It’s possibly the worst bug to have in your home after termites. Roaches are some of the most disgusting creatures in the animal kingdom. Reddish-brown in color, adult roaches are about 1.5 inches long. Once inside our homes, they can cause major health issues and leave us feeling disgusted and uneasy. Unfortunately, cockroaches can be incredibly resourceful and sneaky. They prefer to live in areas where they can access food easily and also hide from humans. With that in mind, the most likely places you’ll find them are in garbage bins, under the kitchen sink, or in the pantry. But what happens if you don’t see any live roaches. Could you still have a problem? By recognizing other signs of a roach infestation, you’ll be able to get a handle on things as soon as possible.
Signs Of Roaches In Your Home
You See Eggs
If you haven’t spotted the adult roaches, you might stumble upon their young. Roaches lay their eggs in capsules called “ootheca.” Each ootheca is capable of holding up to 30 baby roaches. The egg casings are long, hollow, and the eggs inside are light brown in color. Once the eggs hatch, the casings will be left behind. A good place to look is underneath cabinet sinks or behind your fridge. If you see casings that contain their eggs still, you can flush them down the toilet. However, this is rare as female roaches will carry their eggs around with them until they are quite near hatching time. This is why squishing adult roaches is not a good idea. You can inadvertently transfer the eggs to the bottom of your shoe. The next time you walk around your home, you’ll be depositing the eggs.
You Notice Droppings
Cockroach droppings resemble coffee grounds or black pepper. They are incredibly tiny – about 1mm wide – so spotting them could be difficult. This applies to German cockroaches, but if you have a different species in your home, the droppings could be larger – roughly the size of a grain of rice. Some key areas to look for droppings include the corners of the room, underneath the fridge, and the tops of cabinets. Roaches might also create smear marks as they poop because they will simply use the bathroom as they go about their day.
There’s An Inexplicable Odor
When roaches leave droppings behind, they release a pheromone to attract other roaches. However, humans can smell this odor as well. You can actually gauge how bad the infestation is based on the strength of the odor: the worse the smell, the greater the infestation. This odor can seep into furniture, curtains, and clothing, which is another reason you should call pest control as soon as possible.
You’ve Found Roach Moltings
Like reptiles, roaches will shed their old skin as they age. In fact, roaches will molt between 5 – 8 times before reaching maturity. If you haven’t seen the live bugs, it’s possible you could come across their left-behind skin.
Bite Marks On Food
Roaches are one of the most un-fussy eaters on the planet. Because they will eat pretty much anything, you might notice inexplicable bite marks on food or food packaging. They can also damage materials like leather in their quest to find food.
How To Get Rid Of Roaches
If this blog has caused you to frantically google “pest control near me,” take a deep breath. The experts at Bama Pest Control Inc. have a holistic solution to the problem. When visiting your property, we will not only kill the existing roach infestation. We will also offer advice on how to prevent problems in the future. For example, your technician might point out an area with a particularly high concentration of roaches. Aside from killing them, there are other strategies we might suggest.
Plug Up Entryways
Roaches can find their way in through things like gaps in doors and windows, rips in window screens, or cracks in the foundation or attic.
Take Away The Temptation
Remember when we said roaches would eat anything? We’re not kidding. They will eat literally anything they can find if it comes to their survival. In addition to things like food, crumbs, garbage, and pet food, roaches have even been known to eat things like dishrags. You can discourage roaches from coming in by taking away food sources, cleaning regularly, and putting sealed lids on food. Another good idea is to address dripping pipes. This provides them with a free source of water, and it just so happens they love dark, dank environments. For example, if there’s a leaky pipe under the sink, you’re more likely to have roaches – on top of a high water bill.
Clean Regularly
Roaches love clutter, and it provides them with places to hide. If your attic, basement, or garage is full to the brim with junk, chances are, it’s harboring roaches. All that stuff provides ample shelter for roaches to hide and run. Plus, cardboard boxes trap heat, creating warm, humid places where roaches can lay their eggs without having them disturbed.
Get Pest Control Near Mobile
If any of these signs are setting off alarm bells, you should call the experts at Bama Pest Control Inc. For over 40 years, we’ve helped thousands of homeowners keep disgusting cockroaches out of their homes, leading to cleaner and safer living conditions. Our roach control program can treat your property on an annual, bi-annual, or seasonal basis. If your property needs rescue, don’t hesitate to give us a call. You can reach us at (251) 478-7015 or through our online form here.
We currently service:
- Mobile County
- Baldwin County
- Washington County