There are a lot of annoying and gross pests you have to deal with in Charlotte, North Carolina. Among the worst are cockroaches. These disgusting creatures scurry about your house spreading bacteria and causing health problems. They are also nasty to look at!
Below is more information about avoiding cockroaches and getting rid of them, along with some info on other pests in the area.
How to Avoid Cockroaches in Charlotte
There are a few different types of cockroaches that live in the Charlotte area. These include American, German, Oriental, and more. They are all problematic, and you want to avoid an infestation. If you do notice cockroaches, it’s best to take action quickly and get rid of them before the issue gets worse. In order to make sure cockroaches don’t infest your home, there are a few tips you’ll want to consider…
The first line of defense is to keep them from getting indoors. Use weather-stripping around your windows and doors. Also, make sure you check any packages you receive for cockroaches before you bring the packages inside. Consider inspecting the outside of your home for cockroaches occasionally as well.
Cockroaches need a place to live and food to eat. Keep your basement dry to avoid them. Also, put your food away when you are done eating.
Getting Rid of Cockroaches on Your Own
If there are only a few cockroaches to deal with and the problem hasn’t become a full-on infestation, there are a few things that you can try to get rid of the problem on your own.
Bait Stations
Bait stations are easy to set up and can get rid of your cockroach problem. They attract roaches. The roaches pick up the bait, bring it back to other roaches, eat the bait, and die.
Glue Strips
Like with bait stations, roaches are attracted to the smell of glue strips. As soon as the roach steps on the strip, they are trapped. From there, you toss out the strips with the dead roaches.
Baking Soda
You may already have baking soda at home. This can be used to create gasses in the stomachs of roaches and kill them.
Professional Services
If you have tried the at-home solutions above and you still are dealing with cockroaches, you likely have an infestation. For an infestation, you’ll require the help of a professional pest control specialist. They will be able to find where the cockroaches are hiding and use professional baiting, trapping, and other equipment to kill the roaches. They will then set up a perimeter to stop the roaches from coming back.
With that said, the perimeter won’t last forever. In order to ensure cockroaches and other insects don’t make their way indoors, speak with your pest control specialist about ongoing services. Nationwide Pest Control offers one-time and ongoing services to get rid of cockroaches and other pests and ensure they don’t come back.
Other Pests to Avoid
Along with cockroaches, there are other pests in Charlotte that you’ll want to avoid. Some of those pests include:
Rodents
Rodents include pests like mice, roof rats, Norway rats, and others. They scurry about spreading bacteria and illness. They also eat your food, damage your property, chew through your wires, and more.
If you would like to avoid rodents, consider these tips:
- Vacuum and clean regularly.
- Take out your trash.
- Use your garbage disposal.
- Put away food after eating.
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are frustrating to deal with. They buzz around, bite, and leave itchy bumps. They are also known to spread viruses and diseases. You don’t want a full infestation on your property.
In order to avoid a mosquito infestation, consider these tips:
- Cut your grass often.
- Fill in holes on your property that collect water.
- Remove standing water from your home.
- Turn outdoor buckets and containers upside down.
- Remove overgrown stumps, debris, and vegetation from your yard.
Ants
You are almost never dealing with a single ant. They live in colonies, so if you see a couple of ants there are likely more around somewhere. While some ants are simply annoying, others (like fire ants) have painful bites.
In order to avoid an ant infestation, consider these tips:
- Rinse out containers and cans before throwing them out.
- Use weather-stripping around your windows and doors.
- Remove debris, branches, and brush from your yard.
Wasps/Hornets
Wasps and hornets can become a major problem quickly and should be addressed as soon as you can. Unlike bees, wasps and hornets can continue to sting and don’t die after one sting. They are also much meaner and more aggressive. While you may want to take care of the nest on your own, keep in mind how dangerous these pests can be—especially if you are allergic. You may not even know you are allergic to wasps and hornets until you get stung! You also need to take immediate action for the sake of your guests. You probably don’t know offhand who is allergic to wasps and who isn’t.
Contact a pest control specialist to get rid of the wasp or hornet nest on your property. They will safely remove it and ensure a new one isn’t built anytime soon.
Termites/Carpenter Ants
Termites and carpenter ants are major pests for a different reason than many others. Instead of attacking you, they attack your property! They can do thousands of dollars in damage before you know it, and they multiply quickly. You need to hire a specialist as soon as you find termites or carpenter ants in your home. It’s extremely difficult—if not impossible—to remove these pests on your own. Contact Nationwide so we can find those pests and get rid of them.
Cockroach Problem? Call Us Today!
If you have a cockroach infestation or any other type of pest problem, contact Nationwide Pest Control today. We’ll dispatch an expert pest control specialist to identify the problem areas and kill the pests infesting your home!