5 Reasons Why Cockroaches and Ants Fester at Home
Cockroaches and ants are common household pests, but their presence can be a severe problem if you don’t know how to get rid of them. If you live in a home conducive to cockroaches and ants, it is easy for them to take up residence. Here are five reasons why your home may be an excellent place for this creepy crawlies:
You have plenty of food for the cockroaches and ants.
Cockroaches and ants thrive in environments with a lot of food. So if you have leftovers from last week’s dinner sitting around or even just an open bag of chips on the counter, they will be able to find them easily.
If too much food is available, cockroaches and ants will go hungry instead of returning for more—and your home will stay pest-free! To avoid having a surplus of uneaten snacks lying around, follow these tips:
- Store all leftovers in airtight containers until ready for them, then throw away food after use. This way, nothing gets wasted.
- Clean spills immediately by spraying them with water. This ensures that no dirt falls into the cracks where it can let bacteria grow over time.
Water supplies are readily available.
One of the reasons why cockroaches and ants are attracted to your home is because they need water. Cockroaches can live for a month without food but only for a week without water.
Ants also need water to survive, but they don’t have this problem because they do not depend on it like cockroaches. Roaches also need their bodies to be moist for them to reproduce successfully. Therefore, if you have high humidity levels inside your house, roaches will come into contact with more moisture than usual. This will increase their chances of survival during an infestation outbreak.
Your home has easy access points.
Cockroaches and ants can get into your home through small cracks and openings. They can also squeeze through tiny cracks, which is why they may be able to enter a gap in your wall or window.
Cockroaches and ants can travel through pipes or along electrical wires, making it easier for them to find their way inside your walls. In addition, cockroaches are attracted to moisture in the air thanks to their sense of smell. So if you have a leaky pipe or an appliance that drips water into your home, there is a strong possibility that you’ll be dealing with cockroaches soon after.
You don’t regularly clean your kitchen.
The kitchen is the most common place for cockroaches and ants to hide. If you are not cleaning your kitchen, you leave food crumbs and other debris behind. Cockroaches and ants will find this food and thrive in a dirty environment.
- Clean the kitchen countertops, cabinets, and drawers at least once weekly.
- Clean the stove and oven regularly, especially if you have pets.
- Ensure all food preparation areas are clean (like under the sink) and any sites with moisture issues (such as around pipes).
Your home has plenty of hiding spots.
It will surprise you that cockroaches and ants can hide in the same places you do. Cockroaches and ants can find shelter in dark spaces, like cabinets, pantries, and closets. They also love hiding out under sinks, around pipes, and behind appliances. In this case, it is best to consult with roaches pest control, for a comprehensive set of tools and solutions.
Ants are even more resourceful than roaches when it comes time to find a new home! Ants have been known to move into homes after storms and during extreme temperatures (like heat waves).
Health Problems Caused by Them
Cockroaches and ants are the most commonly found insects in homes, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). These insects can cause a variety of health problems in your home.
Cockroaches and ants, both winged insects, carry bacteria from one place to another. Cockroaches can carry salmonella, tuberculosis, and other diseases humans can catch from contact with them. Cockroaches can also spread germs through their feces, meaning you have to clean up after them more often. Cockroaches excrete a substance called “excrement” that can cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.
Ants are less likely than cockroaches to spread disease but still carry bacteria on their bodies or nests, such as staphylococcus, salmonella, E. coli, and tuberculosis.
If your environment favors cockroaches and ants, they will stick around.
The best way to control these insects is to ensure your home offers them a hostile environment. With a strong base of pesticides and creating an inhospitable living situation for these unwanted guests with accommodations that are not conducive to their survival, these pests can be kept under control.
Remember: it is not that you never clean; you have created an environment conducive to their growth. If you want to get rid of them once and for all, there is much to do. You may need to take drastic measures (such as relocating entire house sections) to address the problem. But if you are willing and able to make these changes, your efforts will be worth it in the end.