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Originally posted on: https://pegasuspest.com/2021/08/how-to-spot-the-signs-of-cockroach-infestation/

What if you were a victim of a home invasion and didn’t even know it?

No, we’re not talking about robbers. We’re not even talking about humans. Instead, the invaders you need to worry about are cockroaches.

If you can detect the signs of cockroach infestation early enough, professional pest control experts can take care of the problem. Unfortunately, many homeowners don’t know how to recognize the signs of a cockroach infested house.

What are those signs? Keep reading to discover the answer!

Cockroach Droppings

As you know, cockroaches aren’t very pretty. And that means some of the signs of cockroach infestation aren’t pretty, either. For example, one of the surest signs is that you find evidence of cockroach fecal matter.

To the naked eye, cockroach droppings will look like somebody spilled black pepper or coffee grounds. Alternatively, you may see some otherwise unexplained smear marks from cockroaches crawling on your walls and leaving fecal matter behind.

Incidentally, cockroach droppings can be hazardous to your health and you must be very careful when cleaning them up. This is one of the reasons why it is so important to hire professional pest control for your cockroach infestation, and soon. The odor from cockroach droppings may actually attract more roaches to your home!

Odd Odors

Speaking of cockroach feces, another way to detect its presence is by smell. However, the average homeowner doesn’t know what cockroach droppings smell like.

In short, the odor is very musty and very strong. If you detect such an odor and it seems to linger instead of going away on its own, the problem may be cockroach droppings that you cannot see.

Obviously, there are other potential sources of musty odors in your home. But if there is no other explanation for the source of the odor, it’s best to start looking for hidden cockroach droppings.

Cockroach Eggs

Some of the signs of cockroach infestation are a bit more obvious than others. For example, one of the surest signs you have cockroaches in your home is that you encounter cockroach eggs.

These eggs look like capsules. Cockroaches will lay many capsules, with each one containing plenty of eggs. These eggs may come in many different colors depending on the breed of cockroach you are dealing with.

However, an unexplained capsule is an unexplained capsule. If you’re finding odd capsules of any color around the house, you are likely dealing with cockroaches.

Damaged Property

One of the reasons that you need to know these signs of cockroaches is that they mostly come out at night when you are unlikely to see them. But they are busy when they come out, and they may leave some telltale signs for you to find.

For example, cockroaches have a pretty voracious appetite, and there is little they won’t eat. You may wake up and find signs of mysterious damage, including damage to food packing, books, and even leather.

Once again, if there is no other plausible explanation for what damaged your property in the wee hours, it was most likely cockroaches.

Exoskeletons

As we said before, you are less likely to encounter cockroaches directly during the day (though this can still happen). What is likelier, though, is that you encounter cockroach exoskeletons instead.

When cockroaches grow and mature, they will shed their skin. And this process will happen several times until the cockroach has reached full maturity.

After they shed their skin, cockroaches simply leave it behind. That means that you may find cockroach exoskeletons, and this is undeniable proof that you have an infestation in your home.

If you interact with the exoskeletons, be careful! As with their feces, cockroach exoskeletons can be hazardous to your health and should be cleaned and disposed of by a pest control expert.

Live Cockroaches

We saved the most obvious sign for last. Obviously, if you see live cockroaches in your home, then you can bet that your home is infested!

Cockroaches have typically hidden away during the daytime because they are nocturnal. But if you disrupt a cockroach during the day, it is likely to scurry and run away to a new hiding place.

You may also encounter cockroaches at night. For example, it is not uncommon for someone to come to their kitchen in the middle of the night for a glass of water and see cockroaches as soon as they turn on the light.

Our guide will give you suggestions for where to search for signs of an infestation. But once you know cockroaches are in the house, we recommend contacting local professional pest control to fully root out the problem.

Where To Search For Signs of Cockroach Infestation

Technically, cockroaches could be hidden anywhere inside your home. But to help you find them, we have put together a list of common areas where you are likely to find evidence of their presence.

We already mentioned one of the main places: your kitchen! It is possible for cockroaches to hide inside your cupboards, within your sink, and even behind your major appliances.

Speaking of appliances, they may hide behind your washer or dryer in your laundry room. And pay close attention to any vents inside the laundry room that may be hiding roaches.

Sadly, cockroaches love to hide in bathrooms as well. Check under the sink, behind the toilet, and inside any cabinets and drawers to make sure they aren’t hiding where you least expect them.

And if your home has a basement, be sure to inspect for roaches. They may hide inside any pipes, cracks, utility sinks, and stored belongings that you have inside the basement.

As we noted before, you may find actual cockroaches when you search. But you may also only find signs of infestation, so make sure you know what to look for!

Your Next Move

Now you know what the signs of cockroach infestation are and where to search. But do you know who to call to take care of your roach problem?

Here at Pegasus Pest Control, we are here to give you back control of your home. To see how we can send your little home invaders packing, just contact us today!