Cockroaches have evolved to thrive in almost any environment, which includes your home. One female cockroach can start an entire infestation by herself, producing 800 young roaches in her first round.
Luckily for us, most of the thousands of cockroaches are in the wild – but those that make their homes in the cities can be incredible pests. Not only are they creepy, but they can also cause significant damage to your home and transmit disease. In this blog, our team at Ortex Pest Control provides you with some information about identifying cockroaches and their symptoms.
There are three primary types of cockroach species you need to worry about:
- American cockroaches – These are huge, growing up to two inches long. They are reddish-brown and can fly. They live in residences and commercial buildings, where they can feast and breed.
- German cockroaches – These are smaller than American cockroaches, only growing to ¾’ long. However, their small size makes them harder to detect, and they have the shortest breeding cycle of all the pest cockroaches. They are tan and brown, and luckily, can’t fly.
- Oriental cockroaches – Also known as brown-banded cockroaches, these are shiny and dark brown. They usually hide in dark and wet places, like basements, sewers, and under sinks.
While good sanitation and hygiene practices can help keep these pests at bay, the truth is that a cockroach infestation can happen at any time, particularly if they’re already in your neighborhood. The best way to prevent a full-blown infestation is to keep your eyes out for warning signs. The moment you see any of these signs, give your local pest company a call.
You See their Droppings
Cockroaches eat anything, and they leave their droppings behind everywhere where they eat. While cockroach droppings can depend on the species, they’re usually small, dark, and resemble coffee grounds or ground black pepper.
You’ll usually find these droppings near:
- Counters and floors
- Behind kitchen appliances
- Inside your pantry
- In the corners of shelves in kitchens and bathrooms
You Find Cockroach Eggs
Cockroaches lay their eggs in special egg cases that can hold up to 50 eggs. These casings are brown, oblong, and easy to spot. Some eggs will hatch within hours of being laid, but others will need a sheltered space and several days. Seeing these egg cases is a prime indicator that you’re about to deal with a large number of new baby cockroaches.
You’ll typically find cockroach egg cases near food and water or in other dark, safe spaces like:
- Inside dark cracks and crevices around your home
- In books
- On kitchen and bathroom counters if you have a severe infestation
There’s a Strange Smell in Your Home
Cockroaches have a distinct, unpleasant smell. While every cockroach secretes this odor, it only becomes noticeable during a large infestation. Even worse, dead cockroaches emit a distinctive smell that tends to linger and attract others to their location.
It takes a large number of cockroaches to produce a noticeable odor. If you smell something like musty boric acid, don’t look for more evidence—just give your pest control company a call immediately.
You See Them
Roaches prefer the darkness and will only rarely come out during the day. They’ll only come forage in daylight if there are too many of them around during the night. Another (horrific) way to discover a cockroach infestation is to turn on the light in the middle of the night in a kitchen, cellar, or other room with lots of food and water.
You See Their Dead
You’ll often see dead cockroaches in the morning. These are the remnants of foragers that didn’t make it back to the safety of cracks and crevices. If you start seeing more bodies than usual, it may be a sign that their numbers are ramping up and that it’s time to call a specialist.
Dealing with a Cockroach Infestation
Unfortunately, getting a can of insecticide won’t do much to stop a cockroach infestation. Not only are cockroaches prolific breeders, but they’re also excellent survivors. At Ortex Pest Control, we’ve developed several ways to deal with various cockroach species, attacking them at every stage of their life cycle.
Our specialized pesticides ensure that we kill live adult cockroaches and their egg cases and larvae before they can reinforce their population. The longer you leave an infestation untreated, the worse it will get.
So if you see the signs of cockroaches in your home, don’t hesitate to give us a call at Ortex Pest Control at 931-645-0382 for a free estimate. We serve Nashville, TN, Clarksville, TN, and Huntsville, AL. Our friendly specialists will make sure that your home stays safe, secure, and cockroach-free.
