An American cockroach in Virginia - Loyal Termite & Pest Control Cockroaches are some of the most feared pests in Eastern & Central Virginia, as well as all across the country. Having roaches in your home is associated with uncleanliness and filth, even though roaches can infest your home due to circumstances outside of your control in many cases. Unfortunately, there are multiple species of cockroaches that are active in our region. In this blog,we will cover one of the most prominent ones, the American cockroach. To learn more about this cockroach and find out if these are possibly the ones infesting your home or business, read on. Our expert technicians at Loyal Termite & Pest Control have offered up their knowledge to help our customers fight back against roaches on their own!

All About the American Cockroach

The American cockroach is one of the most prominent species of cockroach in our country, as you might imagine by their name. They are also sometimes referred to as palmetto bugs. If you think you might have them in your home, here are some identifying features to look for to confirm that they are American cockroaches:

American cockroaches are usually between 1.5 and 2.5 inches long—the largest cockroach in the United States
They are reddish-brown in color, lightening in shade from the center of their backs out to their limbs
You can often find them in places with high levels of moisture of lots of water, like sewers, drains, bathrooms, and under sinks
They are able to run very quickly, reaching speeds of over 3 miles an hour (which seems underwhelming when read but is blazingly fast)

How to Prevent American Cockroaches

As we mentioned earlier, American cockroaches thrive where there is water or moisture. This is why we often find them outside our homes—they are called palmetto bugs in some places because of their affinity for hiding in palmetto plants. However, when they do make it inside your home, they can be extremely difficult to get rid of without professional help. Here are some ways that you can prevent cockroach infestations before they start:

Check for leaky pipes: When people find a cockroach in their home, it’s usually the case that they open up the cabinets under their sink to many more. Leakage around both indoor and outdoor water fixtures can contribute to cockroach infestations.
Clean up spills promptly: Not just water! Cockroaches are also out for a meal, and will gladly feed off of food residue and spilled meals.
Take out your trash often: On that note, roaches can often find a reliable food source in our trash bins. Make sure to use bins with sealable lids, take out your trash often, and distance your trash bins from your home.

Professional American Cockroach Control

If American cockroaches are running through your home or business or around your yard, it’s time to reach out to your local roach exterminators. At Loyal Termite & Pest Control, our team is trained to assess cockroach infestations from the ground up, eliminating the sources of the outbreak to keep your property free from roaches all year long. For a free quote or to learn more about American cockroaches, contact our team today!