While there’s plenty to love about South Florida’s unique climate, nuisance pests love the state’s warm, humid weather, too. The entire region is highly susceptible to infestations, but there’s one pest that’s often more troublesome than the rest—the cockroach. Whether you call them palmetto bugs, water bugs, or croton bugs, one thing is certain: a cockroach infestation is more than a mere annoyance—it can even affect your health. Here’s what you need to know about Florida cockroaches, and how you can keep them out of your home.
Cockroaches Are Dangerous
Cockroaches are much more than gross, nuisance pests. Once they make their way inside your home, they post several potential health issues. Cockroaches in the kitchen can contaminate everything they touch, exposing dishes, food, glasses, silverware and more with Salmonella, the pathogen that causes food poisoning.
Cockroaches also carry other worrying pathogens like staphylococcus, E. coli, and at least 31 other kinds of bacteria. On top of that, they can also carry 6 species of parasitic worms. In short, you want to keep cockroaches far away from your home—the health and safety of your family depends on it.
Common Florida Cockroach Species
There are several cockroach species that thrive in South Florida, including the American, Australian, and Smokeybrown varieties. While most cockroaches measure between one to two inches in length, they vary widely in their coloration. No matter what type of cockroach you’ve spotted in your home, chances are, if you see one, there are many others nearby.
Eliminating any pest problem starts with accurate identification. Rather than leaving it to guesswork, reach out to your trusted pest control experts immediately. Your pest control professional can accurately determine what type of cockroach has made your home their own.
Signs of a Cockroach Infestation
The sooner you deal with a cockroach infestation, the better. Sometimes, you may be dealing with an infestation even if you haven’t spotted a roach scurrying throughout your home. If you notice any of the following signs of infestation, call your trusted pest control experts immediately:
- Strong odors. If you’re noticing a strange odor, it could be due to a roach infestation. These bugs emit a strong, musty odor that lingers in the air and can even alter the taste of food.
- Spotting feces in tight spaces like behind stoves or refrigerators? Roach droppings look like flecks of pepper, brown stains, or oval pellets, depending on what species you’re dealing with.
- Check tight spaces, like cracks in walls or in your pantry, for oothecae, or roach egg cases. These brown, oblong cases hold multiple eggs.
Any Cockroach Infestation Is Serious—the Pest Control Experts at Service Choice Are Ready to Help
No matter what species of cockroach you’re dealing with, an infestation can be difficult to remove. Save yourself the time, money, and hassle—and protect your family’s health—by reaching out to the pest control experts at Service Choice of West Palm Beach at the first sign of infestation. We’ll take care of the problem once and for all, so you can get back to enjoying life in your home. Call us today at (561) 734-9269 to schedule your free consultation!
