Spotted an oversized roach in your home? American cockroaches are a nuisance pest found in homes throughout Florida—and around the world—at any time of year. Often mistakenly called a water bug or palmetto bug, these resilient pests can carry diseases and pose health hazards to humans and pets. In short, seeing even one of these creepy-crawly bugs in your home is one too many. Read on to learn how to identify and get rid of American cockroaches in your home.
Identifying the Problem
Before you can deal with any infestation in your home, you need to know what kind of pest you’re dealing with. Misidentification can lead to improper treatment methods, which means you’ll be living with pests for much longer than you need to. While it’s best to call your local pest control experts for professional identification, here are some traits about the American cockroach to help you identify them:
- Size: The easiest way to identify an American cockroach is by considering its size. American cockroaches are big. Measuring an average of 1.5 inches long, this species is the largest cockroach species in the world.
- Color: American cockroaches are typically reddish-brown to dark brown in color, with yellow or light brown portions behind the head.
- Body: American cockroaches have a flat, oval body, which is why they can make their way inside your home so They also have long, spiny legs for running and antennae that measure close to the length of their bodies. You’ll also spot well-developed wings on adult American cockroaches, even though this species of roach doesn’t actually fly.
- Eggs: Noticing eggs or nymph roaches inside your home? It’s a good indication you’re dealing with an American cockroach infestation since females lay capsules that contain around 16 eggs in warm, humid areas. When the eggs hatch, you’ll see nymphs coming out of the capsule, shedding their skins, and searching your home for food.
If you see one American cockroach in your home, it’s very likely that there are more nearby. It’s important to act fast and reach out to your trusted pest control experts to intervene immediately and prevent an infestation.
Read More: Pests Every Central Florida Homeowner Should Recognize
Getting Rid of American Cockroaches and Preventing Infestation
While you could resort to DIY methods to remove American cockroaches from your home, these treatments are often unsafe for your family, and they also just provide a temporary solution. It’s best to rely on the pest control experts at Evergreen Lawn and Pest Control to tackle any American cockroach problem. Using an Integrated Pest Management approach and eco-friendly treatments, we’ll eliminate any American cockroaches—and their eggs—from your home and keep them from coming back.
Read More: 5 Times to Avoid DIY Pest Control and Call a Professional
At the First Sign of Infestation, Call Evergreen Lawn and Pest Control
If you’ve seen one American cockroach in your home, chances are there are many more. Protect the health of your family by reaching out to the pest control experts at Evergreen Lawn and Pest Control – Orlando immediately. We’ll create a customized treatment plan that keeps your home free from American cockroaches and any other nuisance pests. Call us today at (407) 880-6655 for your free consultation!
