In Hollywood, an actor flips a light switch and thousands of cockroaches scatter to find a place to hide as he delivers his cheesy one-liner,  “You might have a roach problem.”

Real signs of cockroach infestation are not always that obvious. Apart from seeing live roaches, here are some signs to look for to spot a cockroach infestation in your home or business and make a decision to hire pest control.

Feces

Feces from small roaches look like crushed black pepper or ground coffee, whereas adult roaches leave pill-shaped feces. The more you see, the larger the infestation is or the longer they have been infesting the area.

Egg Sacs

Watch out for egg sacs (oothecae) that female cockroaches leave behind. Depending on the species, they may be oval-shaped and look like small beans or long grains of rice that seem to be divided into segments across the width.

Brown-banded cockroaches and Oriental roaches may lay between 10-18 eggs in a case, whereas a German cockroach ootheca may contain a small army of 50.

Sheddings

A growing cockroach sheds its old exoskeleton when molting, and the new exoskeleton that has been growing underneath expands and hardens to take its place. Look out for these discarded exoskeletons as you search. Unlike dead cockroaches, which is something else to look for, these will be light and empty inside. 

Odor

Cockroaches produce a musty smell. They do not form complex colonies like termites or ants, but they live together. What you smell is a pheromone they use to attract others of their kind to an area.

The smell comes from their droppings, and the foul stench alone may drive your guests or customers away.

Damage

Cockroaches may nibble through cardboard or thin plastic packaging to get at the food inside. Watch for holes that they have created in their quest for food. 

Dispose of any remaining food that roaches may have fed on. There is a good chance their bodies were covered in bacteria from the garbage, rotten food and the communal area the roaches crawl through.

Contact Us Today

Cockroaches are born survivors. They can be challenging to get rid of, especially if there is a large group. They may even appear to be gone and make a reappearance sometime later. If so, Bug Man Exterminating can help! Let us be your partner in the battle against these invaders, contact us today to get a free quote.