Suppose, at night, when you are preparing for bed and are prowling around the house, you encounter the ugly sight of a cockroach running across the kitchen floor.
This common urban scene highlights a significant issue: cockroaches thrive in urban areas. It’s not just their presence that is inconvenient, but also the fact that it is symptomatic of other issues.
Identifying why cockroaches thrive in urban areas is crucial. Understanding these reasons helps us control their numbers, and, as an added advantage, it also helps in controlling the diseases they bring. Pest control companies, therefore, play a significant role in urban areas to eradicate pests.
Urban Environment and Cockroach Survival
Cockroaches prefer thriving in cities because they offer a ready source of food, warm temperatures, and, best of all, many places to hide. Congestion and lack of hygiene result in plenty of food scraps and junk, providing suitable environments. On the other hand, in rural areas, there is little or no food waste, making it difficult for cockroaches to locate food sources and nesting sites.
Suburban environments are moderate in terms of food waste and hiding places. However, frequent pest control services and improved garbage disposal in suburbs decrease the proportion of cockroaches compared to urban areas.
The city provides many opportunities or places where cockroaches can hide because of the architecture and layout. Some of the most frequently used hiding areas are the cellar, the attic, the utility room, and behind large appliances.
Cockroaches find shelter in clutter, as heaps of garbage, redundant furniture, and boxes divide the space. Other structural features, such as crawl spaces, false ceilings, and unoccupied rooms, also serve as hiding spaces. Lastly, a dilapidated part of the area with walls that have holes or panels that can be easily moved also provides protection. These features, put together, provide specific construction attributes that make it possible for cockroaches to seek temporary shelter or hiding spots.
Human activities and practices
Poor Sanitation and Waste Management
Inadequate hygiene and disposal of wastes are some of the reasons that enhance the prevalence of cockroaches in urban areas. They regard uncollected garbage as a secure food source and feed on it when it is left outside for disposal.
Cockroaches thrive where there are festering rubbish bins, food remnants, and discarded items on the floor. Additionally, a lack of cleaning in public places and residential areas attracts insects, leading to their abundance.
Construction and Urban Development
Construction and development works in an area can also be blamed for constant cockroach infestation. Soil and structure disturbance may drive cockroaches away from affected areas and into other areas within buildings.
Shaded areas and adequate food supplies on construction sites may attract cockroaches. Similarly, the construction of new buildings will cause the emergence of more places for cockroaches to hide and likely areas for them to get access to.
Increase in High-Density Housing
Overcrowding also results in an increased chance of cockroach invasion, especially in high-rise buildings with high-density accommodation. If many people live close together, they will dispose of more waste and leave behind food particles that attract cockroaches. The high possibility of interconnected wall spaces and plumbing systems allows cockroaches to penetrate other units, thereby affecting the entire building.
How to Get Rid of Cockroaches
Imagine the frustration that comes with finding those creepy crawlies, cockroaches, in your home and workplace. Here’s how to prevent and eliminate them:
Keep Areas Clean
It is important to clean your house, especially the kitchen, often enough to ensure no pieces of food are left behind.
Seal Cracks and Crevices
Cockroaches can even get into the building through doors, cracks and crevices. Seal these entry points to prevent pest entry.
Take Out the Garbage
Always ensure that you take out the garbage frequently and keep the kitchen waste bin clean, as cockroaches are attracted to such waste.
Use Bait Traps
Place cockroach bait traps wherever you might observe or catch them. They are useful for trapping and minimizing their generation.
Contact Professional Pest Control
In some cases, it is time to seek help with an expert. If you wish to eradicate the pests from your home and receive proper recommendations on what should be done, contacting professional pest control services can be immensely beneficial.
Effective steps to avoid cockroaches in your home include cleaning and taking preventive measures. It is wise to take early action when signs of infestation are noted in the house.
Choose Al Rasa for professional pest control services in Dubai. Contact us and get a pest-free space.