Why Cockroach Infestations Are Serious
Cockroaches aren’t just gross; they pose a real health risk. These pests spend time in dirty, unsanitary places, picking up bacteria and pathogens. When they crawl across your kitchen counters or food, they can spread illnesses like salmonella and E. coli.
They also trigger allergies and asthma through their saliva and shed skins.
If just a cockroach or two got into your house, it might not be a serious problem, but these pests reproduce rapidly, so even an infestation that starts out small will soon grow. Compounding the problem is the fact that cockroaches are good at hiding. They’ll find a dark, humid, secluded area where you aren’t likely to find them, and will spend their days hiding there and their nights walking around your house, looking for food and contaminating the surfaces they touch.
Common Signs of Cockroach Activity
Live Roach Sightings
As nocturnal pests, cockroaches are most active at night, so that’s when you’re most likely to see them. If you start seeing them during the day, it could signal a large infestation with a nesting area that has run out of room.
If you want to actively look for live cockroaches, there are a few common areas where they hide. Check your kitchen, bathrooms, and basement. You can look under sinks, down drains, and behind appliances.
Droppings
Cockroaches leave their droppings wherever they spend time. The majority of these will be found in their nesting areas, but you may also find them in the places where they look for food, along baseboards, or in drawers and cupboards.
Roach droppings vary in appearance depending on the species. American cockroaches have dark, cylindrical, pellet-shaped droppings. Oriental and German cockroaches leave behind droppings that resemble pepper specks or coffee grounds.
Egg Cases (Oothecae)
A healthy cockroach population is a growing cockroach population. That means that the female cockroaches will be laying eggs. Cockroaches lay multiple eggs at the same time, which are contained in a case called an ootheca. These cases look similar to pills or capsules. They can range from tan to dark brown and are usually hidden in cracks, under furniture, or in other out-of-the-way locations. Depending on the species, each egg case can hold 10-40 eggs.
Musty Odor
When a cockroach infestation has grown large, you might start noticing an unpleasant odor in your house. Roaches give off a strong musty scent caused by oil secretions. While it won’t be noticeable from one or two roaches, when a large infestation is present, you will begin to smell it.
Shed Skins
As cockroaches mature, they shed their skins. Most of these will be found in the areas where they hide, such as under sinks and behind appliances.
Smear Marks
Smear marks, most noticeable in rooms with high humidity, are another sign of a cockroach infestation. Oils leave behind these marks on their bodies, which can appear as brown streaks along baseboards, walls, and floors.
Where to Look for Roaches
Roaches prefer dark, hidden, and moist spaces, including:
- Under sinks
- Behind appliances
- Inside cabinets and pantries
- In cracks in walls and flooring
- In utility closets and drains
How to Prevent a Cockroach Infestation
Avoiding a cockroach infestation is preferable to eliminating one after it arrives. These prevention tips can help you reduce the likelihood of roaches ending up in your house.
- Seal cracks and gaps around the exterior of your house.
- Cut back foliage around your house and reduce moisture around your foundation.
- Store all food in sealed containers.
- Do the dishes as soon as they’re dirty.
- Wipe down counters after each meal.
- Take out the trash regularly.
- Sweep or vacuum your floors consistently.
- Address moisture issues in your house immediately.
What to Do If You Suspect an Infestation
If you spot signs of cockroaches, don’t wait; call the professionals immediately! Most DIY methods fail because they don’t fully eliminate the colony. The longer you wait, the worse it gets, increasing health risks for your family.
At The Pied Piper, our licensed experts will assess your situation and provide targeted pest treatments to completely remove the infestation. Moreover, we offer ongoing home pest control services to keep roaches and other house-infesting pests out all year long.
Don’t ignore cockroaches; they won’t disappear on their own. Contact The Pied Piper today for fast, effective cockroach control you can trust.
