Autumn weather is wonderful. Cool mornings give way to warm afternoons. School is in session, and Saturdays mean college football. As the leaves turn, so do the aisles in grocery stores. With the arrival of fall decorations and pumpkin-spiced everything, the fond thoughts of sharing your home with family and friends flow in, but you may also have some unwelcome visitors. Read on to learn why you might find yourself sharing your fall and winter home with cockroaches–and how to keep those frightful creatures outside.
Can Cockroaches Survive Freezing Temperatures?
The most common species of cockroaches we see in Atlanta are capable of surviving cold weather, but they would much prefer to be warm and toasty in your house as seasons change and temperatures fall. In hot, wet weather, the amount of water and sustenance available in a pile of logs or a stack of firewood is more than sufficient housing for a colony of cockroaches. As the weather begins to cool, however, the temptation of a warm environment becomes an ideal proposition, especially if there is easy access to food and water.
6 Strategies to Keep Cockroaches out of Your House
Controlling cockroach populations is best done with integrated pest management, a combination of insect control products, consistent cleanliness, and strategic cultural practices. Combine the following 6 strategies to increase the effectiveness of control and minimize the number of products needed to keep cockroaches (and other pests) below threshold.
- Avoid bringing cockroaches inside. If your seasonal decorations are stored in a storage facility or another secondary location, opening those items outside your home ensures that you don’t have any incidental stowaways. The same rules apply for decorations that are ordered and delivered.
- Store firewood in a dry shelter. Nothing feels as cozy as a fire in the fireplace. If you store wood outside in piles, keep it covered and dry to help reduce moisture and shelter for the cockroaches. Before bringing your wood inside, a quick look and a good knock against a hard surface stops unwelcome passengers from sneaking in with your firewood.
- Minimize clutter. Clutter, especially wet cardboard, offers harborage, moisture, and a food source for these crawly critters.
- Be vigilant about cleanliness. Beyond clutter reduction, general cleanliness is key for making your home unsuitable for cockroaches. Spills and crumbs unintentionally provide nutrition for a cockroach population that could grow exponentially in ideal conditions. Poorly sealed food containers or trash that isn’t removed also provides a food source for cockroaches.
- Seal cracks and gaps in windows, doors, and voids. Closing the unintentional entryways in the siding or foundation of your home limits access points where bugs may find a convenient entrance.
- Partner with a trusted pest control company such as Nature’s Turf. The technicians in the pest division at Nature’s Turf are trained in the strategic and effective application of insect control products, and they are able to identify issues and provide remediation strategies. Our quarterly pest control visits are not only beneficial for maintaining a functional barrier, but they also enable our pest professionals to see your property more often, giving them the opportunity to suggest control strategies and minimize the damage cockroaches or any other pests may cause.
For additional information about our pest control services, send an email or give us a call at (770) 874-1313. Our qualified pest professionals are ready to discuss the treatments and strategies required to make sure that a cozy movie night on the couch doesn’t turn into a frenzy when a cockroach invites itself to the party.
