How To Get Rid Of Roaches On Your Greenville Property

August 13, 2021

The sultry air that we have here in South Carolina is just the type that cockroaches thrive in. Unlike up north, where the population decreases each winter when the temperatures drop below freezing. Here they can live and lay eggs year-round. Woo-hoo!

Cockroaches Common To The Area

We’ve made a list of the most common varieties you will encounter here in Greenville:

• American cockroach - They are the largest roach in the United States, measuring up to two inches long. Their bodies are brown with a yellowish figure eight marking. They can fly short distances.

• Brown banded cockroach - These guys measure about ½ inch. They have a dark brown body with light color bands or stripes. The males will fly when disturbed, the females cannot fly.

• German cockroach -These are tan or light brown with a slightly metallic sheen. They measure at ¾ inches. They have wings, but do not fly.

• Oriental cockroach (a.k.a. waterbugs) - Males and females differ slightly in size, but both have shiny black bodies with wings and cannot fly. About one inch in length, and known for the stinky odor they secrete.

Roaches carry some nasty germs as they scamper across your counter and on your food. Salmonellosis, typhoid fever, and cholera are just a few of the illnesses they can transmit. Also, they are known to be an asthma and allergy trigger for many people. According to the EPA, children are more susceptible to cockroach allergies than adults. Prevention is the key to avoiding these issues.

They are also incredibly resilient. Did you know that if you try to kill one by washing it down the drain, it will just come back? Why? Because they can hold their breath for 40 minutes! They can also live for a whole week without their head. That’s just weird.

How And Why Do They Come Inside?

They don’t need an excuse to come into your home, but once they are there, good luck getting them out.

• They can be brought in unknowingly via a cardboard box, or a piece of second-hand furniture. They may even hitch a ride in your purse or suitcase. Maybe even from the grocery store. Yuck!

• If you live in an apartment or duplex, it’s as simple as crawling through the wall from the adjacent dwelling.

• Cracks in walls, defective door sweeps, and widows with damaged or missing screens may be entry points.

Go on a search for potential entry points, and seal with caulk. Check windows, screens, and door sweeps to be sure they are in good condition.

DIY Methods For Keeping Them Away

There are so many different products for roaches on the market that you will spend days researching the best and safest methods. From traps to liquid concentrates, from granules to boric acid, all are temporary solutions. Locating and targeting the nesting areas are difficult for the average DIYer. These products are caustic, and need to be handled correctly so that your loved ones are not adversely affected. You can also try these less invasive methods:

• Fabric softener sheets.

• Coffee grounds.

• Cayenne pepper.

• Bay leaves.

• Catnip.

You will discover that DIY methods are expensive and short-lived. You may get temporary results and feel like you have triumphed, but it won’t be long before they return.

Making Sure They Stay Away

We want to help keep your family safe from the dangers associated with cockroaches. At Greenville Pest Control, we have what it takes to do just that. We are a family-owned and operated business, proudly offering residential and commercial service to all of upstate South Carolina. Call us for a cockroach extermination estimate today.

Tags: cockroach control cockroach prevention cockroach identification

Cockroaches Common To The Area

We’ve made a list of the most common varieties you will encounter here in Greenville:

• American cockroach - They are the largest roach in the United States, measuring up to two inches long. Their bodies are brown with a yellowish figure eight marking. They can fly short distances.

• Brown banded cockroach - These guys measure about ½ inch. They have a dark brown body with light color bands or stripes. The males will fly when disturbed, the females cannot fly.

• German cockroach -These are tan or light brown with a slightly metallic sheen. They measure at ¾ inches. They have wings, but do not fly.

• Oriental cockroach (a.k.a. waterbugs) - Males and females differ slightly in size, but both have shiny black bodies with wings and cannot fly. About one inch in length, and known for the stinky odor they secrete.

Roaches carry some nasty germs as they scamper across your counter and on your food. Salmonellosis, typhoid fever, and cholera are just a few of the illnesses they can transmit. Also, they are known to be an asthma and allergy trigger for many people. According to the EPA, children are more susceptible to cockroach allergies than adults. Prevention is the key to avoiding these issues.

They are also incredibly resilient. Did you know that if you try to kill one by washing it down the drain, it will just come back? Why? Because they can hold their breath for 40 minutes! They can also live for a whole week without their head. That’s just weird.

How And Why Do They Come Inside?

They don’t need an excuse to come into your home, but once they are there, good luck getting them out.

• They can be brought in unknowingly via a cardboard box, or a piece of second-hand furniture. They may even hitch a ride in your purse or suitcase. Maybe even from the grocery store. Yuck!

• If you live in an apartment or duplex, it’s as simple as crawling through the wall from the adjacent dwelling.

• Cracks in walls, defective door sweeps, and widows with damaged or missing screens may be entry points.

Go on a search for potential entry points, and seal with caulk. Check windows, screens, and door sweeps to be sure they are in good condition.

DIY Methods For Keeping Them Away

There are so many different products for roaches on the market that you will spend days researching the best and safest methods. From traps to liquid concentrates, from granules to boric acid, all are temporary solutions. Locating and targeting the nesting areas are difficult for the average DIYer. These products are caustic, and need to be handled correctly so that your loved ones are not adversely affected. You can also try these less invasive methods:

• Fabric softener sheets.

• Coffee grounds.

• Cayenne pepper.

• Bay leaves.

• Catnip.

You will discover that DIY methods are expensive and short-lived. You may get temporary results and feel like you have triumphed, but it won’t be long before they return.

Making Sure They Stay Away

We want to help keep your family safe from the dangers associated with cockroaches. At Greenville Pest Control, we have what it takes to do just that. We are a family-owned and operated business, proudly offering residential and commercial service to all of upstate South Carolina. Call us for a cockroach extermination estimate today.