Don’t make your home comfy for cockroaches

Cockroaches started out 350 million years ago and they’ve survived everything that Mama Nature and mankind have thrown at them. They’ve been around so long that termites evolved from them.

There are over a thousand extant species. Of those, only 30 or so have decided to associate themselves with us, the most obvious of which is the American cockroach, Periplaneta americanus. While its common name is American cockroach, it originated in Africa and came to North America in the late 1600s. It’s called the American cockroach because it was first described here in the United States. There’s another roach that looks a great deal like it, the smoky brown cockroach.

For the most part, both roaches like to be outside. Our homes are too harsh an environment for them. However, if you supply them with adequate amounts of food, water and shelter, they’ll be happy to move in.

Good sanitation is the key to getting roaches under control. Without food, most cockroaches won’t live more than a month or two. Usually, by that time, they’ve moved on to a more convivial environment.

Start with the simple things. Empty your trash and clean the garbage can. Clean up any pet food and wipe up food spills. You have to rid your home of clutter — sites where roaches can spend their time comfortably and safely such as cardboard boxes, stacks of old papers and other refuse.

Concentrate on areas such as behind your fridge and hot water heater. Clean out your drains. Cracks and crevices in the kitchen, laundry and bathroom must be diligently checked and any potential entry points should be sealed. A young roach can squeeze through an opening as thin as the thickness of a dime.

Insecticidal dusts, residual sprays, baits and glue traps can be used to knock down their numbers. Glue traps can be used to determine where the highest concentration of roaches is in your house.

There are a number of effective baits available. They are safe to use and will, over time, significantly reduce the number of roaches. Place the baits where roaches are most active and where pets and inquisitive children can’t get at them. Check and change them periodically.

Insecticides can be of use both in the home and outside. Your best bet for American and smoky-brown roaches is the outside application. Spreading a granular insecticide in a wide band around your house will have the best effect. Inside, apply a liquid insecticide to the baseboards around your home. Also, apply some under your sinks, behind and under your stove and refrigerator. Most of the current sprays available to you have a residual activity of from three to six months and are very safe if you follow the label directions.

Once you’ve got the roaches under control, these clean ups will need to be done periodically to maintain that control. In the case of a really heavy infestation, you’ll be best off bringing in the pros. Pest control professionals have the expertise and access to the latest products and technology. They will have a much better chance, in the long run, of getting your roach problem under control.

This story was originally published July 22, 2016 at 5:40 AM with the headline "Don’t make your home comfy for cockroaches."