Cockroaches seem to be everywhere in Lexington, KY. Though these pests can survive just about anywhere, they tend to congregate in warm, densely populated areas, including Lexington. Though many people love Kentucky for its warmth and hospitality, a cockroach problem can quickly ruin that sense of comfort. Cockroaches are a threat to your health, wellness, and hospitality, but they don’t have to be. Let’s review why cockroach infestations are so common in Lexington and what Kentucky residents should do to keep these pests away.
Cockroach Identification Tips
Several types of cockroaches bother Lexington homes, and they all share many traits. No matter the type, cockroaches have six spiny legs, two body-length antennae, and flat, oval-shaped bodies.
These are the three most common types of cockroaches:
- American cockroaches: These are the largest roach species in the United States, growing anywhere between one and three inches. They have dark, reddish-brown bodies and a distinct yellow figure-8 pattern below their heads. These roaches can fly, but rarely do.
- German cockroaches: These pests grow to around ½ an inch in length and have light, brown bodies, translucent wings, and two dark stripes on their heads. German cockroaches can fly, but rarely do.
- Oriental cockroaches: Also known as water bugs, Oriental cockroaches grow around an inch in length and have shiny brown-black bodies. If you don’t see them, you’ll smell them: water bugs emit a foul scent that only gets worse with time.
All cockroaches are dangerous to human health, as they can spread diseases such as giardia, listeria, diphtheria, and plague. Prevention is key when it comes to cockroaches, otherwise a problem can last for months, exposing you to thousands of pathogens.
Even if your roaches are somehow disease-free, long-term exposure to cockroach dust can trigger allergic reactions and asthma attacks. No family is safe in Lexington with cockroaches nearby.
So, what can be done to keep a cockroach problem from happening? Consider the following tips as part of a greater prevention plan for roaches.
Step-By-Step Cockroach Prevention In Lexington
- Reduce household clutter. Cockroaches prefer cool, cluttered areas where they can nest and mate.
- Ventilate your home. Rooms with lots of moisture attract cockroaches, including the bathroom, kitchen, attic, and basement.
- Clean beneath appliances. The space beneath your fridge, oven, or furnace are all common nesting spots for cockroaches.
- Drain any puddles. Standing water, bird baths, and gutters all attract cockroaches.
- Seal cracks and crevices around the house. If you feel air leaking, cockroaches can find a way inside. Be sure to check around the perimeter of your windows, doors, and vents.
- Keep trash indoors. Outdoor trash bins and receptacles attract cockroaches. Even if locked and secured, roaches will find a way inside your trash.
- Keep food secure. Cockroaches gravitate towards your pantry, and if food is left out, they will undoubtedly come in.
- Remove organic materials. Composting, leaves, and wood piles all attract roaches.
- Check your deliveries. Cockroaches will sometimes hitch a ride, so make sure one didn’t crawl into your deliveries.
Unfortunately, no cockroach prevention plan is comprehensive enough to keep these pests out entirely. Infestations are bound to happen in Lexington, though with these tips they will occur far less frequently.
If you spot roaches in the house, it’s too late to get rid of them yourself; these pests reproduce quickly and are great at hiding. When roaches move in, Action Pest Control helps kick them out. Contact us today to get started and to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in Lexington.