Do Roaches Like Coffee?

If there’s one universal moment that everyone can agree is scary, or at least gross, it’s the second you turn on a light in your kitchen and see roaches scurrying away. Nothing can make your skin crawl more than the thought of these insects crawling over your food and dishes. Putting down some traps is usually the first step, but that doesn’t stop you from eyeing your morning coffee with some trepidation. Did any of those roaches help themselves to a few of your grounds?

Roaches Are Repelled by Coffee

In fact, your coffee is likely safe. Roaches are repelled by ground coffee. Putting some ground coffee down in the corners or windowsills of your kitchen can actually help keep these insects away. One problem for roaches is the acidity in coffee grounds, which can kill them if ingested. If you choose to try this method, be sure to focus on places where the roaches come in and out of the kitchen. This is the most likely place to expose them to the toxin that will kill them, and also keeps your whole house from smelling like old coffee.

How do we know that? The first reason we know this is due to our experience. We handle all the pest control needs for some of the largest coffee production facilities in the United States, and over the years we have noticed that there is a suspicious lack of roaches. Where most warehouses would attract at least a few, these locations are always clear of this bug. And if they don’t like more than 80 million pounds of coffee available to them every night, they aren’t going to want the bag on your counter.

The second reason that we know this is because of the chemical makeup of caffeine. Studies have shown that part of caffeine’s makeup is actually toxic to roaches, killing them nearly immediately. Combined with the harmful acidity, this is clear evidence for the idea that roaches are not after your coffee.

So Why Do You See Roaches by the Coffee?

You are probably wondering, if we know that roaches hate coffee so much, why do I always see roaches by the coffee pot when I flip on the light? Most of the time, the reason you see roaches by your coffee is because they are attracted to things that you store right by the coffee. Look at your coffee pot, or picture it in your mind. Next to it, you likely have creamer, sugar, or other food items that have been left out. These things can attract roaches, rather than the coffee itself.

In fact, creamer and sugar are the two biggest culprits that we have seen in our experience. Roaches are attracted to these two things and will make a beeline for them. Putting these ingredients away, and being sure to clean up any spills immediately, will help get rid of roaches naturally. Roaches are not in need of warm shelter or other materials – their entire purpose in life is to eat. So if you take away their food, they’ll soon head elsewhere.

Not Working Fast Enough?

If you’ve ditched the creamer and sugar, and you still see roaches invading your coffee space, the next thing to do is give us a call. We have decades of experience getting rid of pests and are more than happy to help you assess the problem, and tackle the right solution. You can send us a message or chat with us live right here, or call us at 800-391-2565, for pest control, termite and flea control, fire ant control, and more.

Sources:

https://www.fischerenv.com/how-to-get-rid-of-roaches-in-your-home/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/06/how-to-get-rid-of-roaches_n_965145.html

Brown Patch is Especially Bad This Summer in Louisiana

Did you know that your lawn still needs maintenance long past the summer? This is a surprising fact for many homeowners, who only think of the hot weather and summer barbeques when they think lawn care. But when the weather begins to change towards the end of summer, lawns need even more looking after.

One particular blight called brown patch is hitting us hard this year in Louisiana, and it can make your lawn look discolored and patchy next year as well. Brown patch is caused by a fungus called Rhizoctonia solani and is usually seen the most in spring and late summer to early fall. While this is an issue that can arise any year, this year we’ve seen some of the worst cases we’ve dealt with. Here’s why this is affecting yards so much this year:

Heat and Moisture

There was an abundant amount of rain fall this summer, which can have an adverse effect on grass. Grass needs to be able to dry out completely, regularly, in order to stay healthy. With so much water combined with so much heat, the grass is dying rapidly. One reason that the moisture makes grass dye is that it washes away nutrients like nitrogen, which is a key part of healthy lawns.

Which Grass Types Are Impacted?

Most warm-season grass that you would find in the average yard in Louisiana is affected by brown patch. That includes St. Augustine, centipede, Bermuda, and Zoysia. These grasses are already at the stage of naturally dying off as they prepare for winter, and combined with the poor growing conditions, they are doing so at a much faster rate than normal. This is what creates those unsightly brown and bald spots on your late summer lawn.

What to Look For

Brown patch is easy to spot when you know what you’re looking for. Your grass will turn brown or gray, in irregular patches that are often circular, but not always. These patches range in size, from just a few inches in diameter, to several feet. The brown patch areas will spread quickly to the rest of your lawn, and the dying spots will also start to attack leaves of any plants that grow in your lawn. You’ll see the leaves starting to turn yellow, red, orange, or purple depending on the type of grass you have.

DIY Treatments for Brown Patch

One thing that many people try for treating brown patch is adding a nitrogen-heavy fertilizer to their lawn. This can work in some cases, especially when combined with a fungicide to attack the fungus that causes brown patch. If you use a fungicide, you’ll need to time it so that the product isn’t washed away by the rain. Any type of systemic fungicide for grass at a local garden center can work for mild cases of brown patch.

Call Fischer for Professional Lawn Maintenance

If you aren’t having luck with the fungicide, we have more than six decades of experience in lawn care. Let us help you get your beautiful lawn back! You can save your time and get your weekends back for relaxing while we do the work. You can also save your beautiful lawn, and save potentially thousands of dollars thanks to preventative measures that stop brown patch and other harmful fungi before they start. We’ll take care of all the maintenance so that you can simply enjoy your lawn all year long.

Contact us online, or chat with us live, to get started. You can also give us a call at 800-391-2565.

Sources:

http://www.lsuagcenter.com/profiles/rbogren/articles/page1475241948863

http://louisianablooms.com/blog/04/20/2013/try-these- tips-to- battle-brown-

patch

http://www.nola.com/homegarden/index.ssf/2015/05/how_to_treat_lawn_fungus_causi.html

3 Easy Ways to Keep Pests Out this Fall!

Cooler weather leaves wild animals looking for somewhere warm where they can get food. Unfortunately, our homes are often a good looking option to them. Because of this, it is important to take measures to prevent these critters from getting in your home.

Why It’s Risky to Have Wildlife in Your Home

Besides being a nuisance, having wildlife in your home can also be dangerous. Some wildlife animals are aggressive and others carry diseases. Let’s take a look at the wildlife that we have in our area that you should really pay attention to.

Rats

Rats are determined little critters that find their way into any space that they can. They are dangerous to have around because they often carry diseases or are infested with their own parasites. They are especially difficult to get rid of because, if you see one, you can pretty much guarantee that there are at least a dozen more hiding quietly nearby.

Armadillos

Armadillos aren’t quite as dangerous as rats but they are still bad to have around. This is because they like to dig and their digging habits can cause structural damage or, worse, plumbing damage. Once this damage happens, then you have an even bigger nightmare to deal with!

Opossums

Opossums are a little bit like skunks, though not many people know that. When they feel threatened—as they likely will when you try to scare them away—they can use their sharp claws to attack and emit a musty odor when trapped or threatened. Best to keep them as far away as possible!

Raccoons

Raccoons are creative critters that are also incredibly stubborn. This makes it pretty difficult to kick them out of your home once they have entered. You can also bet that once they find a way in they will invite more to join them.

Snakes

Living in our area means that snakes are abundant. Once they enter your home, though, it can be pretty dangerous to try to get them out by yourself. This is because you don’t necessarily know which are venomous and which are aggressive.

When Will They Enter Your Home

You can expect to find these critters creeping into your home during the cold and rainy season. This is because, understandably, it is harder to survive outdoors during this time. Once they realize that your home is a reliable source of shelter and food, it will be tough to try to keep them out.

Stop Wildlife From Coming In

The best way to keep them out is by prevention! So forget those dusty (and dangerous) traps and, instead, try these three tricks to prevent wildlife from entering your home.

1.Block Any Entry Points

Do a quick walk-through of your home and look for any potential entry points. Check windows and doors along with the space underneath your home. Seal these spaces off and block any openings.

2.Seal Your Vents

Vents are basically a crude covering to a large hole in your home, right? So, oftentimes, there can be gaps that were left during installation or even a broken rung in the vent itself. Check your vents both in your attic and in your basement to make sure that they aren’t accidentally providing easy access to your home.

3.Close Off Cracks

Cracks are a normal flaw to have in a home but can sort of sneak up on you over the years. Check your house and see if you can find any that may provide a way in for wildlife. Seal them off with expanding foam or hardware cloth so that no critter can sneak through.

Living in this area means that we are quite used to the presence of wildlife. In fact, many of us support their health and wellbeing! That doesn’t mean that we want them in our homes. With a few quick steps you can prevent this from happening. Need more help? Contact us today for a free inspection!