Author: Wendy Holtz

While the Asian cockroach is relatively new in the United States—first arriving in the 1980s–they’re spreading like wildfire. These cockroaches look nearly identical to another common species of roach in America, the German cockroach. Even though these two common roaches look similar, their behavior is much different. Read on to discover everything you need to know about the Asian cockroach, and how you can prevent these troublesome pests from invading your home.

Asian Cockroach Identification

Asian cockroaches were first discovered in Lakeland, Florida, and they continue to thrive throughout the state. An Asian cockroach is small, brown in color, and has wings and dark bands running from its head down its back. You’ll only notice visual differences between the Asian and German cockroach if you get very close. The border of an Asian cockroach’s abdomen is white, while the German’s is colored.

The Asian Cockroach Lifecycle

Asian cockroaches spread quickly. While each roach’s lifespan is relatively short—only about 100 days—the average female lays four egg cases during that time, so colonies can increase in popularity relatively fast. These pests are fairly seasonal, so look for larger adult populations in the spring and late summer. Nymph populations peak during the warm summer months. Asian cockroaches are primarily outdoor pests that are active in the evening, but they can easily make their way into your home by flying inside open windows or doors.

Asian Cockroach Control

Asian cockroaches are a challenging pest to control. Since they typically fly into houses, rather than climbing in through cracks and holes, perimeter pest control won’t work. If Asian cockroaches have made themselves at home in your house or yard, don’t rely on DIY methods that generally don’t work. Instead, call the pest control experts at Evergreen Lawn and Pest Control to eliminate the infestation and prevent it from reoccurring, all while using eco-friendly, family-friendly treatment methods.

Learn More: How to Get Rid of Roaches in Your Home

How to Prevent an Asian Cockroach Infestation 

Preventing an Asian cockroach infestation is all about being proactive and keeping your house as clean as possible. While Asian roaches typically stay outside, they will fly into your home in the evening when the lights are on. Keep your kitchen and bathrooms clean and remove any spills, crumbs, or cooking leftovers as soon as possible. You should also change garbage bags to remove attractive food sources for roaches.

You should also pay your yard some attention, removing any damp piles of leaves and keeping grass short to remove any potential habitats. Oak leaf litter and rubber mulch attract Asian cockroaches, so choose another type of mulch and keep your yard clean to prevent these pests. 

Learn More: How Can I Get Rid of Asian Roaches?

Control and Prevent Asian Cockroaches at Your Home

While Asian cockroaches are mainly outdoor pests, they can make themselves at home in your home. If you suspect you’re dealing with an Asian cockroach infestation in your home or yard, call the professional pest control technicians at Evergreen Lawn and Pest Control – Debary right away. We’ll develop a targeted, eco-friendly treatment plan that eliminates the problem, once and for all. Call us today at 407-880-6655 to schedule your free pest control consultation!

Florida homeowners beware–termite swarm season is almost here. Every year near the tail end of winter, termite activity increases throughout Florida and across the country. For around five to 6 months, termites start swarming, attempting to invade your home. Here’s what you need to know about termite season, so you can be prepared to defend your home against these damaging pests.

1. Termites Swarm in Late Winter/Early Spring

Termite swarms occur at the end of winter as temperatures start to rise. Massive numbers of winged termites, called alates, begin to leave their colonies in the spring, swarming in large numbers to start looking for a new home. While these plates don’t consume the cellulose in wood, they will when they grow up. As they set up camp in your yard, it won’t be long before they start feasting on your home. Often, seeing termite swarms–moving groups of dozens of termites–is a homeowner’s first alert to the presence of termites on their property.

Learn More: How Quickly Can Termites Cause Damage to My House?

2. Termite Swarming Season Is Different Than Termite Season

Termite swarming season is a relatively short window of time in Florida during the late summer and early spring. It’s the time period when young termites actively search for a new home. In reality, termite season is all year round in Florida. If termites are already present at your property, they’re likely feasting away on any wood sources they find. They can survive and thrive no matter the season, which is why you need to reach out to your trusted termite control experts the moment you see swarms at your property or any signs that you’re already dealing with infestation like:

• Discolored, drooping drywall
• Peeling paint in areas where no water damage exists
• Tiny, pinpoint holes in drywall
• Wood that sounds hollow when tapped

3. You Can’t Prevent a Termite Swarm

While there’s not much a homeowner can do to prevent a termite swarm, there are some proactive steps you can take to ensure a swarm doesn’t turn into an infestation later. Here’s what you can do:

• Ensure there’s no wood-to-soil contact around your home
• Repair all cracks or holes in your home’s foundation
• Keep gutters and downspouts clean and clear of debris
• Install termite shields around your home

Learn More: Termite Season Is Here: All You Need to Know to Protect Your Home in Orlando

Protect Your Property During Termite Swarm Season

If you see one or more termite swarms at your property, the best thing you can do is reach out to your trusted termite control experts immediately. If you see a swarm, termites are likely either close enough to invade your home—or, worse yet, they may already be inside. The professional termite control team at Evergreen Lawn and Pest Control – Orlando will evaluate your risk and create a customized termite treatment plan to deal with any active infestation. Protect your property by calling us today at (407) 880-6655 to schedule your free termite inspection.

If you want to properly care for your lawn, identifying the grass type you’re dealing with is the first step you should take. Knowing the exact type of grass, you have in your yard helps you understand how to meet its needs and grow a gorgeous, sustainable lawn. Identifying grass can be a challenging guessing game, but with the following tips in mind, you can easily determine the type of grass you’re dealing with. Here’s how:

1. Know Your Grass-Growing Region

The location of your property is the first clue as to the type of grass you have in your lawn. Like flowers, shrubs, and trees, grasses have climate limits—to grow year after year, it must suit your grass-growing region. In Leesburg and Central Florida in general, most lawns have warm season grasses that peak in growth during the hot, humid summer months.

Learn More: What Is the Best Type of Grass for Central Florida?

2. Identify Common Warm-Season Grasses

There are three common warm-season lawn grasses you’ll find in Central Florida. Look closely at the characteristics of the grass in your lawn to determine whether you have one of the following grass types in your yard:

• Bahiagrass: Bahiagrass loves heat and humidity, so it’s highly tolerant to drought. It’s a coarse-textured grass that grows best in acidic, sandy soils. Its open growth habit makes it susceptible to weeds.

• Bermudagrass: Another heat- and drought-tolerant grass, Bermudagrass is one of the most common grasses in Florida. It features medium- to fine-textured blades and requires full sun. Its aggressive growth often leads to thatch buildup.

• Zoysia grass: This grass has better heat and cold tolerance than other warm-season grasses, staying green longer in fall and getting green earlier in spring. It features dense, spreading growth that often causes thatch buildup.

3. Examine Features of Your Grass

Once you’ve narrowed down potential grass types based on your growing region, look at the differences and similarities between species. While color and texture are easy to see and feel, some features require a closer inspection. Take a closer look at qualities like the width and shape of the blades and growth habits to determine the exact type you’re dealing with in your lawn. Here are some differences and similarities between the common Florida grass types:

• Bahiagrass: Light green in color, Bahiagrass features medium-to-broad blades with sharp-pointed tips. New grass shoots, or vernation, appear rolled or folded, and growth often spreads with below-ground stems.

• Bermudagrass: The darkest-green grass you’ll commonly find in Florida, Bermudagrass has narrow blades with sharp-pointed tips. New grass shoots are folded, and growth spreads with both above-ground and below-ground stems.

• Zoysia grass: Light to medium green in color, Zoysia grass features narrow-to-medium blades with sharp-pointed tips. New grass shoots take on a rolled appearance, and they exhibit a spreading growth pattern with above-ground and below-ground shoots.

Learn More: Which Lawn Should I Choose for My Yard?

The Best Way to Find Out What Type of Grass Is in Your Yard? Ask the Experts!

Need help identifying the grass in your yard? The lawn care experts at Evergreen Lawn and Pest Control – Leesburg are ready to help! We’ll create a targeted treatment plan based on your grass type, so you can achieve a lush, healthy, and sustainable lawn. Call us today at (407) 880-6655 to schedule your free inspection!

1. Silverfish Can Reproduce Quickly

One interesting fact about silverfish is that they perform love dances before mating. After the love dance, the male silverfish lays spermatophores, which the female takes up into the ovipositor. While egg numbers and mating habits vary from species to species, silverfish often reproduce quickly, even laying clusters of up to 20 eggs a day.

2. Silverfish Often Come From the Soil Outside Your Home

Silverfish don’t arrive in your house from nowhere—they typically originate from the oil around your home. When conditions outside are dry, silverfish head indoors in search of a more humid environment, entering your home through cracks and gaps in your foundation and walls. 

Very wet weather can drive silverfish indoors, too. When the water table rises, silverfish enter your home to avoid drowning. If you’re experiencing a major silverfish infestation, it’s a good indication you have water damage somewhere in your home.

Learn More: 4 Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing a Pest Control Service

3. Silverfish Can Be Found Throughout Your Home

Silverfish are resilient pests. While they’re able to survive in most climates, they prefer to live in damp, dark areas like basements and attics, as well as dark corners in kitchens and bathrooms. They’re attracted to paper and damp clothing, so look out for silverfish in your laundry room, too.

4. Silverfish Can Eat Family Heirlooms

Silverfish have a unique diet compared to most pests, and they love to snack on family heirlooms like old photos, papers, and books. They’ll also eat through fabrics like carpet, clothing, curtains, and more. In the kitchen, they’ll snack on starchy foods in your pantry. In short, silverfish will eat just about anything, and even if you manage to starve them, they can survive many months without eating anything at all. That’s why it’s so important to get an infestation under control as quickly as possible.

5. Silverfish Infestations Can Be Prevented

If you don’t have silverfish slithering around in your home, there are ways to make sure these nuisance pests stay out. Start by sealing up the outside of your home, making sure there are no cracks or holes in your foundation or walls. Ensure all screens and door sweeps are in good condition and keep the perimeter around your home clean and dry.

Learn More: How Does Integrated Pest Management Work?

The Eco-Friendly Way to Deal With Silverfish

If you’re already dealing with a silverfish infestation, you need to call a reputable pest control company right away. At Evergreen Lawn and Pest Control – Apopka, we take an eco-friendly approach to silverfish control and any other household pests that may be plaguing you. Take the first step toward a pest-free home by calling us today at (407) 880-6655 to schedule your free consultation.