Cockroaches are common home pests in Louisiana. For a good part of the year, the weather in Louisiana is warm and swamp-like.
This type of weather favors the breeding of cockroaches by stimulating them to feed and reproduce much faster.
There are also so many decaying organic plant materials that serve as their primary food source, making Louisiana more favorable for them.
You do not want to put up with these dangerous pests and have them living under your roof with all the health risks they pose.
Unfortunately, cockroaches are among the most challenging pests to control, and control methods differ depending on the species.
Therefore, you must identify the type of cockroaches in your home. This will help you determine the proper measures to eliminate cockroaches. Let’s take a look at the key things you need to know about roaches in Louisiana.
Types of Roaches in Louisiana
There are about 4,000 species of roaches worldwide, of which only 30 are well-known as pests and associated with human habitats.
Among these 30 species, there are at least five common species in the Pelican state. These common species include:
American Cockroaches (Periplaneta americana)
Members of this species are among the largest; they can grow 2-3 inches long. The American cockroach is brown or reddish–brown with light yellow edges around its body.
Read More: Killing The American Cockroach
German Cockroaches (Blatella germanica)
The German cockroach can grow to about half an inch long and is light brown with two dark parallel stripes on its back and behind its head.
Read More: Getting Rid Of The German Cockroach
Oriental Cockroaches (Blatta orientalis)
The Oriental cockroach is a dark reddish-brown roach that grows to about an inch long and prefers dark and damp places, lending them the nickname of flying water bugs.
Read More: I Found an Oriental Cockroach In My House: How to Get Rid of Them
Brown-Banded Cockroaches (Supella longipalpa)
The brown-banded cockroach is dark brown and measures about half an inch long. These roaches are the smallest variant of roaches in Louisiana and eat pretty much anything.
Unlike other cockroaches, this species does not look out for excess moisture; they love warm, dry areas and may find a home in your cabinet and electronic appliances.
Read More: How to Get Rid of Brown-Banded Cockroaches
Pennsylvania Wood Cockroaches (Parcoblatta pennsylvanica)
The Pennsylvania wood roaches carry less disease and are less likely to make you sick. They like cooler temperatures and prefer to eat organic matter, so you most likely find them outside.
They grow to about one inch long.
Where Can You Find Cockroaches in Louisiana?
You can find cockroaches in Louisiana in various parts of your home.
Cockroaches in Louisiana are a year-round problem; you will find different species in different environments.
Although cockroaches love to live outside, they will enter your house when the weather outside gets unfavorable; they will also come in search of water and food.
- American cockroach: Mainly infests commercial areas like restaurants, bakeries, warehouses, shipyards, and supermarkets.
They get their way into home apartments by finding their way up through the sewage and plumbing systems. As a result, you will likely find them in basements, crawl spaces, and foundation cracks.
- German cockroach: Hides out in tight spaces around refrigerators, sinks, stoves, and cracks in walls.
- Oriental cockroach: This roach is mainly found in sewers, damp basement areas, drains, and porches.
- Brown-banded cockroaches: These will mainly be hiding in cabinets and appliances in any room in your house.
- Pennsylvania wood cockroaches: These roaches hide in dark spaces, timber-covered areas, tree trunks, wood piles, and hollow trees.
You might also find roaches coming from neighboring states. For example, you may also want to be on the lookout for the types of roaches found in Texas.
How to Get Rid of Roaches in Louisiana
Cockroaches might be adaptable creatures, but this does not mean management is impossible.
To get rid of the roaches:
Don’t Leave Any Food Out
Clean dirty dishes after meals, clean spills and crumbs off the floor immediately, store remaining food in containers, and seal pet food properly.
Fix Leaky Pipes
While most roaches can go up to a month without food, they cannot last more than a week without water.
Therefore, fixing leaky pipes deprives them of water making your home inhabitable. Keep crawl spaces and basements dry and well-ventilated.
Read More: Seeing Cockroaches in Your Basement?
Declutter Your House
Cockroaches live in unhygienic areas, so take out the garbage and ensure the garbage cans are airtight. Also, get rid of household items the roaches can shelter in.
Natural Home Remedies
There are several natural home remedies to get rid of roaches, including boric acid, baking soda, essential oils, borax roach balls, glue taps, and diatomaceous earth.
Conventional Methods
Glue traps, bait stations, liquid deterrent concentrates, and pesticides can also help eliminate roaches.
If you opt to use these chemical solutions, ensure that you read instructions carefully and adhere to the safety precautions.
How to Prevent Cockroach Infestations in the Future
Once you have eliminated the roaches, you must take preventative measures so they don’t come back. You may need to:
- Seal cracks and entry points and have leaky pipes fixed if there are any
- Get rid of excess moisture in your home
- Mop regularly and vacuum clean regularly
Find a Licensed Pest Control Professional
Severe infestations will demand the help of a pest control expert who will identify the areas with the cockroach problem and get rid of the infestations safely and effectively.
Don’t Let Roaches Get Out of Control
Louisiana is home to many cockroaches, and it is normal to find one or two in your household; after all, they are one of the most common household pests.
If you find a roach and ignore its existence, you could end up with a whole colony of them. And a cockroach infestation is not something you would want to leave unattended for long.
To get rid of these problematic pests, you must remove whatever attracts them to your house. Once you can identify which pests you’re dealing with, you’ll be better able to identify what it is that is attracting them.
