What Is Behind Roaches’ Attachment to Water?

Even the cleanest house can have a cockroach infestation. While roaches are often attracted to food, dishes, and trash, they can also invade your home through tiny cracks and crevices in your floors, walls, and ceilings. Cockroaches can also come in from outside if there is an opening in your home’s exterior.


If you’re dealing with a cockroach infestation, it’s important to identify the source of the problem. Roaches can be attracted to water, so a leaky pipe, a damp basement, or even a poorly draining yard can be the cause of your problem. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to address the issue and get rid of the roaches.


What Is Behind Roaches’ Attachment to Water?
Unlike other insects, cockroaches are not just attracted to food but also water. They need water to survive and will go to great lengths to find it. This is why you often see them scurrying around the sink or bathroom—they are looking for a way to get their hands on some H2O.


There are a few reasons why roaches are so drawn to water. For one, it helps them regulate their body temperature, which is important since they are a cold-blooded species. In addition, water allows them to digest their food better and helps them expel waste. Lastly, roaches need water to produce an important protein called ootheca, which is used to incubate their eggs.


While cockroaches can go for a long period, days, even, without eating, they have to have a regular source of water. This is especially true for the American cockroach, which is often called a waterbug. These large roaches are most often found in sewers and storm drains living in massive colonies of thousands, but any water source will draw them. This includes a leaking pipe under a sink, pet’s water dish, or a gutter and downspout right outside your house. German cockroaches are also common in North Carolina and share similar traits and habitats to their American counterpart.


It’s important to remember that cockroaches don’t need a lot of water to survive; just a few drops consistently is enough to sustain a large colony. Areas of your home with water damage, mildew and mold, or high humidity are ideal havens for these disease-spreading pests. Cockroaches can spread serious illnesses like E. coli, salmonella, and strep throat, so it’s important to take steps to prevent them from invading your home.

***

Steps for Eradicating Waterbugs and Roaches
Cockroaches multiply fast, and even if you only see one, there could be thousands living in your attic, basement, or within your walls. First, call a local pest control company to get rid of the bugs you have. This is not a time for DIY roach traps that may only take out a fraction of the population. You need professional help. A pest control company can spray in and around your home to successfully eradicate the roaches and larvae.


If you are seeing waterbugs or roaches in your home, it is important to take steps to get rid of them as soon as possible. Cockroaches can reproduce quickly, so even if you only see one, there could be thousands more living in your attic, basement, or walls. The first step is to call a local pest control company to eradicate the bugs. Professional help is necessary to spray in and around your home and eliminate the roaches and larvae. Additionally, take measures to keep your home clean and free of clutter to discourage roaches from returning.


Next, eliminate moisture in and around your home with these steps:

Drainage pipes should be directed away from your home.
Check pipes for leaks;
Look for water damage and mold in your home to pinpoint the water source;
Put away pet water dishes when not in use;
Add a dehumidifier to areas where condensation may collect;


In more severe situations, encapsulating or waterproofing your attic and basement or crawl space can prevent moisture from accumulating and help eliminate insect infestation.***

How to Get Rid of Cockroaches for Good
If you’re experiencing a cockroach infestation, it’s important to take action quickly to get rid of them. One way to do this is by using a preventative barrier spray. This will help to keep the roaches from entering your home in the first place, so you can be confident that they won’t be coming back. In addition to using a barrier spray, it’s important to keep your home clean and free of food and water sources that could attract cockroaches. Make sure to seal up your food and trash and minimize any water sources. If you’re having trouble getting rid of the cockroaches on your own, it may be helpful to have a professional pest control service come in and help. With their expertise, they’ll be able to get rid of the cockroaches for good and help you keep them from coming back.