Fall will soon be here, and cooler temperatures are coming. On cooler, breezy days with low humidity, many like to open the windows to enjoy the fresh, clean smell a fall day brings. When we can’t open the windows, many of us purchase automatic air fresheners to keep the air clean and fresh.
No one wants to live in a smelly house, and when there is a musty odor, we want the scent gone. Cockroaches are a cause of musty aromas in Jacksonville homes. If you suspect these hidden night insects are the problem, you need the best pest control in Jacksonville, Trad’s Pest Control. We’ve been helping families in the Jacksonville area since 1971, and we will eliminate the roaches in your home so you can breathe easier.
Are Roach Infestations Common In The Jacksonville Area?
Cockroaches are one of many bugs in Florida that find our warm, moist climate attractive. Many cockroach species prefer the outdoors but will migrate into homes searching for warmth, food, and shelter. The following are common cockroaches in Florida:
- Asian cockroaches: Discovered in 1986 in Florida, these are the newest addition to our cockroach population and are often mistaken for German cockroaches.
- German cockroaches: Of the many Florida insects, German cockroaches like to live in Jacksonville homes, where they prefer warm, humid places near food sources.
- Australian cockroaches: Like the Asian cockroach, this species prefers to live outdoors. Just as the Asian cockroach is confused with the German cockroach, Australian cockroaches are mistaken for American cockroaches.
- American cockroaches: Often called Florida palmetto bugs, these are the largest of the roach home invaders. They prefer the outdoors but will come into the home when temperatures dip under 70℉ and food becomes scarce.
- Oriental cockroaches: Like other cockroaches, these Florida bugs prefer moist, warm, and damp areas outdoors like leaf piles and under stones, but they will invade homes in cold weather.
If it were not for cockroaches, Florida would be one step closer to paradise; however, cockroaches are part of living in Florida.
How Can I Tell There Are Roaches Inside If I Can’t Find Them?
Cockroaches in Florida are not always easy to see because they are nocturnal. As you sleep, they are scurrying across the floors and countertops. There are signs, however, of a cockroach infestation in your house.
Begin your search in rooms that have a musty odor. Also, search areas with high humidity or moisture like drains, garbage disposals, leaky pipes, basements, or crawlspaces. As you search those areas, check for dark spots, pepper-like fecal material, droppings with blunt ends, or egg capsules glued to surfaces.
I Can’t Explain The Odor In My Home. Could This Be A Sign Of Roaches?
If you notice an unexplained, musty odor in your home, it could be coming from cockroaches. German cockroaches create a stale-smelling pheromone to attract a mate. A large infestation of German cockroaches in an area will produce a strong, musty odor.
Help! I’m Finding Roach Skin On My Counters! What Should I Do?
The first thing you should do is get help. When you search, “find an exterminator near me for roaches,” you will find Trad’s Pest Control at the top. Our family-owned company builds relationships with our clients, has over 50 years of experience, and provides extraordinary service.
The second action is to take the following cockroach prevention and control steps:
- Vacuum the house regularly.
- Clean kitchen countertops after each use.
- Wash dishes and put them away after each meal.
- Remove pet food from bowls before going to bed.
- Close garbage can lids.
- Fix leaky pipes.
- Dehumidify the crawlspace or basement.
- Seal openings leading into the home.
These steps will control the current cockroach population and stop attracting others. In addition to these steps, you still need the pest control services of Trad’s Pest Control to eliminate the cockroach eggs to prevent another generation from invading your Jacksonville home.