
Contact Termishield for the best of cockroach control in South Bend.
Preventing Cockroaches In South Bend
Due to their small size and ability to get into almost anywhere, it can be difficult or even impossible to fully prevent cockroaches from getting into your home no matter how well you’ve sealed it off from them. With that in mind, your best bet is to make your home as unappealing as possible to them so that they have no reason to come inside. Here are some great tips you can use to minimize the risk for cockroaches inside your South Bend home:
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Clean food preparation and serving areas completely after use.
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Never leave dirty dishes out overnight.
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Vacuuming the home thoroughly once a week and freeze the bags until disposal.
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Secure pet food and water in sealed containers overnight.
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Fix leaky and wrapping sweating pipes to eliminate water sources.
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Store food, recycling, and garbage in bins with tight-fitting lids and empty frequently.
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Caulk or seal cracks and crevices along floors, walls, and doorways.
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Remove or seal up glue, damp cardboard, and other roach delicacies.
Unfortunately, even after taking these steps, preventing a cockroach infestation can be an incredibly difficult task to undertake alone. Dealing with an active infestation is even more difficult (or impossible) for homeowners acting on their own.
Don’t leave your family at risk for the dangers roaches bring: if you have roaches in your South Bend home, or are afraid that you could in the future, don’t hesitate to contact the professionals at Termishield for comprehensive pest control today.