How to Get Rid of Roaches in North Carolina
Cockroaches In NC
The dreaded cockroach is one of the most common pests in North Carolina, and they can make their way into even the most meticulously cleaned home. These insects can survive almost anything – they can live for days without their heads! What’s even more impressive, they can even survive a nuclear explosion to a certain point.
So how can you eliminate roaches if these suckers can’t even be killed by a nuclear explosion? Don’t lose hope – where there is a will, there is a way! But before you can get rid of roaches in your home, you need to first know the type of pest you are dealing with. While there are thousands of roaches across the globe, there is a handful that are commonly found in NC.
Most Common Types Of Cockroaches in North Carolina
In North Carolina, you are likely to encounter several common species of cockroaches. The most common ones include:
American Cockroach
- Size: Large, about 1.5 to 2 inches long.
- Color: Reddish-brown with a pale yellowish border around the pronotum (the plate-like structure behind the head).
- Identifying Features: Fully developed wings, allowing them to fly short distances, and a distinctive "figure-eight" pattern on the back of the head.
- Habitat: Found in dark, warm, and humid areas such as basements, crawl spaces, and around drains.
Brown-Banded Cockroach
- Size: Small, about 0.5 inches long.
- Color: Light brown in color with noticeable bands of dark stripes across its wings and abdomen.
- Identifying Features: Both males and females have wings, but they are poor fliers.
- Habitat: Tends to prefer warmer and drier locations, such as upper cabinets, closets, and furniture.
Cuban Cockroach
- Size: Small to medium-sized, about 0.4 to 0.6 inches long.
- Color: Bright green, making them easily distinguishable from other cockroach species.
- Identifying Features: Fully developed wings, but they prefer to run and hide rather than fly.
- Habitat: Often found in outdoor environments, such as gardens, tropical areas, and greenhouses. They can occasionally invade structures seeking shelter and food.
German Cockroach
- Size: Small, about 0.5 to 0.6 inches long.
- Color: Light brown to tan, with two dark parallel stripes on the pronotum.
- Identifying Features: Fully developed wings, but they prefer to scuttle rather than fly.
- Habitat: Commonly found indoors, especially in kitchens, bathrooms, and areas with food sources.
Oriental Cockroach
- Size: Medium-sized, about 1 to 1.25 inches long.
- Color: Shiny black or dark brown.
- Identifying Features: Females have underdeveloped wings, and males have short wings covering only half of their abdomen; neither can fly.
- Habitat: Thrives in cool, damp environments, often found in basements, drains, and areas with organic debris.
Wood Cockroach
- Size: Small to medium-sized, about 0.5 to 1 inch long.
- Color: Light brown to dark brown.
- Identifying Features: Both males and females have wings, but they are not strong fliers.
- Habitat: These cockroaches prefer outdoor habitats like wooded areas, forests, and under bark. However, they can occasionally find their way into homes.
How Fast Do Roaches Multiply?
Different types of roaches breed at different rates. German cockroaches are the most rapid breeders. While they only live 6 months, they can lay up to 40 eggs in that time span. American cockroaches breed less frequently, but females can live up to a year and a half, having more opportunities to lay eggs. While different types of roaches, all roaches have the ability to infest a home.
Popular Ways to Get Rid of Roaches
How to Kill Roaches With Borax and Sugar
If you have a roach problem in your home, you might find some great success with this exterminator-recommended solution. The trick is to use a 3-1 ratio of borax to sugar. The roaches will be attracted to the sugar and eat it right up, along with the borax too. The borax dehydrates the roaches’ exoskeletons and kills them within a few hours.
Sprinkle your mixture in the following areas for the best results:
- Areas where you have seen the roaches in large numbers
- Places where you have seen indications of roach activity
- Any places where you have seen roaches trying to feed
Think places where there is moisture or food for them to thrive-- like your laundry room, bathroom, or kitchen.
How to Kill Roaches With Fabric Softener and Water
To use this method, simply make a solution of three parts fabric softener to two parts water. Load up a spray bottle with this solution and spray the mixture on cockroaches that you see around your home to kill them quickly and effectively. Keep in mind, this is only good to spot-kill them; it won’t help prevent them or kill a severe infestation. It turns out your bottle of fabric softener up there on your laundry room shelf can do a whole lot more than just keep your sheets snuggly soft!
Do Store-Bought DIY Roach Treatments Work?
There are many different cockroach baiting systems available on the market that can help you to get rid of the roaches in your home, with some working better than others. The key to making DIY treatments more effective is to regularly apply these treatments.
Where to Apply DIY Roach Control Treatments:
- Baseboards
- Corners of your home
- Under the sink
- Anywhere you have seen cockroaches
- Anywhere you have seen indications of cockroach activity.
The idea is that the cockroaches will bring the poisoned bait back to the nest, and kill off your entire population in one fell swoop!
How To Prevent Cockroaches and Palmetto Bugs In North Carolina
Sure, taking a preventative approach isn’t going to help you right now if you have a current roach infestation, but it will help you prevent a future one once you get this one under control. The best way to prevent bugs is to not let them in the first place. Consider taking a preventative approach to keep them out for good.
How to Prevent Cockroaches Outside Your Home
- Seal cracks, crevices, and gaps around entrances to your home. Think doors, windows, utility lines, etc.
- Replace doors and screens with holes.
- Keep the perimeter of your home clean from dead or overgrown vegetation. Pests like to live in these areas!
- Stack firewood far away from the entrance of your home.
- Don’t leave garbage directly outside of your home or door.
How to Prevent Cockroaches Inside Your Home
- Keep the garbage can closed and empty it out regularly.
- Keep refrigerators clean-- clean on top and underneath regularly.
- Store all food in containers. Don’t leave open food on your counters or in your cabinets.
- Repair any leaky sinks and faucets-- pets are attracted to moisture.
- Regularly check warm areas where roaches might reside-- think under the refrigerator, television, or washer and dryer.
Professional Cockroach Control
Because these pesky pests are resilient, and their population can quickly grow, it may be hard to handle a cockroach infestation on your own. If you have noticed an influx of roaches in your house, you should call a professional pest control company to help you with the problem. Roaches aren’t only gross and cringe-worthy, but they’re also extremely unsanitary and can contaminate your food and living quarters!
If you’re looking for an affordable roach exterminator in Greensboro, and the surrounding Triad and Piedmont area with guaranteed results, look no further than Terminix Triad. We’ve been protecting homes in the area since 1932 and are the experts when it comes to eliminating roaches. Trust our team of professional exterminators to get the job done right!