Stay vigilant for signs of pesky roaches
Roaches can be harmful to your health and property, so it’s essential to hire a professional to remove them quickly.
Common signs include seeing roach droppings, smear marks, and roach eggs.
More subtle signs are consistent foul odors and seeing tiny roach skins.
Treating a roach infestation can cost between $100 to $600 to resolve.
There are many creepy crawly things that come out at night, but roaches are one of the worst to have scurrying around your home. That’s why it’s vital to know the signs of a roach infestation, so you know when it’s time to hire a cockroach exterminator to get rid of these pests as soon as possible.
If you see one roach, odds are there are many more hiding in various areas of your house. The concerning thing is you can have an infestation even without seeing these nocturnal insects. Stay on the lookout for these warning signs of a roach infestation.
Exclusion is the best practice for keeping unwanted pests out. Examples include replacing weather stripping around windows and doors, using dehumidifiers to keep moisture content down, sealing up cracks and crevices both on the exterior and interior of the house, repairing any household damage, and taking care of water-related leaks sooner than later.
Roaches are known for being an unpleasant and unwelcome house guest, but they can also be harmful to your health. In fact, roaches can trigger allergies and spread 33 different types of bacteria and various parasitic worms and pathogens.
While roaches move throughout your home in search of food and water, they shed their body parts and defecate on the surfaces they crawl on. That means they could be doing their business on dishes or food items left out, spreading disease and bacteria to household members. That’s why it’s essential to any signs of a roach infestation immediately.
Seeing roaches is an obvious sign you can have an infestation. However, there are other signs of a roach infestation to keep your eyes peeled for. If you notice any of these signs, you should call a roach exterminator to inspect and treat your home.
If you notice brown or reddish-brown smear marks on counters, walls, or other surfaces, it can be a subtle sign of a roach infestation. Roaches will leave smear marks on various surfaces as they crawl. Sometimes, these smears can be mistaken for food smears on counters or in kitchen areas, especially since they’re attracted to food sources in those rooms. They can also be tough to clean, which can help you determine if it’s a common food stain or smear tracks from roaches.
A tell-tale sign of roaches is seeing fecal droppings. Roaches aren’t shy, and they will poop wherever they are. However, you may notice more of it near feeding areas or close to their nesting area. The feces typically look like coffee grounds or speckles of pepper and can also be cylindrically shaped.
The feces can look different depending on the size of the roach. Baby roaches and smaller roaches' feces will look like specks, but adult roaches' feces can be larger, like grains of rice. Common places to check for feces are food storage areas such as drawers, cabinets, and pantries. Some other places you may find droppings are along baseboards or in corners of the room.
Does your home have an odd odor lingering despite it being clean? Foul smells can be one of the subtle signs of a roach infestation. Roaches emit odors to communicate with each other, so the more bugs present, the stronger the scent. The odor is described as musty or oily. So, when it comes to detecting a roach infestation, the nose knows.
Roaches lay what are called oothecas, which are “egg capsules” that contain the eggs. The oothecas are made of a structural protein substance that protects the eggs from predators. These capsules can contain 10 to 50 eggs each, which is why you should hire an exterminator to visit your home quickly.
Where and when cockroaches lay their eggs may depend on the type of roach. For instance, the German cockroach will carry their eggs around until they are ready to hatch. American roaches will lay eggs on surfaces, such as cardboard, cabinets, and other hard surfaces. Other common places roaches lay eggs are beneath appliances, drains, and other dark and moist areas.
As roaches grow, they shed their skin multiple times. Since their exoskeleton is hard, they have to shed it as they grow. They can shed five to eight times or more during their lives. These skins can be of various sizes and are hollow.
So, if you encounter shed skins, you need to hire an exterminator to treat your home. It means you have babies that are growing into adults, and roaches reproduce rapidly.
If you frequently see roaches in your home or have spot any of these signs of a roach infestation, you need to hire a cockroach exterminator near you right away. Otherwise, the infestation will progress from bad to worse. Roaches can cause an array of health problems, and trying to deal with a severe infestation can be a losing battle.
Roaches can also cause damage to your property if left untreated because of the amount that can live in areas of your home. They munch on many different things, and this even includes wallpaper glue. So, it’s vital to call in a pest control pro as fast as possible to prevent health complications or damage to your home.
There are various DIY methods for getting rid of roaches, such as sprays and bait traps. However, when a roach infestation occurs, your best bet is to call in a professional exterminator to ensure they eradicate the roaches completely.
In extreme cases, a home may have to be fully fumigated with a method called “tenting.” This method is reserved for severe infestations, and you’ll have to evacuate your home to ensure the entire house is treated. If you call in a cockroach removal pro before the infestation is too severe, then other methods will be effective.
The ideal way to deal with roaches is to prevent them from shacking up in your house. If you live in areas where it’s difficult to keep them out, there are some steps you can take to prevent them from taking over, such as:
Keep the kitchen clean: Roaches are crumbsnatchers, so leaving food or crumbs on the counters can be a food source for them. Make sure to wash the dishes, wipe up the counters, and sweep the floor to prevent luring them in with good-smelling food.
Clear the clutter: If you want to keep the pests out, then it’s time to kick that clutter to the curb. Roaches love clutter because it gives them something to eat and a place to hide. In addition to snacking on leftover food, they also eat cardboard and book bindings.
Pick up yard debris: Large leaf piles, sticks, and other debris can be a haven for roaches. They like warm, moist, and undisturbed areas, so having yard debris can attract them closer to your home.
Seal up screens and fix foundation cracks: Ripped screens and cracks in the foundation can be entry points for roaches. Perform a home maintenance inspection and repair these things if needed.
Remember that roaches are resilient and may still slip into your home despite your best efforts. However, taking preventative steps can help reduce the chance of a roach infestation.
The cost to hire a cockroach exterminator is between $100 and $600, with a national average of about $200. The total bill depends on various factors, such as the type of treatment, severity of infestation, and the number of treatments needed.
However, if you have a severe infestation, fumigation can cost between $1,000 and $3,000 and tenting can cost between $2,500 and $7,500. That’s why it’s crucial to call an exterminator as soon as you have any signs of a roach infestation.
Although it takes time and possibly multiple treatments, roaches can be eradicated from your home. However, they can return if the conditions are right. That’s why taking the steps to prevent an infestation is key. You may also want to discuss preventative pest control treatments with your exterminator. That way, you can reduce the risk of another infestation.
The number of treatments will depend on the level of infestation. With small infestations, a single treatment may be all you need, but larger or severe infestations will require several treatments. For large infestations, it can take two to eight weeks to rid the roaches completely and up to six months for severe cases.
