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Roaches are one of the hardest kinds of pests to get rid of. They are incredibly resilient and it’s actually been said that if there were to be a nuclear holocaust, cockroaches are probably the only thing that would survive. So, just how are you supposed to get rid of them when you have an infestation? Getting rid of cockroaches certainly isn’t easy, but it can be done. There are many different types of poison and bait that you can use to help, but the thing you’ll need most is probably your own patience.

There are many roach poisons that come in dusts and sprays, so they’re very easy to apply. These materials are filled with poison and when the roach comes into contact with them, they die. These can be spread across a large area, which is most helpful when you’re dealing with a large infestation. You also don’t need to attract the roaches to the spray, which makes it even more effective. Most sprays attack the outer skeleton of the roach, which then slowly deteriorates and leeches out the roach’s cells slowly. The process does not happen immediately but keep at it and you’ll soon see that the roach population in your home is considerably less. You may also have to do this a few times due to the fact that there are a great number of roaches present. When using roach poison, especially if you have pets or children in the home, look for one that contains desiccant, as this is least harmful to humans.

If you don’t have thousands of roaches to kill, but know that you have at least a few, you may want to consider roach baits. These baits can be tucked away out of sight and contain the harmful ingredient boric acid. This acid could be harmful to children and small pets however, so always use extreme caution when you’re using them.

For a free Los Angles pest control inspection, give us a call at 888-675-0258.

Imagine–you come downstairs, flip on the light and your heart stops:  it’s a cockroach!  The first thing that goes through your mind is how to kill it.  But you may also feel a little ashamed of having a roach in your house.  Cockroaches are often associated with dirty areas, and you may take a lot of pride in the way you keep your home.  But the reality is that cockroaches can show up anywhere.

Roaches are one of the most invasive and hard to kill species on the face of the earth.  They may travel outward from their nest in search of food which can be anything they come across on the floor or countertops including your pet’s food.  That’s why one of the most important ways to prevent cockroaches is keeping all food and trash sealed in airtight.

Once they get in your home, cockroaches can be very difficult to get rid of.  They are fast and difficult to catch, and they are nocturnal which means you won’t see them once the lights come on.  They make their nests inside the walls of your home or in areas that may be impossible to reach.

Cockroaches can be killed with poison traps and prevented by spraying around the perimeter of your home and its entry ways.  These poisons can be hazardous so it can be well worth your effort to call a professional pest control service to come to your home.  These services are well trained to use only the correct amount of poison for your home’s square footage and your pest problem. 

Most importantly, you don’t want to pretend that you didn’t see that cockroach that just crawled across your floor.  You have absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about.  Cockroaches can move in and thrive even in the best homes.  The best way to make sure you get rid of them for good is to call a professional pest control service and take care of your problem once and for all.

For a free Los Angles pest control inspection, give us a call at 888-675-0258 or go to www.accuracypluscalifornia.com.

Cockroaches are by far one of the biggest pest control concerns in any home.  Regardless of where you live or how clean you keep your house, these little guys are always ready to invade with the slightest drop of a crumb.  There is no question that roaches are a nuisance, and no one will blame you for trying to kill any you might have the misfortune of hosting.  But they are also fascinating creatures which deserve at least a little appreciation.  Check out these 20 fascinating facts about cockroaches:

• There are more than 5,000 species of roaches worldwide.  The largest lives in South America and has a wingspan of one foot.
• Cockroaches have six legs and up to 18 knees.
• Roaches can survive for up to one month without food.
• Roaches can hold their breath up to water for up to 40 minutes.
• As they grow, roaches shed their exoskeletons—up to several times in a single year.  After they do they appear white for around eight hours.
• American cockroaches can run up to three miles per hour.
• Used in traditional medicines for centuries, roaches have been used to cure everything from indigestion to water retention.
• Blood moves freely through the roaches’ bodies, instead of through a system of veins.
• If you cut off its head, a cockroach can live up to a week—only dying because it doesn’t have a mouth with which to drink water.
• In old Europe, cockroaches were considered lucky and a tradition to release them into a new home.
• Cockroaches are thought to have appeared more than 200 million years ago.
• Roaches spend up to 75% of their day resting.
• Roach relatives can recognize one another by their smell.
• Roach blood is white.
• Cockroaches can survive exposure to radiation that is hundreds of times greater than those that would kill humans.
• In a complete reversal of the mating habits of most animals, female cockroaches often seek out the least powerful males to mate with.
• Roaches chew sideways.
• Roaches are not indigenous to America.  They were brought here by explorers.
• Cockroaches are linked to allergies and asthma in some people.
• Some female cockroaches get pregnant and stay pregnant for the rest of their lives.

For a free inspection, give us a call at 888-675-0258 or go to http://www.accuracypluscalifornia.com/.

Protecting Your Home from Cockroaches

Are cockroaches really that big of a deal? The answer is easy – a definite yes! Cockroaches contaminate just about anything they come in contact with, including food, utensils, furniture, countertops, and sinks. These nasty critters carry a variety of illnesses and disease, including gastroenteritis and dysentery.

Cockroaches love to find dark warm hiding spots, especially those with access to food. Some cockroaches can fly, especially when the weather is warm. Cockroaches will infest any area that offers a food source, such as trash bins, sink traps, below or above cabinets, under stoves and refrigerators. These areas are likely to accumulate crumbs and grease, which are favorite snacks for the cockroaches.

Because cockroaches are so prolific (able to produce thousands of young each year), even a few cockroaches can cause a real problem.  If you suspect you have a cockroach problem, you need to take immediate action.

During one of our normal inspections, we’ll often uncover signs of cockroach infestations. We recommend the following steps:

• Keep food sealed in air-tight containers.
• Clean all cupboards and work surfaces of scraps and food crumbs.
• Empty garbage cans regularly.
• Keep garbage in sealed containers.
• Install vents in any area that may allow access to the home.
• Eliminate any wet areas.
• Throw away any cardboard boxes.
• Caulk or grout cracks in roofs, walls, and counters.

With a thorough inspection, we’ll uncover any points of entry for cockroaches and put an action plan in place to get rid of your cockroaches for good. For a free inspection, give us a call at 888-675-0258 or go to http://www.accuracypluscalifornia.com/.

Summertime in Southern California is just about perfect – we love to hit the beach whenever we can, enjoy the balmy days and nights, and take advantage of the long, summer days.

Unfortunately, there are some pests that are enjoying the summer season just as much as we are – ants, spiders, cockroaches, and silverfish. This is prime time for them to build nests and breed. While you enjoy the beach, you may come back to a home with a lot more critters running around.

Here are my suggestions for keeping summer pests under control:

• Get rid of any piles of debris from your yard – this includes lumber, firewood, or even bricks. All provide great nesting places for pests, especially ants;
• Watch your sprinkler system – redirect your sprinkler heads if necessary so they don’t spray on your house foundation;
• Seal cracks in the house exterior;
• Keep garden mulch low – less than 2 inches thick. Keep it away from your house foundation;
• Put screens on foundation and attic vents;

These are some of the simple ways you can control pests. Give me a call and I’ll help you determine if you have a pest infestation and give you more ideas of how we can control it, so you’ll have a pest free summer, or go to www.accuracypluscalifornia.com for more information.

You could have pests in your home without even realizing they exist – all the while they slowly eat away at the wood in your home. Fortunately, the type of pests that eat into wood – such as carpenter ants, termites and powder-post beetle – aren’t necessarily fast acting. You can have an infestation without your home being quickly eaten away, but you do need to take action.

How can you tell if pests are eating away at the wood in your home? They usually leave behind some distinctive signs:

• Look for holes in your wood work (window sills, baseboard, trim). These holes are really tiny – about the size of a pencil lead.
• Check for signs of recent sawdust – if you see little mounds of sawdust near or on your woodwork, that’s a big clue to pests at work.
• Look for coarse sawdust near piles of wood outside.
• Check for damage by pressing on wood work with a screw driver. Termites hollow out wood work, so damage may only be visible by pressing into their hollowed out area.

If you suspect you have carpenter ants, you may hear the ants at work. If you hear rustling in your walls, you may have a problem with carpenter ants. Termites are more visible, you will see signs of termite mounds, or you may see a swarm of termites around your home.

I recommend that you take action as soon as you think you have a problem with wood damage. I’m happy to come out to your home to check your wood work and help you determine which types of bugs are affecting your home and assess how much damage has been done, if any. Contact me at www.accuracypluscalifornia.com.

Cockroaches are one of those insects that literally make your skin crawl. You see them swarming across the floor, and it’s hard not to have an involuntary shiver. Cockroaches track in germs from all over – they can bring in bacteria that cause diseases and illness, along with allergens that make breathing difficult for asthma sufferers.

What’s the best way to get rid of cockroaches? My advice is simple – try to keep your environment free of the things that cockroaches love – access to food and water.

Cleanliness is important – since cockroaches look for food and debris, keep your home tidy. Clean up spills and crumbs from food, even vacuum in cracks and crevices.

Take the trash out – keep garbage in trash containers with tight lids. Don’t allow newspapers, magazines, or other papers to pile up. Look for places that make great hiding places (such as rag boxes) and get rid of them.

Look for leaks – are there spots where moisture is collecting in your home, such as leaky plumbing? Make sure you get any leaks or condensation problems taken care of – cockroaches love moisture.

Keep food tight – keep you foods, cereals and other items in containers, such as glass jars or plastic containers.

Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum – when you vacuum, you vacuum up cockroach egg capsules and other cockroach debris. Regular and frequent vacuuming slows development of cockroaches.

Finally, I recommend using a cockroach trap to eliminate cockroaches from your home. If you’d like more information about getting rid of cockroaches, go to www.accuracypluscalifornia.com.