Cockroaches are some of the most resilient animals on the planet. They can survive a month without food. They can be submerged under water for as long as forty minutes. They can live a week with their head cut off. And cockroaches have the ability to develop a skin that is resistant to deadly chemicals. If you were wondering why it is so difficult to get rid of them, wonder no longer.
Here is another fact to consider: Cockroaches make Harry Houdini look like a rank amateur—only their expertise isn't getting out of things; it's getting into things. Cockroaches have a unique set of skills that make them extremely difficult to keep out.
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A cockroach can compact its body and squeeze into spaces that are around 25 percent of their height.
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A cockroach can run across a table, go over the side, and continue running at full speed across the bottom of the table, defying gravity. This is because they grip surfaces with their feet. They do this all day every day. If they didn't, they would roll over onto their backs. This is why you find dead cockroaches on their backs.
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Cockroaches are inclined to squeeze into tight spaces because they are thigmotactic.
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The nymphs of cockroaches are several times smaller than adults. Some are so small that they can fit through the holes of an electrical outlet.
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Some cockroach species can fly. Fortunately, they only fly when it is very warm and humid.
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If all this doesn't make cockroaches hard enough to keep out of your Portland area home, they can also be carried into your home. These insects stow away inside grocery bags, pocketbooks, duffel bags, book bags, and more. They're drawn to the tight spaces between stored items and also to the smell of food or human sweat.
Do you see the problem?
Cockroaches are hard to exterminate, and hard to keep out. In light of this, what is the secret to effective do-it-yourself cockroach control? The secret is to make the perimeter around your home less interesting to roaches. If you have fewer cockroaches near your home, you'll reduce the risk of having cockroaches explore your walls and find a way inside. Here are a few ways to deter cockroach activity.
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Cockroaches are attracted to foundation perimeters that are moist. Everything you do to reduce moisture near your home will help to reduce cockroach activity. Clean your gutters. Trim bushes and other vegetation. Trim tree canopy to let the sunlight in. Water your plants in the morning.
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Cockroaches are drawn to leaf litter. They love the moist habitat underneath. Rake leaves up as quickly as possible.
Cockroaches love wood piles. There are lots of food options for a cockroach in a wood pile. They also love all those tight spaces. Move wood piles to at least 20 feet from your exterior.
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Cockroaches love rock walls. All of those tiny gaps and tight spaces are irresistible.
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Cockroaches can smell your trash. It is essential to keep your trash receptacles as clean as possible, and remove trash from your property weekly. Don't give that trash time to rot and ferment. You'll draw cockroaches from quite a distance.
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Cockroaches are drawn to compost that is not mixed correctly. If your compost doesn't smell good to you, you can bet that cockroaches will love it.
Added Protection
You can manage cockroach populations to a level that is acceptable to you, and seal any potential entry points cockroaches might use to get into your home. This strategy may be all you need. But, if your goal is to have a roach-free home, it is necessary to enlist the aid of a licensed pest management professional. A professional will apply appropriate methods and products to make your exterior resistant to cockroaches and other pests.
If you live in Portland, let the pest professionals here at Big Blue Bug Solutions help you keep pests out of your home. We offer residential plans that address a wide range of pests. We'll help you keep cockroaches, ants, earwigs, crickets, fleas, and other insects out of your home. We'll address ticks, millipedes, centipedes and other bugs. And we'll even give you coverage for mice and rats. Contact us today to learn more. We're here to help.
