Available 24/7, 365 Days/Year
877-927-2521
How to identify a cockroach infestation?
How to identify a cockroach infestation?
You might think that spotting a cockroach is easy, however, this is not true. The signs of a cockroach infestation are still easier to look for than the actual pest itself. Like a majority of other pests, cockroaches are nocturnal which means that they step out during the night to hunt for food. When it is daytime, cockroaches tend to hide and stay away from humans by staying in their hidden areas such as cracks and walls. Cockroaches are not fussy when it comes to their food sources and can almost live on anything. They can feed on fabrics as well and even materials like plastic. Problems can occur inside or outside your property and you should look for certain signs so that you can know if there is a cockroach infestation around you.
Identification of a cockroach infestation
Some signs can help you know if your property is under a possible pest attack. Look out for these signs to turn your doubts into confirmation.
Cockroach droppings
If cockroaches are going to eat your food, it is only logical that they are also going to pass it out from their digestive systems. Cockroach droppings are black and appear very similar to black pepper. It is usually 1mm wide with different lengths. If you find cockroaches here and there, there is a high possibility of a cockroach infestation. These feces can usually be spotted behind the refrigerator or the stove. If the cockroach prefers moisture you can also find its feces under the sink or the basin. If you wish to clean it up, you should be extra careful and take all necessary precautions. Cockroaches have a very colorful diet which means that many pathogens end up in their digestive system which then passes out through droppings. There is a high chance of bacteria spreading through cockroach dropping so be cautious when cleaning it up. Airborne diseases can also be spread when cleaning the droppings with water so research on that beforehand to avoid any errors.
Smear marks
Some species of cockroaches prefer living in high moisture places which involve leaving behind marks. If a cockroach moved along a wall with a lot of moisture or even rested on it, it would leave behind a series of irregular marks. Usually, these smear marks are on horizontal surfaces where there is high cockroach activity as well as between walls.
Cockroach eggs
Cockroaches are very fast breeders. They lay capsules which are called ootheca which contain several eggs. Now, this ootheca varies from species to species but whenever the egg hatches it leaves this shell behind. The German cockroach has 18 segments while the other brown ones have 8 segments. This casing is hard evidence that cockroaches have found your home to be friendly and plan to stay for a while.
Shed Skin
Like a lot of other animals, these pests shed their skin as well and not once but multiple times. As it passes through the various life stages, this tends to happen around 5-8 times. You can identify this easily as it is usually present around the house.
Live cockroaches
This one is pretty self-explanatory. Cockroaches are nocturnal insects which means that they usually step out during the night. You can step out anytime during the night and see them crawling and scattering. Sometimes you can also spot them during the day and this is because usually the population has outgrown the available food sources and there is now scarcity. Sometimes you might also be able to spot dead cockroaches which are normal according to their lifecycle. If you have seen cockroaches scattering around chances are that there is a cockroach infestation and you should see to it immediately.
Pest Control Professional
Pest Information is a non-profit organization, offers pest control resources, as well as bug and insect pictures, information, facts, and more.
Newsletter
Recent Posts
Catagories
Categories
202-555-0142
