A roach infestation is every homeowner’s nightmare. These pests are extremely resilient and can live for a long time. They are also very hard for homeowners to control on their own.
Many homeowners notice a decline in roach activity during the winter and wonder if the cold got rid of the population. While roaches do not like cold weather, they have ways of surviving it.
Roaches enjoy living indoors, but they may also infest your yard. An outdoor roach infestation should still be taken seriously.
Finally, understanding the signs of a roach infestation, such as spotting roaches on the wall, is important for homeowners. Bringing in professional pest control services is the best way to reduce roach populations.
Do Roaches Die in the Cold?
Homeowners with an annoying roach infestation often hope the pests will be gone as soon as the temperatures drop. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. While roaches do not like cold weather, they can survive it.
Roaches are extremely resilient pests that can withstand extreme living situations. They can survive up to two months without food and one month without water. Their layered exoskeletons give them a hard shell that protects them from cold weather, and they can fit into tiny crevices to hide.
However, even though roaches are highly adaptable and resilient, they do not like the cold. Homeowners may see a decrease in roach activity in the winter. This may be because they are dying or hiding out of sight to stay warm.
Checking For a Roach Infestation
If you suspect that the roach infestation is still around in hiding, check behind your kitchen cabinets, in your pantry and behind your appliances. These spots offer a place to hide and a food source since the roaches can raid your dry goods and find crumbs on your appliances.
Roaches may also hide near your pipes because it’s a dark and moist place to ride out the cold weather. You should inspect your home’s trim and molding, ceiling and furniture. These pests can hide in tiny crevices.
The roaches that die in the winter are the ones who didn’t find a good hiding spot. However, the temperature needs to drop to around 14 degrees Fahrenheit for them to die.
Roach infestations are extremely difficult for homeowners to control on their own. A professional pest control service is the best way to tackle a roach infestation. An expert can identify all the hiding spots and use their expertise to kick the roaches out.
If you want to assist your pest control service, there are some things you can do for cockroach prevention. First, take out your trash every night. Sweep up any crumbs and spills daily, and do not leave dirty dishes in the sink overnight. Keep food in tightly sealed containers and put away any leftover food and water in your pets’ bowls. You want to eliminate all possible food sources for the roaches.
Roaches are annoying pests that can make you feel uneasy in your home. If you spot a roach, do not hesitate to contact a professional pest control service.
Why Do I Have Roaches in My Yard at Night?
Not all roach infestations are indoors. These pests can also become a nuisance when they infest your property. Since roaches are typically most active at nighttime, it’s more common to see them in your yard at night.
You might think outdoor roaches aren’t something to worry about; however, they could easily get inside your home and set up residence there. If you want to minimize the chance of an indoor roach infestation, do not ignore roaches in your yard at night.
Your yard provides several places for roaches to hide and many food sources. They will feed on firewood, mulch beds, foliage, food in trash bins and more. These food sources also double as their shelter.
Deter Roaches From Your Yard
One way to prevent cockroaches from your yard is to control the dampness. Water your yard before the sun comes out so the water dries in the sunshine. Watering too late in the day will create a moist environment overnight that roaches love.
Remove other water sources, such as buckets, watering cans, pots and other containers that could fill with water. If you have a water bowl out for your pet, bring it in at night. This will also help with reducing mosquito populations.
Inspect your faucets and pipes to make sure there aren’t leaks in your yard. You should also regularly get your gutters cleaned so they aren’t blocked and point all downspouts away from the exterior of your home.
You can also try removing food sources and hiding spots to control the roach population in your yard. Keep a tight lid on your trash bins, and do not leave waste in your yard. Rake up your leaves regularly and keep your yard free from debris.
For the best results, call a professional pest control service to reduce the number of roaches in your yard.
Why Are There Roaches on the Wall?
Roaches often hide in walls or crevices during the day and come out at night. However, it is possible to see a roach scurrying along your wall or walls during the day. If this happens, your roach infestation is likely quite advanced.
Roaches would rather be inside a wall where it is dark and safe to hide until the house is quiet. However, sometimes a roach makes its way to the outside of a wall, which is never a pleasant sight for homeowners.
Seeing a roach on your wall or walls is only one sign of a roach infestation. Other signs include spotting their droppings, shed skins or egg capsules. You may also notice a foul odor and smear marks on your walls and floors.
Signs of Roaches
Roach droppings can range from the size of ground pepper to a small pellet. They are dark and round with blunt ends and ridges on the side.
Roaches shed their skins when they go from nymphs to adults. The skins are shaped like roach bodies and are a light brown color. Roaches shed their skins in hiding, so you may find them in your cabinets or behind appliances.
These unwanted pests also lay eggs in your home, so you may see their egg capsules. Roach egg capsules are red or dark brown in color and can be between a quarter to a half inch long, depending on the species. Each capsule can hold between 15 and 30 eggs that hatch into nymphs.
An advanced roach infestation often gives off a foul musty odor. The bigger the infestation gets, the more you will notice the smell.
Whether you spot a roach or one of the signs of a roach infestation, do not wait to contact a professional pest control service. A roach infestation is extremely difficult for homeowners to handle, but a pest control specialist can greatly reduce the number of roaches on your property.
Kick Roaches Off Your Property
No one likes to spot a roach scurrying through their home or yard. Unfortunately, they are hard to control and it can be hard to know where roaches come from. A small infestation can quickly turn into an advanced one, which is why they require professional help.
Whether you see a roach in your kitchen, on your walls or in your yard, you should not hesitate to contact the experts. A pest control specialist can identify the roach hiding spots and control them.
ABC Can Get Your Roach Problem Under Control
We understand how disheartening it can be when you can’t seem to get rid of roaches. ABC Home & Commercial Services can help. Our pest control experts will create a comprehensive cockroach control plan, so you can feel more at ease at home.
