Keeping a pest free home certainly isn’t an uncommon goal for many these days. In Florida, though, that’s often easier said than done. This is particularly true when it comes to palmetto bugs. Also known as the American Cockroach, these menaces have a serious “Yuck!” factor and they’re more than willing to come inside your home.
Creating the Perfect Environment 
Almost any pest control expert will tell you that it’s not actually hard to create the ideal environment for palmetto bugs. While they love to be outdoors, they also crave warm, moist environments. They want easy access to water, and they need a temperature between 70 and 80 degrees. Easy access to food is usually on their list too, and many will move indoors as the temperature drops in the cooler months of the year. There are lots of places in your home that these little menaces would love to live, and you could actually be creating the ideal environment for them. Have a leaky pipe you haven’t bothered to fix? Do your kids seem to spill food and drinks wherever they go? Do you have an older home that’s poorly sealed? All of these factors may mean you’re putting out an engraved invitation to these pests, and once they’re inside, they can be tough to get rid of.
Proactive Steps You May Want to Take
Even if you haven’t seen a palmetto bug yet, you may want to take a couple of extra steps so you don’t ever see one inside your home. Any Brevard County pest control service will tell you that first, you should engage in a bit of outdoor pest control. If you have wet wood, or other cool, damp places near your home, eliminate them. If the grass in your lawn is high, have it mowed.
Move them as far away from your house as possible. Second, you need to take a good look at the house itself. Seal off any entry points you can see. You want to go with screen mesh or another good breathable barrier, and be sure to check your doors and windows for potential leakage. You may also want to remind everyone in your household to keep screen doors shut during the warmer months of the year so they can’t just come barging into your home.
Getting Help
If you’re not sure where the palmetto bugs are coming from, your best bet is to get professional pest control help immediately. DIY methods may seem to work initially, but the chances are good that your infestation will come back with a vengeance.