Quick, what is reddish-brown, an inch in a half long and could be hiding in your shower right now? Not a very pleasant thought is it? It's an American Cockroach, often called the Palmetto Bugs. While these pests won't directly hurt you, they are one of the last things you want to see in your home, or share your shower with.

A Florida Staple

Life in Florida means that at some point in time, you're going to have to deal with American Cockroaches. Florida is packed with tropical insects, and this is certainly one of them. Even if they don't end up in your home, you're going to see them in your yard at some point.

Outside, you're most likely to see American Cockroaches in hollow trees or near palm trees. They like being near moist, shady areas, so they'll hide anywhere the conditions are ideal. From your swimming pool to your sprinkler system, you may be making your yard the perfect haven.

If they do get in the house, you'll probably find them in your crawl space, in your basement if you have one, near a floor drain, or somewhere else where dark, wet conditions prevail.

Keeping Them Out

If you are having a problem with American Cockroaches, or you simply want to do what you can to keep them out, make certain that you look outside your home first. Ensure windows and doors fit tightly, and you don't have any holes or cracks in the siding of your home. If there's a space between the pipes of your home and where they actually enter the house, you'll need to seal that immediately as well.

Do your best to keep American Cockroaches out of your yard as a whole by mowing your lawn regularly and reducing the amount of foliage in your yard. Keep your gutters as clean as possible, and repair any leaks immediately.

After you've taken care of the outdoor concerns, it's time to look indoors. Unlike other kinds of roaches, the diet of the American Cockroach is quite variable. They'd be happy to eat your food, but they're just as happy to eat almost anything else they can. Clean your home well, but take care of little things too, like cleaning up the clutter. Dry your home out as well as you can too. If you have an overly humid home, you may want to invest in a dehumidifier. Just as you want to do outside, be sure to repair any indoor leaks, and the damage they've done, immediately. Wrap sweating pipes, too.

Contact the Professionals

The only way to truly prevent or treat American Cockroaches in your home is to contact a professional pest control company to help. With the tools and knowledge necessary to make sure they don't become an infestation on your property, a professional pest control team can offer the right solutions and advice for your home.