How To Tell If Your Plano Home Has A Cockroach Problem

When cockroaches get inside your home, you're not likely to know it at first. Most species stay hidden from view. If you're seeing them, it is a sign that your home is severely infested. It is only when populations reach maximum that roaches begin to show themselves. This is because they are competing for food. Shy cockroaches must become bold if they are to survive. So, how can you tell if your Plano home has cockroaches? Here are a few tips from the experts at All-Safe Pest & Termite.

Droppings

Cockroaches leave black droppings in many places. These droppings may look like pepper, black pieces of rice, or coffee grounds. They may be on floors, stuck to walls, or attached to building materials such as fiber insulation. If you know where to look for cockroach droppings, you may find the evidence you seek. 

Where you might find cockroach droppings:

• Cockroaches are attracted to heat. You're likely to find roach droppings where it is warm. Attic spaces are a good place to start looking.
• Cockroaches are attracted to moisture. These insects will congregate in areas of your home that are moist or humid. Pipes and plumbing in your kitchen or bathroom are good places to check if you're able. If you have a jetted tub, take a peek in the cabinet void. You may also check your boiler room.
• Cockroaches prefer darkness. Check in every dark area. If your basement has dark areas, these could be where roaches are hiding. The combination of darkness and humidity will be perfect for roaches. They're also likely to be found in stored furniture in your attic. They'll hide inside the void within the furniture.
• Cockroaches like hard surfaces. A roach is happiest when it is stuck between two hard objects, such as a wall and the side of your oven. Sliding appliances out and checking around and under them can uncover roach droppings.
• Cockroaches like tight spaces. This will have them hiding in many places you might not expect, such as a pile of clothes in a storage room, or the seams of stored furniture. Baby cockroaches are quite small, and they're attracted to seams, creases, folds, and pockets.
• Cockroaches like food. If they have an accessible food source, they may establish themselves near it. Your pantry is a good place to look for evidence.

Shed Skins

As a cockroach passes from one instar to the next, it will shed its cuticle (skin). This happens several times. For an American cockroach, it can have as many as thirteen instars before reaching its adult stage. These skins will be found in all of the locations listed above. They may also be in spaces that are hard to examine, such as your air ducts. If you can, remove vent covers and use a mirror and a light to take a peek.

Egg Pouches

Cockroaches store their eggs in pouches called oothecae. You may find these in areas where cockroaches are hiding. German cockroaches carry their oothecae around with them. If you have these roaches infesting your home, you'll only find the opened oothecae, or shed pieces. These will be an orange color. American cockroaches, Oriental cockroaches, and brown-banded cockroaches all have brownish-red oothecae.

Pheromones

The more cockroaches you have in your home, the more of a scent you're going to have. There are many descriptions we could give for this unpleasant odor, but you don't need to know what it smells like to know that something isn't quite right inside your home. As you look for evidence of a cockroach infestation, be aware that there might be an "off" smell.

What Should You Do If You Detect Cockroaches

Cockroaches are linked to the spread of many disease-causing bacterial organisms and at least six parasitic worms. They're known to transmit seven human pathogens and are linked to an increase in hospitalizations due to asthma symptoms. When they crawl on you at night while you're sleeping, they can leave a rash on your skin or bite your eyelids as they try to feed on dead skin. It is not good to have cockroaches living in your home. Contact All-Safe Pest & Termite for effective cockroach control. We provide industry-leading pest control in Plano, Texas, and the Dallas-Fort Worth area.