Down here in the south, every state has cockroach problems. It’s the perfect ecosystem for them, and they’re just a fact of life. Unfortunately, Florida cockroach problems go even beyond that. So, let’s get into some of the issues cockroaches may pose to Florida homeowners.
Florida Cockroach Problems: Overview
Florida is a state uniquely suited for pest control issues. For one, we have the perfect ecosystems for most insects to thrive. That includes our beaches, marshes, swamps, and forests. All of them are low-lying, subtropical ecosystems. This means that even pests from other continents arrive here and immediately enjoy a new thriving ecosystem as well.
Human traffic is a huge pusher of pests down here as well. When you have a state of twenty two million people and growing, a lot of those people are going to bring bugs with them. Not only that, but construction for new development displaces insects. So, combine displaced insect populations with new dumpsters, homes, and restaurants, and you can see how the issue can get out of hand.
Now let’s get into some of the pest species you can expect to find down here in the Sunshine State as a homeowner.
Florida Cockroach Problems: What kind of roaches live in Florida?
The American cockroach
First on the list is often a victim of misidentification. That is the humble American cockroach. These roaches are the largest species in the lower forty eight states, reaching three inches as adults in length. Also, these roaches have fully developed wings in the adult stage. It’s not uncommon to hear a story about someone opening their window only to have a massive cockroach fly in sounding like a helicopter.
This pest species prefers the outdoors usually, but if allowed inside they won’t fuss. You can find American cockroaches at night, usually under your sinks or in your bathrooms searching for water. You can recognize them by their mahogany color, large size, and the yellow band that traces the back of their head in a half circle.
German Cockroach
Up next on the list is one of the most invasive species of pests you can have in your home. And it’s known as the German Cockroach. German cockroaches are a species that’s so tied to humans, it’s believed they no longer live in any wild areas. They’re simply parasitic to human settlements, and that’s why they’re not found too far north.
You can recognize this species by its pale yellow shell. On the back of their shells, two parallel black stripes run down from the top of their head to about the middle of their bodies. This is a medium sized pest, with only a few members of the species reaching over an inch in length.
However, what makes them so bad is their ability to produce offspring rapidly. A female German cockroach only has to mate once in her life to give you some severe Florida cockroach problems. After that, she keeps the seed and gets pregnant whenever the conditions are good, leading single females to have thousands of offspring in the right conditions!
Florida woods roach (stink roach)
The actual palmetto bug is the Florida woods roach. Common in Georgia, it’s even more common down in Florida. it’s a squat, beetle-like roach that can approach two inches in length. It has a dark brown to mahogany shell, and have no wings. These are one of the least likely roach species to find in your home, as they prefer to infest outdoor areas. Florida Woods Roaches are most often found in gardens, palm trees, and under the eaves of rooves.
In ideal situations, these roaches are very long lived- usually living about one year, but reaching two years in good areas. They’re more active at night, and often found alongside American cockroaches. When crushed or stressed, this roach releases a foul smelling chemical that gives it it’s less common name of Stink Roach.
Florida Roach Problems: How to control and exclude roaches from my Florida home
Now, let us get into some tips for keeping these pests out or at least keeping their numbers manageable. When it comes to cockroaches, reducing clutter and keeping a clean home are essential. Cockroaches love to eat cellulose material, which means anything made from wood. Paper, boxes, and other similar materials are common victims of this pest. For example, instead of keeping cereal boxes in your cupboard, use a resealable plastic container instead. That will keep the roaches out of both the food and the packaging. Small steps like this should be practiced throughout the whole home to reduce the number of cockroaches inside.
Reduce and organize your storage. Piled boxes full of old photos are perfect targets for roach rot, and basements and attics where they’re stored nicely out of the way can be a staging ground for infestation throughout the entire house.
Make sure to exclude roaches to the best of your ability as well. That includes things like weather stripping on the bottom of doors, and making sure that they don’t fall to pieces or rot over the years. External pipes leading into the home should be caulked around as well, as that alone can lead to Florida roach problems in your home. An ounce of prevention is always worth a pound of cure. And exclusion is some of the best pest prevention for you to practice.
What to do if I have a roach infestation?
Cockroaches are one of many difficult pests in Florida. Cleaning will reduce the roaches’ number, but rarely will it actually deal with an infestation that’s taken over your home. Instead, give us a call or visit our website at insectfree.com and fill out the pop up on the home page. We’ve been in business for three decades, so let us show you why our natural methods are the best for pest control in the Tampa bay area!
Or, if you would rather speak to one of our trained professionals, please give us a call at 800-634-1313
