Cockroaches and the Summer in Phoenix

With the summer heat and impending monsoon season comes the growth of the cockroach population. Not only do they love the Phoenix heat, they love the rain. In existence since dinosaurs roamed the earth, cockroaches eat almost anything that comes in their path, track germs and bacteria through your home, and cause allergies and illness.

Commonly found in buildings and homes, cockroaches and summer go hand and can ruin your time with family and friends but they don’t have to and here’s why.

You can prevent cockroaches from ever getting into your home.

• Seal cracks in the foundation, windows, doors, ductwork.
• Eliminate clutter like stacks of books, boxes, and clothes.
• Keep mulch, shrubs, and firewood at least a foot away from your home.
• Clear thick vegetation from near the house.
• Clean food from the floor.
• Place foods like sugar, flour, and cereal in sealable containers.
• Look for molted skin. Cockroaches molt regularly and the molted skin can cause allergic or asthmatic reactions especially in children and older adults.

These precautions are especially important during the summer when cockroaches are more likely to enter your home. Regularly check under sinks and around washing machines, dishwashers, and refrigerators as these are likely hiding places.

Signs of a Cockroach Infestation

Cockroaches are nocturnal creatures, rarely seen in daylight. If you see one in daylight, it’s likely because the population has increased to the point of infestation. It’s time to call Budget Brothers Termite and Pest Elimination.

Be sure to keep food (human and pet) in sealed containers as cockroaches will eat almost anything. They’re omnivores meaning they eat plants or animals including you, your pets, paper, books, and just about anything they can find.

Cockroaches don’t exactly wipe their feet and will track feces, dirt, and bacteria throughout your home. Regular inspection of hiding places and watching for signs of cockroaches make it more likely you will detect them and other pests in the summer and throughout the year.