German Cockroach Prevention Methods For Indianapolis Homeowners

Few pests are as pervasive, encroaching and hard to get rid of as household cockroaches. Not only are they gross to look at, but they also create squalor and can be harmful to your health, carrying diseases and causing nasty odors.

The most common type of cockroach in the world is the German Cockroach, and it’s become quite the survivor in urban America, even in cold-winter cities like Indianapolis. To arm our homes and businesses against this household pest, it's important that we can identify them and implement strategies to get rid of these disgusting invaders.

German Cockroach Identification

Discernible by their two dark, horizontal stripes behind their heads, German cockroaches are oval-shaped and typically tan or brownish in color. 

They have wings that are capable of flight, despite the fact that you’ll usually see them crawling around. They typically only grow to a couple of centimeters in length but can produce offspring up to six generations in their lifespan.

Problems Caused By Cockroaches

As a result of their preferred habitat, cockroaches are known carriers of the most serious diseases around, like plague, cholera and typhoid fever. They also root around in the trash and spread these pathogens and germs all over floors and countertops.

Cockroaches' hairy bodies act as magnets for particles and thus spread dust and dander wherever they go. The pathogens they spread are linked to serious allergic reactions in humans, particularly in children, and even cause or worsen asthmatic attacks.

What Attracts Cockroaches To Your Indianapolis Home?

Like many pests, cockroaches find their way indoors to escape the cold and to find food sources that will maintain their populations.

Cockroaches like dark, dank places and excel at getting into the hard-to-reach spots of a home. They are often found in moist areas, like under sinks, in bathrooms or in basements. Ventilation systems and plumbing act as highways for the bugs to get from one place to the next.

Cockroaches can detect the smallest amount of food or water from nearly anywhere in the home, so those accumulating crumbs or spills absolutely act as beacons for cockroaches.

Cockroach Prevention 101

There are a few things that homeowners can do to prevent a roach infestation:

• Seal off cracks in walls, floors and thresholds. Cockroaches can squeeze through almost any space, flattening their bodies and using their long legs to shimmy indoors, no matter where the opening is.
• Clean regularly. The tiniest traces of food scraps or aromas can call out to cockroaches, so keeping floors and countertops clean is crucial.
• Address moisture build-up quickly. Not only is it good to avoid mold and mildew, cockroaches need water to survive. Address leaking pipes quickly and take measures to reduce areas where water vapor pools or condenses.

Only The Pros Can Kill Off A Cockroach Infestation

Even if you do follow these steps, cockroaches can still get inside a home and thrive. If you see one cockroach, there are likely more hidden throughout your home or business. They are some of the hardest pests to get rid of.

They can survive on wallpaper scraps or insulation for weeks if needed, and they are uniquely adapted to withstand being stomped on.

German cockroaches have even developed resistances to many over-the-counter pesticides and household methods. That means that turning to the professionals is the only sure way to truly exterminate their populations.

Contact our Indianapolis pest control technicians at Action Pest Control for service that you can rely on. We thoroughly address every part of your home, not only getting rid of the pests, but also figuring out areas where roaches might be getting inside.

Don’t let a cockroach problem become a full-on nightmare, call Action Pest at the first signs of trouble.