How Residents in Peoria Can Keep Their Homes Cockroach-Free All Year Long

In our service area, we have a few cockroach species that get into homes. The most pernicious is the German cockroach. These roaches are able to survive much better inside man-made structures than other cockroaches, and are widely considered to be the greatest cockroach threat in the world. American cockroaches are a close second. They're no slouches when it comes to living with humans, but they prefer to be outside if conditions are ideal. This is even true of Oriental cockroaches, which is the third type of roach we see getting into homes a lot. But no matter what cockroach is trying to get into your Peoria home, we have some tips that will help you to keep them out.

The summer months are when cockroach infestations are most likely to happen in Peoria. So summer cockroach prevention tips are a good place to start. The secret to reducing cockroaches in your yard during summertime is the elimination of food, water, and harborage.

Food

There are many things we consider to be food that cockroaches would turn their nose up at. We might like a nice ripe tomato. A cockroach would prefer that tomato to be rotting. We may enjoy a fresh apple. A cockroach would prefer to eat it after it has passed its "fresh" stage. This is their preference across the board. They'll eat dead bugs and dead animals but rarely attack living organisms. If you have a fruit tree with rotting fruit underneath, a vegetable garden with rotting vegetables stacked to the side, or some other rotting food source, roaches will notice.

There are some things cockroaches consider to be food that we wouldn't…at all. Roaches are known to eat raw sewage and the dung from animals. If you have a dog or cat that leaves droppings in your yard, you could be attracting cockroaches. Cover any exposed feces or pick them up to reduce roaches.

Exterior trash often has rotting meats and vegetables inside. This makes trash a prime target for cockroaches. Some foods can even lure cockroaches in from a great distance, such as fermented food items, beer cans, or discarded wine bottles.

Water

Cockroaches are drawn to moist areas and organic material. They are commonly found in wood piles and under leaf litter. They hang out in areas of shade and high humidity. If you have shaded areas near your home, consider trimming some tree branches to let the sunlight dry the topsoil. If you have densely packed plants in your landscaping, consider putting space between them to help with airflow.

There are some conditions that can moisten the soil around your home. If you have a broken gutter system, it should be repaired as quickly as possible. If you have a leaky spigot or pipe, that tap water can saturate the ground.

Harborage

Cockroaches will hide in and under objects found in your yard. If you have items that are against your home, especially piles of organic debris, roaches will use them. Wood piles, brush piles, and leaf piles are all examples of cockroach hiding places. Those cockroaches will also use an old appliance, an automobile, a piece of furniture, a toy, or similar items as harborage. But don't put it past them to go straight past those items to find harborage in your home.

DIY Cockroach Management

If you remove and control food sources in your yard, reduce moisture, and get rid of clutter, you're going to have fewer cockroaches. But complete control of cockroaches requires the application of a pest control product. We strongly advise that treatments be applied by a licensed professional. A professional will use the right products, in the right locations, in the right amounts.

In Peoria, IL, Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators is the right choice for cockroach elimination and control. We've been solving pest problems in portions of Illinois and Iowa since 1929. We've learned a lot in almost a century of applying pest control. Let our experience go to work for you. Reach out to us today and request a free home pest inspection. There is no obligation to purchase service. This inspection just gives us a chance to take a look at the pest pressures you're dealing with and provide the information you need to protect your health and property.

Get cockroach-free in 2019. It doesn't quite rhyme, but it sure sounds good, doesn't it? Contact us today!