All it takes is one American cockroach to make a Wilmington home seem like a horrible place. Out of all the cockroaches in the area, American roaches are the most obnoxious. They’re large, disgusting, and unwelcome in your home or business. Unfortunately, these roaches don’t need an invitation. They sometimes invade and take over properties.
What Are American Cockroaches?
In Wilmington, there are several common species of home-invading cockroaches. However, none of them are as large as the American cockroach. This insect can grow to over two inches and has a reddish hue. If you’re looking for an easy way to identify this roach, look for a yellow band behind its head.
Male and female American cockroaches have wings and can fly. This is another reason why these insects inspire fear. When a giant cockroach flies towards you, it’s hard to remain calm. Despite the reaction these roaches often inspire, they don’t usually bite. The most significant danger of American cockroaches is their ability to transmit diseases like Salmonella. Additionally, American cockroaches can trigger asthma or allergies in susceptible individuals.
Signs Of An Infestation
All too often, people don’t know they have cockroaches until it’s too late. You could be overlooking some of the more subtle signs of an infestation, such as:
- Cockroach Droppings: Although cockroach droppings are small, they are visible. The droppings have blunt ends with ridges on the side and resemble mouse droppings. If you find droppings on your property and can’t positively identify them, call a professional for guidance.
- Fleeing Insects: American cockroaches prefer to stay hidden, but they come out on occasions. If you disturb a cockroach, it may scurry across your floor. These Wilmington pests prefer to stay in dark areas, like basements, and under cabinets.
- Egg Capsules: Another sign of roaches is the presence of egg capsules. These small dark pods look innocent enough, but they contain multiple cockroaches. At times, the capsules are glued to surfaces close to food sources.
- Musty Odor: If you have a sensitive nose, you may be able to smell a cockroach infestation. The roach produces a musty odor, which is from a pheromone it produces. When you have a major infestation, the scent becomes stronger.
What Attracts American Cockroaches
When most people think of homes with cockroach infestations, they imagine hoarder homes. But cockroaches don’t only live in dirty homes. They seek out homes with food, and the food could come from your garbage can or crumbs under your oven. To make your property less appealing to cockroaches, clean as frequently as possible.
American cockroaches also seek out moisture. If you have a leak in your sink or high humidity in your basement, your home may be appealing to cockroaches. You should consider repairing your leaks and using dehumidifiers to reduce moisture.
Another way to attract cockroaches into your home is to have clutter. When you have clutter, cockroaches could be hiding anywhere. Take a few hours to declutter your home, and you might be able to keep roaches away.
The Trouble With Wilmington Cockroaches
Once a few cockroaches decide to move into your home, there’s not much you can do to eliminate them. These rapid breeders reproduce before you can kill them all. Because American cockroaches are excellent hiders, you may not know where to find them. For the best results, you should call the professionals at Jay Taylor Exterminating.
Our professionals inspect your home for American cockroaches and come up with a customized plan for treatment. With years of experience, we know what it takes to get results. Call us today and learn how we can help with cockroach prevention and elimination.