We have a variety of cockroaches in Virginia, and they are definitely a problem. However, only a select few typically become household pests. The three most common roach pests in Virginia are the American, German, and Oriental cockroaches. Let's look at each of them and discuss a few key facts that will help you keep these dirty insects out of your kitchen, bathroom, and other parts of the home. As always, your Getem Services team is here to help.
5 facts about Virginia cockroaches
The experts at Getem Services are well-versed in the entomology of roaches, including their family, genus, and vector propensities. However, let's focus on the basics for now. Here are five important facts that every Virginia homeowner should know about cockroaches:
- Water or moisture is essential for cockroach survival as it aids in digestion, respiration, and reproduction.
- Most pest cockroaches can tolerate dry conditions but are still attracted to damp or humid spaces.
- Cockroaches have a diverse diet and will consume unexpected items such as hair, wallpaper paste, wallpaper, fabrics, bugs, and fecal matter.
- Cockroaches serve as nature's sanitation engineers, so it's not uncommon to find them in trash.
- Cockroaches are drawn to filth and decay, exposing them to harmful pathogens.
Keep these facts in mind as you consider how to keep cockroaches away and why it is essential to do so.
What attracts cockroaches to Virginia homes?
Building off what we've discussed so far, here are a few things that will attract cockroaches to the exterior of your home:
- Damp soil caused by clogged gutters, damaged plumbing, or poor drainage.
- Leaf litter, dead branches, and other organic debris.
- Poorly mixed compost.
- The application of organic fertilizer.
- Objects stored in a pile.
- An open and/or unsanitary trash can.
Cockroaches are looking for moisture, shaded hiding places, tight spaces, and food sources.
Importance of crawl space moisture control
The crawl space under a home is dark and inviting for cockroaches, especially when moisture is present. Our moisture control experts have several methods to make Hampton Roads crawl spaces less appealing to these pests.
- Crawl space encapsulation prevents cockroaches from entering the space.
- Maintaining humidity control inside the encapsulated space makes it less inviting to cockroaches.
- Controlling moisture in the space helps prevent wood rot, which can create entry points for roaches.
In addition to deterring roach problems, crawl space moisture control also protects your home from wood-destroying termites and other moisture-related issues.
Other prevention tips to keep cockroaches out
Moisture control is an important factor to consider when working to prevent cockroach infestations, but it isn't a standalone solution. Here are more prevention tips to help you keep roaches out.
- Sanitation reduces food options and smells that attract cockroaches.
- Cutting grass and trimming vegetation reduces humidity.
- Applying weather-proofing materials blocks entry.
- Pest-proofing around pipes and wire conduits, and filling structural cavities further deters pest entry.
Your diligence can have a big impact on whether cockroaches can enter or not.
Proactive cockroach prevention is essential
Cockroaches can live in your home without revealing their presence to you, and this can lead to illness. It is helpful to know how to detect them.
Physical identification
- German cockroaches are tan with two black lines on the back.
- American cockroaches are large insects with a shiny mahogany coloration and two brown dots surrounded by yellowish-orange coloration.
- Oriental cockroaches are dark-colored or black and may appear to have no wings.
Evidence of activity
- Cockroaches leave black fecal matter as they crawl around indoors.
- Cockroaches chew on paper or clothing and can leave holes.
- Cockroaches shed their skins as they grow.
- Cockroaches may leave oothecae (egg cases) for you to find.
- Cockroaches have a smell you might detect.
Use a flashlight to search your home and check every dark space and gap.
Professional cockroach control in Virginia
If you're dealing with a roach problem, you can contact a professional, but you don't have to wait for an infestation to occur. A pest control service provider applies treatments to keep cockroaches and other pests out.
At Getem Services, we offer home pest control services in Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, and throughout Hampton Roads. Our services exterminate existing pest activity and prevent new infestations from developing." Our year-round solution includes:
- Quarterly pest treatments.
- Spider web removal.
- Wasp nest removal (Up to one story).
- Exterior pest control services.
- Indoor treatments, if necessary.
- Installation and maintenance of bait stations, if needed.
Interested in learning more about our pest control services? Contact the Getem Services team. We are happy to help you find answers and provide you with a free quote. Don't wait for cockroaches to invade your home or business. Reach out to our locally owned and family-operated pest control company today for trusted solutions!
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