What causes flying roaches in your house?

Flying roaches, also known as palmetto bugs, are a common pest that can invade homes. While not dangerous, they are certainly unpleasant and can be difficult to get rid of. Understanding what attracts roaches into your home is the first step to preventing an infestation.

Why Do Roaches Fly?

Roaches are equipped with wings and can fly, which allows them to move quickly from place to place in search of food, water, and shelter. They often take flight at night when it is dark and quiet. There are a few reasons roaches may fly around your home:

Seeking mates – Male roaches take flight in order to find and mate with females.

Foraging for food – Roaches fly in search of food sources, especially at night when it’s safest for them.
Searching for water – Roaches need water to survive, so they may fly from room to room looking for water sources.
Escaping threats – Roaches will take flight when startled or sensing danger.

Finding shelter – Roaches fly to seek out dark, humid areas where they can safely rest and nest.

What Attracts Roaches Into Your Home?

There are a number of factors that may attract roaches into your home and allow them to thrive once inside:

Food Sources

Roaches are attracted to food and can find their way into your kitchen pantries, shelves, corners, and counters in search of something to eat. Any exposed food or crumbs left out can lure roaches in.

Moisture

Roaches need moisture to survive, so leaks, high humidity, standing water, condensation, and damp areas will attract them. They may enter your bathroom searching for water in pipes, sinks, tubs, and drains.

Clutter

Roaches seek shelter in dark, cramped spaces and clutter allows them to remain hidden. Cardboard boxes, storage containers, piles of paper, and clutter give roaches a place to nest and breed.

Cracks and Crevices

Any cracks, crevices, or gaps along baseboards, walls, under cabinets, around pipes, or in foundations provide entry points and shelter for roaches.

Warmth

Roaches thrive in temperatures between 75°F and 95°F. Heat sources like appliances, electronics, plumbing, and warm outdoor temperatures can attract them.

Common Entry Points for Roaches

There are a number of ways that roaches can enter your home, including:

Under doors or sliding doors

Through cracks in foundations
Under or around sinks and tubs
Inside cardboard boxes or grocery bags

Through drains and pipes
Under siding or trim
Around utilities and wiring entering the home

Via vents for HVAC systems
Through openings for cable, phone, or internet lines

Signs You May Have Roaches

Watch out for these common signs of a roach infestation:

Seeing live roaches – This is the most obvious sign. Seeing roaches scurrying around is a clear indicator they are present.
Roach droppings – Roach feces look like small, dark specks. Finding them along baseboards, under sinks, and in cabinets means roaches have been there.
Molted exoskeletons – Roaches shed their outer casing as they grow. Discarded husks or shell casings mean roaches are molting and multiplying.

An unpleasant, musty odor – The scent associated with roaches is very distinct. Where there’s a strong roach smell, there’s likely an infestation.
Grease marks or stains – The oily secretions left behind on surfaces where roaches frequently travel can leave ugly trails.
Egg cases – Female roaches carry egg cases, also called oothecae. They look like small, brown seed pods and may be left behind.

Preventing Roaches From Entering Your Home

You can help keep roaches out of your house by taking these proactive measures:

Seal any cracks, crevices, gaps, or holes on the exterior of your home using caulk or weatherstripping. Pay attention to potential entryways like windows, doors, siding, utilities, vents, and foundations.
Make sure window and door screens are in good repair without any holes or tears.

Install door sweeps and seals to prevent gaps between doors and floors.
Keep vegetation, woodpiles, debris, and trash away from the outside of your home.
Use range hoods and bathroom exhaust fans while cooking or showering to reduce humidity.

Repair any plumbing leaks or dripping faucets to eliminate moisture.
Vacuum regularly to remove crumbs and debris that attract roaches.
Store food in tightly sealed containers and don’t leave dirty dishes out overnight.

Inspecting Your Home for Signs of Roaches

Once a week, take time to thoroughly inspect your home for any signs of roach activity. Check these key areas:

Kitchen – inspect inside cabinets, drawers, pantries, under appliances, behind the refrigerator.
Bathrooms – check under sinks, vanities, along the base of toilets, inside cabinets.

Bedrooms – inspect behind headboards, inside closets and wardrobes, under beds and furniture.
Laundry room – check around washing machine, dryer, under laundry sink, inside cabinets.
Utility room – inspect around hot water heater, inside cabinets, under sink.

Basements and attics – look for signs around windows, doors, vents, and pipes entering the home.
Garage – inspect under shelving, storage, and appliances, near wall openings.

Use a flashlight and small mirror to illuminate and check hard-to-reach areas. Look not just for live roaches, but also droppings, cast shells, grease marks, and egg cases.

Sanitation Measures to Control Roaches

Proper sanitation and housekeeping will help reduce roaches’ food sources, water supply, and hiding places. Here are some sanitation tips:

Never leave dirty dishes in the sink overnight. Rinse or load into the dishwasher right after meals.
Wipe kitchen counters, tables, stoves, and sinks regularly to remove crumbs and spills.

Store food, including pet food, in airtight containers. Never leave food sitting out.
Regularly clean inside pantries, cabinets, and refrigerators.
Take out trash and recycling daily. Use lidded trash cans.

Fix any plumbing leaks or drips immediately to eliminate moisture.
Keep bathrooms and sinks dry by wiping condensation and splashes.
Dry wet mops and cleaning rags immediately so they don’t sit damp.

Good sanitation leaves little around for roaches to feed on and drink from.

How to Get Rid of Roaches

If you have a roach infestation, here are some effective control methods:

Insecticide Sprays and Baits

chemical treatments:

Apply boric acid powder along baseboards, under appliances, and in cabinets.
Use gel baits in cracks and crevices where roaches harbor.
Spray insecticide formulations along baseboards, under sinks, and into crevices.

Apply insecticide powder around attics, vents, utility openings.

Always follow product labels and instructions carefully when using chemical pesticides.

Traps

Trapping options:

Adhesive sticky traps monitor and catch roaches.
Light traps lure roaches in and zap them.
Jar traps catch roaches under an inverted jar.

Monitor traps frequently to gauge the size of an infestation. Replace traps according to directions to maximize effectiveness.

Vacuuming

Vacuuming roaches directly removes some of the population. It’s most effective for killing and removing egg casings and droppings.

Sealing Cracks and Crevices

Seal any openings where roaches can enter with caulk or weatherstripping, especially in the kitchen and bathroom. This limits their hiding spots.

Natural Repellents

Some greener, non-chemical options include:

Diatomaceous earth – The powder dries out roaches’ exoskeletons.
Catnip – This herb contains a natural roach repellent.

Bay leaves and cloves – The strong scent drives roaches away.
Cucumber peels – Sliced peels placed where roaches frequent may deter them.

Preventing Future Roach Infestations

Once you have eliminated roaches from your home, keep them from coming back by making your home inhospitable:

Store food in tightly sealed containers and clean up spills immediately.
Don’t allow clutter like cardboard boxes to accumulate.
Fix any water leaks and eliminate moisture sources.

Seal cracks and openings throughout the home.
Inspect regularly under appliances, furniture, and in cupboards for signs of roaches.

Stopping roaches from entering in the first place is the best long-term solution. Continued vigilance and roach prevention measures will help keep your home pest-free.

When to Call an Exterminator

If you have a significant roach infestation that you are unable to control on your own, it may be time to bring in a professional pest control company. Here are some signs it’s time to call an exterminator:

You are seeing large number of roaches daily.
Roaches have infested multiple rooms in the home.

You are frequently finding egg cases and droppings.
Roach sightings are persistent despite your own pest control efforts.
You are seeing roaches during the daytime hours.

Roaches have spread to cabinets, pantries, drawers with stored food or dishes.

A qualified exterminator has the training, equipment, and insecticides to effectively get rid of roaches. They can treat severe infestations in ways that residents can’t on their own.

Conclusion

Roaches are nuisance pests that can quickly multiply to large numbers. However, understanding why roaches are attracted to your home and taking steps to make your home less inviting can greatly reduce the chances of an infestation taking hold. Sealing up entryways, eliminating food and water sources, and employing integrated pest management techniques will help keep these flying pests at bay.