Even though Hawaii is a tropical paradise brimming with home and business owners enjoying the diversity of the state’s environment, it is also a haven for cockroaches that also like what the state has to offer. With more than a dozen of the crawling, and sometimes flying, pests calling Hawaii home, chances are you’ll see them in and around your property.

While it may feel impossible to avoid roaches in Honolulu, knowing how they get into your home in the first place may help you prevent an infestation. Here’s what you need to know about cockroaches in our area, how they get inside, and how you can keep them out for good.

Types of Cockroaches in Honolulu

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There are 19 species of roaches in Hawaii, and they are often seen clustered on the outside of buildings, or crawling across walls and counters inside homes. The most common species include:

American Cockroach: The American cockroach is the most common type of cockroach you’ll see in Honolulu and throughout Hawaii. The American cockroach is a brown, winged insect with long antennae. Its body can grow up to two inches long. They prefer warm, humid conditions and will often enter homes during periods of colder weather. They are sometimes found hiding out in basements, in cracked walls and foundations.
German Cockroach: German cockroaches are much smaller than their American cousins, usually around half an inch long. They may also be a lighter shade of brown or tan. They are easily recognizable by dark parallel stripes extending down their back. The presence of food and water attracts these roaches. They often gather in restaurants and hotels. Because they cannot tolerate cold temperatures, they will escape into any dwelling available during the winter months.
Surinam Cockroach: Surinam cockroaches have oblong, rounded bodies that grow close to an inch in length. They are usually dark brown or black. Surinam cockroaches are known for burrowing into the soil and are sometimes inadvertently brought into the home through potted house plants.

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Are Cockroaches Dangerous?

Because cockroaches travel through many types of environments, including sewers, drains, and toilets, they may be carrying a variety of pathogens and diseases. Pacific cockroaches may be carriers of polio and typhoid, salmonella, and E.coli, as well as allergens, which can be dangerous for those suffering with asthma.

How Do Cockroaches Get Inside?

People often joke that cockroaches could survive the apocalypse. These pests are small, incredibly tough, and resourceful—so, it’s no wonder that they often get inside. If you keep finding roaches in your home, they’re likely getting in using one of these entry points:

Cracks and Crevices: Cockroaches are skilled at squeezing through even the tiniest openings in walls, floors, and foundations. Small cracks around windows, doors, and utility penetrations serve as convenient entry points.

Openings Around Utilities: Pipes, vents, and utility lines provide cockroaches with easy access into homes. Gaps around plumbing fixtures or poorly sealed utility entrances create pathways for roaches to enter.

Doors and Windows: Poorly sealed doors and windows offer an invitation to cockroaches seeking shelter and food indoors. Damaged weather stripping or gaps in door frames provide ample opportunities for these pests to make their way inside.

Hitchhiking: Cockroaches can hitch a ride into your home through various items brought from infested areas. Groceries, luggage, used furniture, and even cardboard boxes may harbor cockroach eggs or nymphs, introducing them into your living environment unnoticed.

How to Keep Cockroaches Out of Your Home

To dissuade cockroaches being attracted to your home, there are a few basic things to do that will make your home less attractive and accessible to these pests. A few cockroach prevention tips include:

Keep your home clean and dry. Clean up standing water, fix leaky faucets, and dry up moist areas of your house. Wash dishes and take out the trash often. Vacuum and dust regularly. Cockroaches prefer messy, undisturbed areas, so be sure to clean cracks, crevices, and other out-of-sight areas such as basements and crawl spaces.
Put food away. Food that’s left out on counters, uncovered or in open packages, will attract cockroaches. Any foods left on tables and counters should be kept covered in sealed containers.
Use Borax to kill existing roaches. Cockroaches and other common house pests are attracted to the sugar in Borax. Once they eat it, the chemicals kill roaches from the inside out. Sprinkle Borax around in cracks and corners, as well as any place you see evidence of roaches in your home.

While these tips can have an impact, the most complete program to help with cockroach removal and prevention, both inside and outside, is securing the professional services of Sandwich Isle Pest Solutions.

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