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Category: Cockroaches

Palmetto Bugs Versus Cockroaches

Posted on by john

What is a Palmetto bug? The easy answer is, it’s a cockroach. The main concern most people have when asking the palmetto bug versus roach question is whether the bugs that occupy the trees and bushes around their homes will move in and become an infestation.

Palmetto Bug SC

In South Carolina and other southern parts of the United States, palmetto plants are common. Since cockroaches tend to congregate in those plants, they have become commonly known as palmetto bugs. The beetles are actually several different species. While roaches may use palmetto plants for refuge, they’re usually not a problem for homeowners unless the plants are near the home and the roaches are attracted indoors.

What Makes Roaches Move In?

Roaches are attracted to several things in a home. Light is a major source of attraction for most beetles and having a large palmetto bug flying at the light when you enter your home can be disconcerting to say the least. The insect is not attacking, however. It’s simply trying to get to the light. They’re also attracted to sources of water, food, warmth, and shelter. Especially in the cooler spring and fall months, roaches may move from their vegetative habitats and attempt to invade your home.

How do I Get Rid of Them?

The best way to fight a roach infestation is to prevent the bugs from moving in. Clear vegetation away from the foundation of your home, leaving a solid gap of open space between the home and the vegetation. Be aware that most of the beetles that prefer living in the vegetation outdoors do not move indoors. There are many species of cockroaches. The ones most typically found indoors tend to prefer that living situation over the trees and vegetation. If you suspect you have a roach infestation, call Exclusive Pest for a full evaluation and a plan for clearing pests from your home.

Steps to Get Rid Of Your Roaches

Posted on by john

Get Rid of Your Roaches

It is every apartment dweller’s and homeowner’s worst nightmare- an invasion of skittering, crawling, scratching roaches. Once you see one roach, you can be sure its relatives aren’t far away. There’s no such thing as “one” cockroach. They travel in colonies and where there’s one, there’s an infestation. Before you start packing your bags, though, there are remedies for a roach problem. Don’t let these creepy little invaders drive you from your home. Here are some steps you can take to get rid of your roaches.

Starve them Out

Roaches are attracted to food sources- like grease residue, crumbs, and any other minute specks of food or moisture they can find. Taking meticulous care to clean up any spills, residue, or crumbs that may be around your house is a good start towards trying to get rid of your roaches. Try to keep food contained to the kitchen area, and be sure to use sealable containers for all your stored foods. Try not to allow the roaches any easy access to food sources inside your home.

Block them Out

Roaches and other insects find their way into our homes through the tiniest of cracks. Take the time to go around and caulk and seal any tiny cracks and crevices in foundations, around window seals, and along walls and baseboards. This is especially important in apartment buildings where roaches often travel from one unit to the next.

Dry them Out

Roaches love damp, dark, moist places. Be sure to repair even the smallest water leaks right away. Don’t allow puddles or patches of moisture to gather. Don’t overwater indoor plants and remove any standing water from in and around your home.

Freeze them Out

By keeping your home cool, either by keeping your windows open in cool weather (with screens, of course) or using an air conditioning system, you can stop roaches from spreading around using their wings. In cooler weather, roaches have a harder time moving around, and you’ll have an easier time containing an infestation.

Drive them Out

If all else fails, or if you have a serious infestation, it may be necessary to call in expert help. Don’t wait too long to seek out help from the experts at Exclusive Pest Control. The earlier you catch a roach infestation, the easier it will be to drive these creeping pests from your home. Regular checks and treatments can help keep your spaces roach-free for the future. Call for your consultation today, and take back your home from the roach menace.

Tips To Avoid Palmetto Bugs | Charleston, SC

Posted on by john

Palmetto bugs are a scourge of homeowners. They take 15 months to reach adulthood, and once they’re grown, can live for another 15 months. They can go for months without food, and can live on water alone. Once established, they are extremely difficult to eradicate, so prevention is the best form of cure.

Attractants

Palmetto bugs, also known as the American cockroach, are attracted to warmth and dampness. They earned the name palmetto bug by being commonly found under piles of fallen palmetto leaves. They thrive in a damp, humid habitat and will migrate indoors for one of two reasons- to escape cold, dry weather, or if attracted by food and water sources.

Avoid Palmetto Bugs

The first step to avoiding an infestation of palmetto bugs is to examine your home for any spaces in which they may thrive. Damp spots such as basements or even under floors provide ideal conditions for the insects to thrive. Unlike some species of cockroach, palmetto bugs are attracted to light and can be seen flying around light sources at night when they come out to search for food.

Seal Crevices

To prevent infestation, seal any potential bug entrances. Calk holes and cracks, and check carefully for any space which a bug could crawl through and enter your home. Be sure any open windows are well screened. Ventilation louvres can also be covered with window screen to prevent bugs from entering.

Tidy Up

The best way to avoid an infestation is to keep the home clean. Wipe down surfaces where food is prepared and clean up any crumbs right away. Dirty dishes should be washed immediately. Vacuum and sweep floors regularly and don’t allow clutter to build up. This ensures that there is less food available to the roaches and fewer places for them to find shelter, discouraging them from taking up residence.

Don’t Forget the Lawn

Palmetto bugs love leaf litter and other outdoor debris. Keep your lawn and gutters clear. Keep shrubs and trees cut back to at least 18 inches away from the home, to avoid providing the bugs a place to hide.

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