Cockroaches are more than just an unwelcome sight; they are dangerous to your family and pets. An infestation can cause damage to your property and your health.
Cockroaches carry pathogens like E.coli and salmonella and cause illnesses like diarrhea, asthma, and dysentery. When roaches crawl on surfaces, they spread these diseases. You must take action immediately if you see signs that you have cockroaches in your home.
Cockroach Damage
Cockroaches will eat almost anything, and if you have an infestation, you will often see damage on household items. You may spot damaged food packaging, leather material, paper documents, books, and fabric.
Droppings
Cockroach droppings look similar to coffee grounds or black pepper. The droppings are tiny, black specks that cause contamination and spread diseases.
You may find their droppings in cabinets, drawers, underneath sinks, door frames, and cracks in walls. If you find them near silverware or plates, thoroughly disinfect all surfaces before using them.
Egg Casings or Capsules
Female cockroaches produce capsules referred to as ootheca, which contain many eggs. These casings are a curved pill shape and come in red to dark brown colors. The egg casings of different cockroach species vary, but this is what you can expect:
- German Cockroach: The eggs are approximately 0.3 inches long and tan colored with square edges.
- American Cockroach: These eggs are also about 0.3 inches long and reddish-brown.
- Oriental Cockroach: These egg casings are a little longer at about 0.5 inches and are dark brown to black.
Cockroaches like to lay their eggs in crevices or near food sources. Check-in cracks, gaps, and boxes near the kitchen.
Lingering Pungent Smell
Do you notice a foul, musty smell that never seems to disappear? It could be the smell of a cockroach infestation.
Living cockroaches produce a smelly pheromone, and dead roaches intensify this odor. This lingering stench becomes more intense as the infestation worsens..
Shed Body Parts
Cockroaches shed their skin five to eight times in their lifetime as they go through different cycle stages. You may find these shed skins and wings around your home during an infestation. Cockroaches shed their exoskeletons behind electrical appliances, underneath furniture, and inside cupboards and drawers.
Smear Marks
Cockroaches occasionally discard their feces as smear marks rather than solid fecal. As roaches crawl, this liquified poop is smeared across walls and other surfaces. You can find these marks on horizontal surfaces (counters), wall-floor junctions, or anywhere with high activity. The main culprits for smear marks are German Cockroaches and Oriental Cockroaches.
Where Do Cockroaches Hide?
Hideout spots vary based on the types of cockroaches. Some prefer warm, humid areas like bathrooms and crawl spaces, while other cockroach species can tolerate cooler conditions like the back of your refrigerator.
Common hideouts include:
- Bathrooms and laundry rooms
- Basements
- Pipes
- Drains
- Inside and under trash cans
- Inside appliances
- Inside storage boxes and containers
- Anywhere in the kitchen
- Near bodies of water
Expert Cockroach Prevention and Control, Canoga Park
Cockroaches can quickly become a severe problem that’s tricky to eliminate. The only way to get rid of these pests is to seek professional help from a pest control team.
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