Keep Cockroaches Out Of Your Kittitas County Home

A few pests might make a person move out completely, abandoning lease and deposit, or that make a person contemplate burning the dwelling down and starting again elsewhere. The American cockroach is one such pest at over 2 inches in length with flying capabilities.

Unfortunately for us all, there are several species of cockroach common to Washington, each with unique behaviors. Keep reading to learn more about cockroach identification in Kittitas County, signs of cockroach infestations, and how to deter cockroaches.

How To Identify Different Kinds Of Cockroaches In Kittitas County

American cockroaches are the largest species of cockroach in the United States. They are reddish-brown in color with a yellowish figure-eight pattern on the back of their heads. This 2-inch monster is capable of flying short distances. For the most part, American cockroaches live outdoors, but they can come inside with climate changes and food shortages. They prefer environments that are warm, moist, dark. They are likely to infest areas like basements, laundry rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms when indoors.

German cockroaches are a smaller but more common indoor pest. Lightbrown with two dark brown stripes on their backs, this species of cockroach only grows to around ⅝ of an inch long. While they cannot fly, they can run alarmingly fast. German cockroaches prefer environments like bathrooms and kitchens where they can easily subsist on soap, glue, and toothpaste when they run out of other things to eat, but they can be found anywhere food is, such as dens, bedrooms, and living rooms.

Finally, Oriental cockroaches are potentially the grossest looking of them all. This shiny black species can grow up to an inch long and cannot fly. This species is also primarily an outdoor pest, but they seek out basements and crawlspaces indoors while making frequent visits to sinks, toilets, and pipes. Like the American cockroach, the Oriental cockroach prefers decaying matter for its food, making it a serious threat for disease transmission inside your home.

Cockroach identification is the first step to long-term pest control success, as these different species indicate certain risk areas in your home and areas to focus on.

Signs Your Kittitas County Home May Have A Cockroach Problem

The signs of cockroach infestations are fairly easy to identify. For one thing, if you see a cockroach skittering around, you probably have an issue. Other signs of a cockroach infestation include:

• Pepper-like feces
• Smear marks
• Egg capsules
• Shed exoskeletons
• A musty scent

While prevention may be out of reach once an infestation is underway, there are still methods for how to deter cockroaches that can save you headaches in the long run. As cockroaches come indoors for food and water, cutting off their access and limiting what they would have if they did make it indoors will reduce the chances of an infestation.

How Cockroaches Get Into Kittitas County Homes

Cockroaches come indoors in several different ways. Sometimes they can come inside through grocery bags or used appliances, but most of the time, they crawl indoors through pipes and holes around your home. To prevent cockroaches from finding these ways inside, try these cockroach prevention tips:

• Seal cracks and holes around your home with silicone-based caulk or steel wool.
• Maintain door and window screens.
• Make sure doors and windows completely seal, including garage doors.
• Store outdoor trash away from the home in a sealed receptacle.
• Take indoor trash out frequently and clean bins at least once a week.
• Sanitize surfaces often.
• Store food in glass or metal containers.
• Vacuum frequently.
• De-clutter, and only store items in sealed, plastic containers, not cardboard.
• Keep the indoor humidity level down with home repairs or dehumidifiers.
• Maintain pipes and landscaping to reduce excess moisture around the outside of the home.
• Don’t store woodpiles and other lawn decorations near the home.

How To Get Rid Of Cockroaches In Kittitas County

If you’ve got cockroaches, you’ve probably been desperately trying to figure out how to get rid of cockroaches for good. Unfortunately, DIY methods are largely ineffective against cockroaches, as these pests are naturally resistant to poisons, hard to drown, hard to crush, and resistant to starvation. The best way to deal with the root issue and get rid of an infestation is through Prosite.

With plans customized to your home and pest control needs, we can not only target current pest problems, but we can teach you how to get rid of cockroaches for good through home maintenance and targeting risk areas that allow pests indoors. Prosite isn’t just and treat and retreat company. We like to form relationships with our customers that allow us to help you fortify your Kittitas County homes against pests for every season, making them less likely targets for years to come. To request your consultation, give Prosite a call today.