Few insects are as despised as cockroaches. These insects even carry harmful bacteria like Salmonella. Cockroaches breed rapidly and are particularly difficult to control and get rid of. This is why it is so crucial that the presence of cockroaches is detected early so that effective treatment and control measures can be put in place. Read on to learn about the symptoms of a cockroach infestation.
1. Live cockroaches
Clearly, if you see live cockroaches running around then you know there is a problem. These are most commonly seen at night but in big infestations like with the German Cockroach, you may even see many running around during the daytime. It is a good bet that if you see one cockroach it actually means that there are many more in the house that you are not seeing.
2. Egg cases
If cockroaches have entered your home and are breeding, you will see their egg cases. The egg case is called an ootheca and is a brown, purse-like oval structure that may be found cemented to objects. The female cockroaches deposit the oothecae in different places depending on the species of cockroach. These are not always easy to find, especially with some species that are small in size and may hide their oothecae in crevices.
Each ootheca can contain anywhere from 16 to 48 eggs, depending on the species of cockroach. This means that one ootheca gives rise to several baby cockroaches at a time. This is why it is not surprising that the cockroach population can explode in a very short time.
3. Sounds
You may not hear much noise if you are dealing with the small German Cockroach, but in the case of the American cockroach, they make quite a bit of noise when moving around through items. You will hear something crawling and a scratching sound as they move through papers or boxes. It is most often at night that you will hear these noises because cockroaches tend to be nocturnal.
4. Smells
There is a strange odor that comes with cockroaches, especially when you have a large infestation. The smell is musty and not pleasant. It is very obvious when there is a large number of cockroaches present, but may not be noticeable if only a few individuals are present. This is why you need to check for other signs that there could be a problem.
5. Droppings and shed skins
Cockroaches will leave droppings where they have been eating and living. You will see tiny black specks indicating that an insect is present. These will be found in draws and other dark places like boxes and, often in damp areas such as in the bathroom. The presence of any shed skins will also show that cockroaches are living and growing in your home.
It is important to take note of all these symptoms of a cockroach infestation and contact a pest control expert as soon as you become aware that you have a cockroach problem before it worsens.
