Are Cockroaches Worse In Summer?

Cockroaches in South Carolina are active all year, but their activity increases during summer. In today’s blog, we’ll explain why this increased activity exists. We’ll also identify attractants and share tips on keeping these pests out of your home during the summer and throughout the year.

Key reasons cockroach activity increases in the summer

Warmer temperatures
Cockroaches not only thrive when it gets hot out, but the heat accelerates their life cycle. In other words, they breed faster which leads to larger populations.

The hot weather also boosts their metabolism, making them more active and increasing their need for food and water.

Higher humidity
Along with warmer temperatures, summer often brings higher humidity levels. This provides the moisture that roaches need for survival. Damp areas like crawl spaces, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and kitchens become even more attractive to cockroaches.

Increased humidity also causes condensation on pipes, damp floors, and other conditions that result in more sources of hydration for these vile bugs.

Food sources
When the summer hits, there are more outdoor gatherings among friends and family, which can lead to more garbage and food, which attracts cockroaches. Cockroaches also eat other insects which are more plentiful in the summer.

Of course, the usual food sources remain constant, such as improperly stored food in homes, pet food left out, and what we would consider non-food items like toothpaste and hair.

How to repel roaches this summer

To reduce your chances of cockroaches infesting your home this summer, our locally owned and family-operated pest control company recommends the following cockroach prevention tips:

• Pick up cardboard boxes and other paper products waiting to be recycled. Roaches will feed on the cellulose and the decaying food matter left behind.
• Make sure your exterior trash cans are covered and wash them regularly to dislodge food and trash stuck on the sides.
• Keep your kitchen and entire home clean. This includes making sure there are no dirty dishes in the kitchen sink, no crumbs or spills on the counters or floors, and that toothpaste, soap scum, and hair are not left in the bathroom sinks and showers.
• Haul away tree branches, pick up leaf litter and other organic debris, refresh mulch, and stack wood well away from the house. This will eliminate potential hiding spots in your yard.
• Fix leaking faucets and other plumbing issues indoors and outdoors and address moisture issues wherever they may be.
• Seal off potential entry points to stop these pests from sneaking indoors.

When to call in a pest control specialist to help with cockroaches

If you’ve spotted a live roach scurrying across your kitchen floor in the middle of the night or have found other evidence of a cockroach infestation, reach out right away. These bugs will not go away on their own. In fact, German cockroaches rarely leave unless forced to do so.

The best way to protect against cockroaches in the summer and pests all year long is to sign up for an ongoing home pest control plan with Harris Pest Control! Our team offers residential plans in Florence, Socastee, and Myrtle Beach, as well as throughout the Pee Dee and Grand Strand areas that protect homes and families from over 20+ pests, including American roaches, German roaches, and Oriental cockroaches.

Compare our plans and pricing below or simply give us a call to find out how we can help you reduce cockroach activity in and around your home this summer.

Don’t forget to ask us about moisture control solutions for your damp crawl space!