Few things in life are worse than seeing a cockroach scurry across your kitchen.
First of all, these pests are gross, right? They lurk in corners and crevices, scattering when the lights come on and making you do multiple double-takes, wondering what you just saw. Was it a shadow? Was it just dirt? Or was it something … worse?
They are also very persistent with their quest for food. They invade your home and make those personal, intimate spaces their own. They look dirty. They move fast and they’re downright creepy.
And then they multiply.
Just the thought of cockroaches near your food or your personal space gives you the shivers. It’s like a nightmare comes alive.
Worried about cockroaches in your Southern or Central Maryland home? It’s time to take back your space and show these nasty critters who’s boss.
Let’s look at some facts about cockroaches, how to kill cockroaches, and how hiring a cockroach exterminator can help.
Getting to Know Cockroaches
Cockroaches bring that gross feeling for good reason. Many illnesses and health problems are associated with this pest. They actually carry viral and bacterial pathogens as they move around your countertops and surfaces and in your pantries and sinks and bathroom drawers.
Disgusting, right? But before you can come up with a cockroach elimination plan, you have to know what kind of cockroaches you’re dealing with, what signs indicate you have a problem and when it's time to bring in a cockroach exterminator.
The Main Cockroaches in Maryland
You might be wondering, “Do I have cockroaches?” Knowing what you’re looking for can help you identify the pest.
In Maryland, there are primarily three main species of cockroaches: the American Cockroach, the Oriental Cockroach, and the German Cockroach.
The American Cockroach is reddish-brown and about 1.5 inches long as an adult. They love warm, humid areas and hanging out near garbage and trash cans. They don’t survive outside very well in Maryland winters.
The Oriental Cockroach is black and about 1 inch in length. It loves moist areas like basements and moves into your home when the cold weather starts.
The most worrisome pest, and a bigger problem for Maryland residents, is the German Cockroach. It is light brown with two stripes and about only a bit over half an inch long as an adult. This pest can be found in any place water, warmth, and food are found. This means kitchens and bathrooms in your home.
Do I Have Cockroaches?
Cockroaches like food, water, humidity, warmth, and a safe breeding zone. It’s that simple.
They are attracted to things like dirty dishes in the sink, garbage, crumbs on the floor, pet food on the floor, and empty food in containers or cans.
German Cockroaches, unfortunately, can live on very little food. So they can stick around and survive just on crumbs and bitty morsels.
And then they multiply. The female German Cockroach can carry as many as 40 eggs at a time, producing up to three to four generations of pests in her lifetime. So in as little as three months, you could go from a couple of cockroaches to a big infestation.
Cockroaches can get into your home via cracks and crevices, holes in vents and pipes, and even hitching a ride on items you bring into your home.
If you walk into your kitchen or bathroom in the morning and find cockroaches on the counters or in sinks, you know you have a problem and should start researching how to kill cockroaches.
How Can I Get Rid of Cockroaches?
Cockroaches are clearly attracted to dirt and filth. So the easiest way to keep them out of your house is to keep it clean.
Some cockroach exterminators won’t even treat your home for cockroaches if you can't maintain a normal level of tidiness. This means washing dishes and putting them away after eating, cleaning crumbs and spills immediately, taking out the garbage before bed, removing grease from the stovetop, sealing food in containers, and mopping on a regular basis.
Store-bought baits and traps are some do-it-yourself methods of removing cockroaches. This involves buying the right products and following their label directions on use and then cleaning up after the mess and regularly checking that traps and baits are in place and working.
However, this is rarely effective.
Hiring Pest Control Services in Maryland
While DIY methods can work for a very minor infestation of one to two insects, cockroaches are pretty persistent creatures. So if you have tried some products and amped up your cleaning methods and are still finding roaches, then you likely need to call in a cockroach exterminator to put an end to this six-legged nightmare for good.
The treatment methods a professional cockroach pest control company will use will vary depending on your home and the type of problem you have.
It starts with an inspection. Your exterminator will look at your kitchen, bathroom, closets, basement and attic. They may even use glue traps to determine how many roaches are around and where they’re hanging out the most if it’s not apparent from the inspection. Then they will determine your level of infestation and come up with a treatment plan.
Natural Green Systems Lawn & Pest will place a glue board in strategically placed, high-traffic areas to determine if there is a roach problem. If it’s clean, they will do a crack and crevice application and continue to monitor the boards to ensure the roaches are gone.
If the glue board is full of pests, this requires a different approach on how to kill cockroaches because the infestation is larger. A technician will place gel baits in strategic, hidden locations to draw them in and eliminate them. For severe problems, Natural Green will sometimes also use an insect growth regulator or IGR. This is a growth inhibitor that prevents immature cockroaches from reaching their full size by interfering with their molting and reproductive processes. IGRs don’t directly kill cockroaches, but they can be coupled with insecticide to help reduce the cockroach problem.
A small infestation might be taken care of in a week or two, while a larger infestation could take a month or more for the baits and IGRs to eradicate.
Once the main interior infestation is taken care of--whether the infestation is minor or major--then Natural Green pros will come back quarterly to do exterior perimeter applications to keep the cockroaches out.
Cockroaches Invading Your Personal Space? Natural Green Can Help in Central and Southern Maryland
Cockroaches seem to come out of nowhere. Like a personal violation, they creep up on you, and it can feel like there’s nothing you can do to stop them.
We understand. They are not pleasant pests to deal with. If you’ve seen a cockroach or two, and want the problem gone--like yesterday--then don’t hesitate to call a cockroach exterminator.
Get a cockroach inspection and ease your mind. Hiring a reputable pest control firm that employs experienced and conscientious technicians can eliminate your worries … and your cockroaches.
When killing roaches is a priority, you want to make the right choice so that you can win the battle against these pests. That’s what we want, too.
We want you to be able to relax in your home. Give us a call today and we’ll bring our proven cockroach pest control experience and create a custom plan for your Central and Southern Maryland home. Get started today with a free quote.
Image sources: american cockroach, oriental cockroach, german cockroach
