(Newswire.net — November 28, 2018) — If you’re still dealing with a roach problem come winter, here is some news for you-you will be dealing with it for a lot longer than you bargained for 300 million years of surviving on this harsh ball of ice and fire we call our planet has evolved cockroaches into death-defying organisms whose determination to exist surpasses the earth’s impassive desire to bring all life to an end through freezing cold weather. This brings us to the question: where do roaches go in the winter?
Cockroaches are the ultimate survivalists. They thrive in hot and humid summers where they breed and multiply to a great extent. Although their numbers take a dramatic plunge during cold autumns when temperatures slide below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, the majority of them simply become inactive and wait out the cold season. Their life cycle kicks back into action as the temperatures rise again in spring, where they continue proliferating in their usual great numbers.
Where do Roaches go in the Winter?
So, what exactly happens to roaches during winter? Half-inch German cockroaches, for instance, escape into the walls of buildings where they continue to breed in temperatures higher than 50 degrees Fahrenheit. It is not uncommon to find entire colonies of roaches within your sheetrock and walls at the end of winter. These winged German roaches are terribly innovative when it comes to seeking out new shelter to breed in.
Oriental cockroaches can be just as pesky and hard to keep out of buildings. During winter, they escape the cold and form nests in places with plenty of water, which is crucial for their survival. You will find them in damp basements and crawl spaces, or littering sewers and drains.
The American roach is more resilient in a few ways. Though they don’t normally escape to buildings for shelter during winter, they will use the opportunity to hide from the chilling temperatures in your drywall and basement. Usually, these cockroaches hibernate in decaying wood, rotting trees, and piles of wooden matter and wait out the cold season. Once spring comes along with its warmth, their nymphs get right back to proliferating in great numbers.
Cockroaches can’t just die off due to a short period of cold weather. Don’t rely on subzero temperatures to permanently get rid of your roach infestation. If anything, cold temperatures only make it more likely to find these stubborn little insects nesting in your food cabinet or in a bottom drawer filled with old magazines. Over the course of their 300 million year existence, they have survived longer, and much colder winters, so there is no reason why a few cold months should kill them off entirely.
In Conclusion
So, where do roaches go in the winter? Because your home could be a target for roaches to hibernate in, Preventive Pest advises homeowners to be proactive in their roach elimination tactics. Bait stations and traps should be placed appropriately, especially during winter to prevent them from gaining access to your home as they seek shelter from the dropping temperatures.