When you hear the word cockroach, the species that first comes to mind is likely to be the American cockroach. These large home-invading pests are hard to miss as they can grow up to three inches in length, making them the largest of the cockroach species found in the United States.

However, one interesting fact about the American cockroach is that they aren’t actually native to the Americas. They are originally from Africa, but they are now an invasive species found throughout the entire country.

You can identify these cockroaches by their reddish-brown coloration and the wings that lay flat on their backs. They have six legs and a pair of antennae, and their bodies have an almost greasy look to them.

In this guide, you’ll learn all you need to know about the risks of having American cockroaches around your home and how you can keep these pests away for good with effective pest control services in McKinney.

What Issues Do American Cockroaches Cause?

Just like other cockroach species, the American cockroach isn’t a welcome guest in the home because they are so unsanitary. While most people know that cockroaches are disgusting, they are even more dangerous than you might have heard.

American cockroaches can spread dozens of different diseases, including cholera, salmonellosis, gastroenteritis, and many more. Cockroaches seek out places with clutter and access to food sources. They often live around sewage, garbage, and even rotting carcasses. Then, they transmit these pathogens to the places they touch inside your home.

This means that any food they get into will need to be thrown out and that surfaces they come into contact with need to be sanitized.

Five Cockroach Prevention Tips

While cockroaches in McKinney can be a difficult species to keep out because they can sip inside through small cracks, there are still some things you can do to deter them. The best way to prevent American cockroaches is to try and remove the factors that attract them in the first place.

Here are five ways to do just that:

• Clean up any food spillage or crumbs as soon as they happen. Also, make sure to keep kitchens extra clean as cockroaches often seek out these areas.
• Cockroaches love clutter, so clean up excess clutter both in and around your property.
• Make it harder for cockroaches to get inside by repairing broken screens and sealing up holes in the walls and foundation using caulking products. 
• As cockroaches are also often attracted to trash, place secure lids on all garbage cans. Also, remove any trash from around your property including organic debris like grass clippings and leaf piles. 
• Keep any pet food you have around the property stored inside. Make sure to store pet food in airtight containers. 

How Can You Eradicate Cockroaches? 

If you already have cockroaches in your McKinney home don’t waste your time and money trying to remove them using toxic sprays. These over-the-counter methods of cockroach removal rarely work because cockroaches are hardy and resistant to many chemicals. And, these products can also be dangerous and end up harming you, your family, or your pets.

Instead, let the experts at EcoArmor Pest Defense remove American cockroaches or any other cockroach species. We have the tools and experience to remove the entire infestation while protecting you and your property. 

Contact us today to learn more about out residential and commercial pest control services in McKinney, or request a quote.