Everything You Should Know about the American Cockroach

July 20th, 2017

Just the word “cockroach” is enough to make most people squeal. If you live in Florida, then you are especially familiar with the American cockroach, also known as the Palmetto Bug. The American cockroach is the largest of all common cockroaches, which might explain why it inspires such fear and disgust.

Indoors or Outdoors?

American cockroaches naturally gather outside, especially in moist and shady areas like wood piles, mulch, and hollow trees. They can even be found under roof shingles of homes. However, these cockroaches do wander inside if they need food or are trying to avoid extreme weather conditions like heavy rain or drought. Large commercial buildings also attract American cockroaches, where they crawl into basements, sewers, steam tunnels, and drainage systems. This places restaurants, grocery stores, bakeries, and other food-preparation locations at particularly high risk of cockroach infestations.  

Look Out For These Signs

Adult American cockroaches are usually a reddish brown or mahogany color. Their wings develop when they become adults, so American roaches can fly. If an American cockroach makes its way into your home, it will forage under appliances, in kitchen cabinets, inside drains, and on the floor to find crumbs and scraps of food. If you come across this roach, it will most likely scurry quickly into a dark area, but it will leave small droppings behind.

Dangers and Solutions

It’s widely known that cockroaches can spread disease, contaminate food, and cause allergies and asthma. They constantly preen their legs and pick up germs as they crawl through decaying matter and sewage. This means that you don’t want to wait to call in professional help when you notice signs of American cockroaches in your residential or commercial space. The expert team at Green Solutions Lawn Care & Pest Control in Tampa, Florida should be your first call.

The pest control professionals at Green Solutions know exactly how to assess the areas of cockroach activity, find their entryways, and use a variety of treatment methods to ensure that the cockroaches leave and never return. Call (813) 684-7336 today to schedule an appointment today.