Is there a pest that lives in Fort Worth that you are fond of? Most likely not. Because they wouldn’t be considered pests if they didn’t cause trouble for people. All of that said, what is a pest that lives in our area that you despise? Most people would choose something like rodents or wasps. Others might pick cockroaches. If you strongly dislike roaches and would like to know a quick and effective way to keep these pests out of your home, here are some things you should know about one common species that lives in our area, the smokey brown roach.
What Are Smokey Brown Roaches?
The smokey brown cockroach is 38 mm long, has a shiny appearance, and is a uniformly black and mahogany color. Younger nymphs are whitish. Like other roaches in our area, the smokey brown roach is flat, oval-shaped, and has long straight antennae. They use these antennae to navigate through heavy brush, leaf litter, and mulch while hiding and searching for food around properties. When doing this, their darker coloration helps them stay well hidden as it provides them with an adequate amount of camouflage.
Why Do Smokey Brown Roaches Invade Homes?
Cockroaches are among the few creatures that prefer living inside human dwellings over being outside in the wild. The good news is, that these pests are not born with this innate knowledge but only find this out after they have made their way into one of our homes. This usually happens either by accident or because something enticing draws one of these bugs inside. Things that might attract a smokey brown roach into your living areas include food, moisture, warm or cool air, or a curious-looking crack, gap, or opening.
How To Reduce Your Chances Of Finding Cockroaches Inside
To deter and prevent smokey brown cockroaches, you have to eliminate factors that draw them in in the first place. This is done in many ways. To make things easier for you, here are some effective strategies to try today.
- Purchase a caulking gun and some high-quality silicone caulk. Use these tools to seal off gaps and cracks in your home’s exterior foundation and spacing around door/window frames and utility piping.
- Eliminate sources of water build-up in and around your home. If your yard regularly collects and holds rainwater, consider terraforming it to allow better drainage.
- Thoroughly inspect your home’s piping and fixtures to make sure they are working properly and not leaking.
- On humid days, use a dehumidifier inside your home.
- Address things that create clutter around your yard such as toys, equipment, and building materials.
- Remove debris like sticks, leaf piles, and thick undergrowth from your property.
- Keep up with your lawn and make sure your shrubs are well-trimmed to create a dry zone around your home’s exterior.
- Thoroughly clean your home at least once a week and do your best to address food messes and drink spills as they occur indoors.
- Invest in tight-fitting lids for your trash cans and clean them as they get dirty.
Preventing cockroaches takes a lot of time and energy. If you are looking for a more effective option to handle these pests around your Fort Worth home and property, let the experts at All-Safe Pest & Termite help you out. We use state-of-the-art equipment to identify, eliminate, and control these potentially dangerous creatures and would be happy to put our skills to work for you. Call us today for more details or to schedule your Fort Worth home for a service visit.