As the winter weather draws in, you might expect to see fewer insects out and about. Most insects prefer warmer weather and are seasonally more active during spring, summer and early autumn. But don’t be surprised if you turn on the kitchen light during the dead of winter and see cockroaches darting off in all directions.
Cockroaches thrive in warmer weather, but they find their way through cracks and crevices in search of warm, dark spaces during the winter. If that happens, be sure that you can count on The Pest Man for fast, effective cockroach control. But beforehand, there are a few preventative measures you can take as well.
Do Cockroaches Feel The Cold?
It might be strange to think that cockroaches feel the cold as they aren’t warm-blooded. But insects, in general, prefer to hibernate and find warmth to overwinter until the spring.
Cockroaches instinctively start seeking out warmth, humidity, and dark spaces to see the winter. They’ll creep through cracks and crevices in your walls and floorboards, crawl in beneath your kitchen door, or get indoors through drain pipes. They are resilient creatures, that’s for sure, and as soon as they’re inside, they will set up a nest somewhere within your walls and begin their quest for food.
- Keep Kitchen Floors Cleaned: Any oil or food spills on the floor leave a convenient mess for cockroaches looking for an easy meal. Use kitchen cleaning solutions to keep the floors clean, and you’re one step further to a cockroach-free winter.
- Take Out The Trash: Cockroaches are pretty indiscriminate eaters, so anything you throw away is still a food source for them. Take out the trash regularly and keep bins sealed.
- Vacuum Regularly: Vacuum your carpets frequently. Cockroaches love dust and dirt. They hide amongst dust balls, and if there are any food crumbs to be found, you can be sure they will find them.
- Keep Countertop Food Sealed: All of your cereals, pasta, coffee, sugar, and other food items stored on countertops (and in pantries) should be sealed in airtight plastic or glass containers. Keep countertops free of crumbs and wipe them down after food spills.
- Store Leftovers Correctly: Don’t get in the habit of leaving leftovers out — store and refrigerate them right away. Cockroaches carry bacteria from the garbage on their legs and wings. Aside from giving cockroaches an abundant food source, you’re also at risk of food contamination.
- Clean And Store Dishes: The smallest scraps of food left on the plate is a convenient meal for cockroaches. Don’t clutter the countertops with dishes that give them a place to hide and a quick food source as well. Clean, dry and store your dishes as soon as you’re able.
- Inspect For Entry Points: Seal cracks in the walls, loose siding, or holes in the floorboards. Check areas where pipe or cable installations have been installed for gaps in the wall. Inspect the rubbers under the garage door to see if you have any convenient cockroach entry points. Get creative and thorough! Cockroaches will crawl in anywhere they can ‒ stay one step ahead.
- Plug The Drains: Cockroaches are known to enter homes through the bathtub drains. You can prevent them from entering by simply plugging your sink, basin and bathtub drains.
Residential Cockroach Control
In spite of all the preventative measures you take, professional pest control is often required. After the inspection of your property and identifying which type of cockroach you have, The Pest Man will crack on and get rid of them.
Our techs know where to look and what to pull out to get to harbourage areas for cockroaches. Treatments range from the use of gels and pinpoint sprays to targeted exterior and interior spray around doors, window frames and skirtings and into cracks and crevices. Good pest control will always be measured and controlled, and a good pest control company will always advise on any further maintenance, controls, or measures you can take to self-manage.
