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Cockroach infestation signs
Discovering a roach infestation requires immediate action to ensure a fast solution to the problem and to minimize the health risks associated with this insect.
Cockroaches are usually attracted to food available in your property. They will eat anything from foods, paper, packaging, plastics and fabrics to animal matter (e.g. hamster and rabbit droppings).
It is often easier to spot signs of a problem in your home or business rather than an actual live cockroach. As nocturnal creatures, cockroaches usually hide out of sight during the day and become more active in their search for food at night.
Worried about cockroaches in your house? Call Ehrlich today at 1-800-837-5520 or contact us online for fast, responsive service every day.
Signs of a cockroach problem
How can you tell if you have roaches? There are some simple ways you can identify a possible cockroach infestation, which could require professional treatment.
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Cockroach droppings - cockroaches leave a dust of black droppings less than 1mm wide and of varying lengths.
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Smear marks - check for marks on horizontal surfaces and at wall-floor junctions where cockroaches are active. If water is abundant cockroaches will produce brown and irregular shaped smear marks.
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Shed skin - look for this evidence in locations you suspect they are sheltering. Cockroaches shed ‘cast nymphal ‘skins 5-8 times as they mature to adults.
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Damage - look for unusual signs of damage, not just on food packaging. Cockroaches will attack organic goods including leather and books.
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Unusual odor - an established cockroach infestation produces a lingering and unpleasant musty smell that taints items they contact.
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Live cockroaches in your bathrooms and kitchens - German cockroaches need warmth and humidity and may be found around bathrooms, laundry rooms and kitchen areas. They are also good climbers, scaling smooth surfaces like glass & polished metal with ease; due to sticky pads on their feet. You might see them when turning on the light in the kitchen at night.
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Cockroaches in your basement - Oriental cockroaches can cope with cooler, damp conditions and could be found in basements or drains. If conditions are tolerable they can survive outside in areas such as landfills. Although not as agile as German cockroaches, they can climb a surface such as rough brickwork.
Where do cockroaches live?
- Bathrooms
- Back cabinet joints: cockroaches love to snack on soap residue, toilet paper, and tissues, so they often hide here
- Plumbing behind sinks, bathtubs, showers, and toilets: cockroaches prefer sheltered dark spaces with access to water
- Kitchens
- Cupboards and cabinets: the darkness draws the cockroaches in, especially when the cabinet has pipes inside
- Appliances: these provide warmth (from the motor) and hidden crevices in which to hide
- Laundry Rooms
- Washer/Dryer motor: heat put off by the motor attracts cockroaches
- Cabinets: pay close attention to cabinets that might contain any source of moisture
- Basements
- Bases and corner joints of walls: these areas often have small holes through which cockroaches can enter
- Cracks or gaps in baseboards: cockroaches will hide in these small areas
- Stored paper or cardboard: cockroaches will eat and hide in these materials
- Drains
- Damaged drain covers: cockroaches can fit through incredibly small spaces, so even a insignificant defect can become a big problem
- Pipe ducts: these can easily get cracked, leaving just enough room for roaches to enter
Bugs that look like cockroaches
If you're lucky, you don't have a cockroach infestation at all. There are bugs that look a lot like cockroaches, and might incite panic if mistaken for the bothersome pest. Here are a few of the most common bugs mistaken for cockroaches:
Crickets
Crickets may be similar to cockroaches in color, but there's a key difference to look for. Cricket back legs are made for jumping and are much longer than cockroach back legs.
Ground beetles
Ground beetles are often mistaken for cockroaches, but their wings are hardened, while cockroach wings, if present, are soft and leathery.
June bugs
Also known as June beetles, these cockroach look-a-likes are harmless. You'll definitely hear them coming, as they make a loud buzzing sound in flight.
Water bugs
Cockroaches and water bugs can look very similar, but water bugs are generally bigger. Also, water bugs can survive for an extended period of time in the water, while cockroaches prefer land.
Asian longhorned beetles
As their name suggests, the Asian longhorned beetle has very long, segmented antennae extending from the head. The antennae might even exceed body length.
Leaf footed bugs
Named for the leaf shapes on the hind legs, leaf footed bugs have a more narrow body than that of cockroaches. Additionally, their wings often have a zigzag pattern on them, whereas cockroach wings, when present, do not.
Ehrlich can get rid of cockroaches
Getting rid of a cockroach infestation can be very difficult. Cockroaches, by their nature, are very good at hiding. It’s also true if you see one cockroach, there are likely dozens or hundreds more you can’t see. Finding how cockroaches get into the house can be tricky because these insects can fit into nearly any space, no matter how small.
Ehrlich Pest Control cockroach specialists are trained to find all of the places the roaches can use to get inside the house. Roaches in the house can be upsetting and lead to health risks due to disease.For this reason, you don’t want to miss even one space these pests could use to get inside and you don’t want to miss eliminating a single roach, either. Just a couple of missed cockroaches can lead to a new infestation because roaches reproduce so fast.
This is why trying to use DIY cockroach removal methods can be so tricky and may not be effective. Contacting an Ehrlich Pest Control specialist is the way to go. We’ll work with you to get rid of the infestation and stop roaches from coming back.
Ehrlich Pest Control can spot cockroaches in the house
If you have noticed any of the cockroach signs above, you need to contact Ehrlich for professional roach treatments to get rid of cockroaches quickly. We use the latest technology and innovation to effectively keep cockroaches away. Our specialists will find where the cockroaches are hiding to get rid of the infestation and offer assistance in preventing a return.
Professional cockroach control can provide a long-term solution to your problem and prevent an infestation in the future.
Contact Ehrlich via our online form or call us at 1-800-837-5520 for an effective and reliable solution to a cockroach infestation or any other pest problem.
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