The Most Effective Cockroach Control For Fort Worth Homes

They've got spiny legs, oily exoskeletons, and antennae, so what are they? They're cockroaches and are not afraid to pay your Fort Worth home a visit. Fortunately, you can get rid of them, but you may need a little help from the pros.

Here's what Fort Worth homeowners should know about cockroaches, how dangerous they are, why DIY cockroach control is a waste of time, and how pest control in Fort Worth can help. 

How To Identify A Cockroach

The first step to dealing with the cockroaches in your home is identifying them. Unfortunately, cockroaches can be hard to identify, especially since there are other bugs you can mistake as roaches.

Regardless of the type, cockroaches can grow from half an inch to three inches in length. Their coloring is typically brown or tan, and some types have specific markings that you can identify. For instance, brown-banded cockroaches have dark bands that encircle their bodies.

Most cockroaches also have an oily sheen covering their exoskeleton, and oriental roaches look oiler than most. 

Some bugs may share similar attributes to roaches, such as:

• Crickets: While crickets may grow to the same size as many cockroaches, they tend to have darker coloring. They will also make a chirping noise while roaches are silent.
• June beetles: Also called May beetles, they have similar coloring to roaches, but their bodies are stockier. June beetles can also fly and like to cling to window screens, but not all cockroaches are capable of flight (or have wings).
• Giant water bugs: Water bugs can be mistaken for cockroaches, especially American cockroaches. It doesn't help that American roaches are sometimes called water bugs. However, true water bugs are not cockroaches of any kind. Giant water bugs do have a similar size and color to cockroaches, but they usually don't infest homes in large numbers. You're more likely to find water bugs by ponds or outside water sources than invading your home as roaches do.

Besides identifying cockroaches by appearance, you can also identify a cockroach infestation by looking for the signs of cockroaches in your home.

• You see live roaches: Perhaps the most obvious sign that you've got a cockroach infestation is if you see live roaches. These creatures are nocturnal, so you're more likely to spot them at night. They may scurry across the floor to hide if you turn on a light. If you do spot them during the day, it is a sign that you've got a very large infestation.
• You see cockroach droppings: They can be as small as coffee grounds and as big as a grain of rice. Cockroach droppings are usually found near cabinets, baseboards, or under and behind appliances.
• You see egg casings: After new cockroaches are born, they leave behind egg casings, often near moisture sources, appliances, or other corners of the room.
• You smell a musty odor: While it may not be noticeable with smaller infestations, the pheromones of larger cockroach infestations can trigger a musty odor.

If you notice any of the signs listed above, you likely have a cockroach problem in your Fort Worth home. 

Cockroaches Are Known To Spread Dangerous Pathogens

Cockroaches may be unsettling, but they're more than just a nuisance in your home – they can also threaten human health, and here's how.

Are cockroaches deadly? Cockroaches aren't deadly, but they can spread bacteria. While cockroaches don't directly carry diseases the way some pests do, they can nevertheless spread harmful bacteria and pathogens including salmonella as well as microorganisms that can cause dysentery, cholera, diarrhea, and typhoid fever.

Cockroaches pick up bacteria from the unsanitary places they hang out in, like sewers and drains, and spread it around your home when they crawl over surfaces you prepare food on.

While cockroaches aren't known to bite or be aggressive with people, they can sometimes scratch you. If you try to interact with or grab a cockroach, these critters' spiny legs may scratch you. In some cases, a cockroach scratch can break the skin, and it can also be another way for them to spread bacteria.

Finally, while it may not affect everyone, people with allergies or asthma can have a more difficult time dealing with cockroach infestations. One of the enzymes in cockroach saliva, droppings, and discarded skin is known to worsen allergies or even trigger asthma symptoms.

This side effect can become especially difficult to live with as a cockroach infestation continues to grow and the roaches in your home keep reproducing. 

Do-It-Yourself Cockroach Control Is A Waste Of Time And Money

After discovering an infestation, many homeowners want to solve the problem on their own, but do-it-yourself cockroach control and traps are rarely as effective as professional treatment.

While DIY traps may eliminate some of the infestation, they rarely deal with the root of the problem and destroy the infestation as a whole. Any surviving roaches will just continue to reproduce or move to a hiding spot, and these traps won't stop new cockroaches from coming inside. You may think that you've dealt with the infestation, but the surviving roaches will just try to hide somewhere new.

Other DIY treatments, like pesticides, may not exterminate cockroaches because these pests have built up natural defenses to many pesticides. While these treatments won't be effective for killing cockroaches, they may be toxic to your pets or family.

Cockroaches also reproduce very quickly. Even if you eliminate some of the cockroaches in your home, the others will just begin reproducing. Without professional treatment in your Fort Worth home, you could be right back at square one – or worse – within a couple of months.

When it comes to how to repel cockroaches, here are some quick tips you can use to prevent these critters in your Fort Worth home: 

• Keep any food products and items tightly sealed: Any food products, including pet food, can serve as an attraction for roaches, so you'll want to make sure you keep them tightly sealed and properly stored. 
• Wash dirty dishes in a timely manner: Dirty dishes contain food particles; leaving them in the sink too long can draw roaches in. Wash dirty dishes as soon as possible and don't leave dirty dishes in the sink overnight. 
• Vacuum and sweep: While you may think you've gotten every piece of food, some may still end up on the floor and eventually find their way into a cockroach's mouth). Vacuuming and sweeping your home regularly can help reduce food particles around the home that attract roaches.
• Secure a tight lid on any garbage cans: Leftovers can bring roaches in, so can an unsealed garbage can. Keep both your indoor and outdoor trash cans tightly-sealed and regularly empty them. 
• Address drainage and moisture issues immediately once you find them: Water is a huge attraction for roaches, so it's important to make sure you're fixing any leaky faucets, pipes, and other plumbing problems around your home as soon as you notice them. 
• Install a dehumidifier: If an area of your house is too humid, installing a dehumidifier can reduce the risk of cockroaches coming inside. 
• Get rid of excess clutter: Cardboard, paper, and other storage boxes can serve as not only a food source for roaches but also a hiding spot. Regularly clearing out excess clutter can prevent roaches from using these items in your home. 

While DIY treatments like traps or pesticides aren't very effective for deterring cockroaches long-term, simple tips like storing food and trash safely can prevent future problems.

The Best Cockroach Control Solution For Fort Worth Homes

The best thing you can do for an active infestation is leave it up to the professionals – like those of us at All-Safe Pest & Termite. We've got years of hands-on experience when it comes to dealing with pests like cockroaches, and if you've got a roach infestation that requires a cockroach terminator, we'll put that experience to good use.

Serving over 20,000 residents in Fort Worth and surrounding counties, we're no stranger to bacteria-ridden pests like roaches. Whether it's your home or a commercial property, we're equipped with professional treatments and solutions to get rid of American cockroaches, German cockroaches, and more.

If you're noticing signs of a roach problem or you already know that you've got one, you shouldn't wait any longer – call us at All-Safe Pest & Termite today for a free, no-obligation quote or to learn more about our cockroach control program.