Tips to Avoid a German Cockroach Infestation

German cockroach infestations are a plague on many a Florida home. They’re sneaky and gross, and they can be nearly impossible to get rid of. Since they prefer to live in warm, humid places Florida temperatures create the perfect environment.

But what do you know about these pests? Where did they come from? And how can you keep them out of your house? We’ve got all the info you need right here!

Origins of the German Cockroach

The German cockroach is one of the most common species of cockroach in North America, and it’s been around for quite some time. In fact, scientists believe that this type of cockroach has been around since the early 1800s!

German Cockroach Infestations

German roaches are omnivorous (and carnivorous) insects, meaning they eat both plants and animals—they will eat pretty much anything they can get their little legs on, including the dead little bodies of other german cockroaches. But they have a preference for protein-rich foods like meat or grease (when available). They also love to eat starches—think bread crumbs or pasta—and pantry items like sugar or syrups.

Getting rid of German Cockroaches

If you spot a german cockroach, you probably already have an infestation as these pests have a knack for hiding in plain sight.

While it’s possible to kill off any visible german cockroach infestations by using over-the-counter pesticides like Raid®, it’s not an easy task to get rid of them: German roaches reproduce quickly, as many as 6 generations per year, so fighting an infestation can be time-consuming and costly if you aren’t diligent.

Use What You Know

While it might be instinct to sweep up the dead bodies of these bugs, it can actually be harmful to your goal of getting rid of the infestation, especially if you’ve hired a professional pest control company to take care of the problem.

Professional companies use a type of bait that kills the pest. Other german cockroaches eat the dead cockroach (also taking it back to the nest to feed the young) and subsequently die from the contaminated corpse. This technique works exponentially on the infestation but can take time and many re-treatments if the infestation is large. As the german roaches eat the bait it must be reapplied to continue attacking the nest and infestation.

This is why an inspection and evaluation of your german cockroach infestation is important and it will also dictate the cost of treatment.

Fortify Your Home

All pests are considered “outside pests” until they find their way inside. Your best protection against infestations of any kind will be preventative measures. This means:

• Trimming shrubs and greenery so that they do not come into contact with the exterior of your home.
• Sealing cracks, crevices, and other entry points into your home.
• Maintaining a clean and sanitary environment inside, especially where food and water sources can be found.

Untrimmed and unmaintained trees, shrubs, and foliage can be found and used by insects to gain access to your home through windows, doors, pipes, and electrical pathways.

Keeping kitchens and bathrooms dry, clean, sanitary, and free from food particles can also offer additional layers of protection by making the environment less attractive as a food source to all pests, not just German roaches.

Get Professional Pest Services

When you’ve fortified your home call a professional pest control company like Certified Pest Solutions to evaluate your pest problem and create a plan to remove the pests for good. A great pest control technician will give you details on the plan, an estimate of the treatment cost, and provide additional information about securing your home from unwanted pests.

It will be important that you follow each step the technician recommends, including any special instructions for pets and children, to make sure the pests are eliminated.