What are palmetto bugs? You may hear this term used in place of their far more common term: the cockroach. Palmetto bugs may mean American cockroaches, the smokybrown cockroach, or even the Florida woods cockroach. Whichever name you want to use, once they infest your house, you’re going to have a mess on your hands. Get rid of palmetto bugs as soon as you can. Palmetto bugs removal can be accomplished quickly and efficiently. First, let’s talk about how to keep them out in the first place.
Cleaning up Food Access
Palmetto bugs control relies on making the environment in your home one where they can’t easily find food or water. This may mean changing some habits. Use containers that seal foods that are not refrigerated. Clean up food preparation areas. Use garbage cans with tight lids. Move the garbage bins away from the side of your house. Don’t leave dishes sitting out overnight. These are all easy steps toward palmetto bugs control.
Water and Controlling Humidity
You’ll also want to clean up leaks, drips, and any other areas where palmetto bugs can find water. Place screens or plugs in shower and bath drains when not in use – palmetto bugs will gladly crawl in and out of your drains for water. Denying them this access means they can’t find it. Finally, a dehumidifier for especially humid, closed areas is a must. Palmetto bugs love damp conditions, so drying out the air will make the environment less hospitable.
Sealing Gaps and Cracks
You must also close off points of access to your home. This means gaps and cracks in the foundation. Palmetto bugs can grow as large as the length of your palm, but not all are so large, and they can squish through surprisingly small gaps with ease. You need to check areas where pipes and wires enter the home – these aren’t always properly sealed. A door seal can close off the gaps under your doors. Check window frames and screens to make sure there are no gaps or tears.
Garden Solutions
You can also create a barrier of cedar or cypress mulch between your garden and home. A few inches of this creates a dry boundary that many pests won’t want to cross. (Remember that cedar can inhibit some plant growth, so plan accordingly!) You need to refresh the chips regularly – once the chips start getting wet and decaying, they lose their impact.
Recognizing a Palmetto Bugs Infestation
If you get palmetto bugs in the home, you’ll likely find their feces or smell them first. Their droppings look like coffee grounds, and the smell of palmetto bugs is musty and pungent. They won’t risk being seen unless your infestation is so large that they’re taking more risks to find food. If you see a palmetto bug, chances are that you have an infestation already.
Palmetto Bugs Removal
Get rid of palmetto bugs by calling a professional Brevard County pest control service. Above all, do not spot treat if you can avoid it – this will only spread the infestation out, drive them deeper into your home, and make palmetto bugs removal harder. There are bugs that can be handled with a DIY approach, but Palmetto bugs are not one of these. Rely on a professional solution. If you have palmettos bugs in your home, contact Slug-A-Bug today.