3 Signs You Have a Cockroach Infestation

Cockroach problems don’t start with sightings—in fact, they usually end with them. By the time one scurries across the counter or crawls out of a cabinet, there’s a good chance a full infestation is already underway. Roaches are quick, quiet, and incredibly skilled at staying out of view, which is why early detection is so important.

Let’s take a look at all the signs of cockroaches in your home to catch cockroach activity long before it gets out of hand. We’ll break down three major warning signs to keep in mind and give you some insight into how to tell if you have cockroaches inside your home in the first place, and what to do if you do.

How To Know If You Have Cockroaches

Cockroaches are notoriously difficult to eliminate for two main reasons.

First, they’re built like tiny tanks. Their bodies are shielded and strong, allowing them to withstand heavy impacts, pressure, and even some chemical treatments. It’s not uncommon for a cockroach to walk away from situations that would easily wipe out other insects.

Second, their slim bodies and dramatic size difference between juveniles and adults let them fit into cracks and gaps that would seem impossible at first glance. These physical advantages make it easy for roaches to enter a home and then vanish into the smallest nooks, and also make them a frustrating pest to pin down and remove entirely.

1. What Roaches Leave Behind

Cockroaches may be difficult to kill and expert infiltrators, but they’re not exactly stealthy.

While roaches prefer to nest and reproduce tucked away out of sight, they’ll still travel throughout your home in search of food, water, and shelter. And where they go, they leave signs of their presence behind them.

One of the easiest signs to spot is their molted exoskeletons. These dry, brown shells are often mistaken for dead roaches but are actually the remains of their earlier growth stages. You may also notice what are called ootheca. These are the roach egg cases, typically brown or tan, oblong, and ribbed in texture, and you may see them on the ground or walls near areas with roach activity.

Feces are another clue. Depending on the species, droppings may appear as tiny specks like black pepper or small, cylindrical pellets. Lastly, roaches tend to leave behind smear marks on walls and surfaces in moist areas. These marks are dark and irregular in shape, often found near baseboards or where roaches travel frequently.

If you notice one or more of these signs, it’s time to contact an expert.

2. The Distinct Musk of Cockroach Infestations

You may not realize it, but one of the best tools for finding cockroaches in your home is right under your nose. More accurately, cockroaches let off a distinct odor, and if you know how to identify it, you can literally sniff out the signs of roaches long before they are ever seen.

Roaches release pheromones, just like many other insects. These scents are used as a form of communication, telling other roaches that danger is nearby, that they are looking for a mate, marking food or water sources, and indicating safe hiding spots. This, combined with other secretions and cockroach feces, creates a pungent, oily smell.

What Do Roaches Smell Like?

Some of the most accurate comparisons are:

• Sickly sweet and unpleasant aroma, like a landfill
• Greasy, like a damp, neglected basement
• Stale or moldy, like old coffee grounds or rotting wood

The best way to sniff out roaches is to focus on areas where food, water, and shelter are common. While musty aromas can easily come from other sources, if you notice a new unpleasant smell in your kitchen, bathrooms, laundry room, garage, or attic, it may be time to schedule a cockroach inspection.

3. Cockroach Sightings: When and Where To Find Them

Most cockroaches are nocturnal. This means they’re most active during the night when the lights are out, the house is quiet, and they have the freedom to explore without interruption. Kitchens and bathrooms often become their social areas once the sun goes down, especially if food, water, or trash is left out.

That said, seeing a cockroach during the daytime should raise a serious red flag. When roaches are forced out of their usual hiding spots, it typically points to a large population competing for limited space and resources.

In other words, things may already be out of control. If you don’t see any roaches around your home but want to be sure, it’s smart to check under appliances, behind furniture, inside cabinet corners, and around plumbing entry points, especially in dark or damp areas.

Schedule Cockroach Control With Hulett Environmental Services

Through a qualified team, advanced tools, and more than 50 years of cockroach control success in South Florida, Hulett Environmental Services will help you prevent cockroach infestations before they take hold.

If you’ve spotted one of the signs of cockroach infestation, or just want peace of mind with routine pest control, just call Hulett to schedule cockroach control today.