HOW TO PREVENT COCKROACHES

It is hard to miss all of the cockroach stories in the news lately. Aside from the standard stories about bug spray harming humans, bug spray exploding, cockroaches causing businesses to close down, and more, the latest story seems to be about whether or not cockroaches take to the skies when temperatures and humidity stay high for a long period of time. As it turns out, the American cockroach, which has the ability to fly, will fly more often when the temperature and humidity stay high. Fortunately, as we leave summer behind, and fall temperatures drop, we can expect to see fewer cockroaches gliding through the air. But, those disgusting bugs are going to start to do something else, equally as disturbing; they’re going to start getting into our homes.

What Cockroaches Eat

You may not know this, but once cockroaches get into your home, they are not likely to leave. While there are many overwintering bugs that will not be able to survive in your home past winter, cockroaches are not one of them. If your home is like most, there are a ton of things these omnivores can feed on within your walls. Cockroaches have an impressive list of dietary staples. But, there are things these insects eat that may surprise you, such as books, hair, toothpaste, glue, and sewage. Most often, they will be content to live off of the grease on the side of your oven, nibble on the crumb beneath your toaster, and dine on the leftovers stuck to your plates and silverware, as they lay in, or next to, the sink.