Signs of a Cockroach Infestation
Cockroaches prefer to live and feed in the dark, so a cockroach seen during the day is a possible sign of infestation.
They are nocturnal insects and prefer dark, moist places to hide and breed.
They can be found behind refrigerators, sinks and stoves, as well as under floor drains and inside motors and major appliances. Because they can flatten their bodies to fit into narrow areas, cockroaches may also be found hiding beneath rubber mats, behind wallpaper and within wall cracks.
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Cockroach feces will be visible during an infestation. Small roaches produce feces that resemble coffee grounds or black pepper, while larger roaches expel cylindrical droppings. The quantity of visible feces is often a good indicator of the level or duration of infestation.
Can You Smell a Cockroach Infestation?
Although the vast majority of cockroach species live in the wild and aren’t pests to human settlements, those that do enter our homes bring with them a range of unwelcome stuff.
They are vectors for disease, they trigger allergies, they poop and, frankly, they stink.
Since they’re nocturnal, it's often the smell of roaches that first alerts a home or business owner that they’ve got a roach problem. Some species emit unpleasant smells.
In the event of serious infestation, a strong oily or musty odor may be present. The bodies of dead cockroaches can also be found throughout the house and will contribute to the stink..
in sufficient numbers the faint, oily musk of each roach combines to create a distinctive and sometimes overpowering odor. When roaches swarm, they each give off a pheromone in order to let other roaches know they’ve found a good place to nest. When concentrated, this pheromone is easily detectable to the human nose.
Do Cockroaches Bite?
The short answer is yes, but it's not that common.
Cockroaches are omnivores that eat plants and meat. They have been recorded to eat human flesh of both the living and the dead, although they are more likely to take a bite of fingernails, eyelashes, feet and hands. The bites may cause irritation, lesions and swelling. Some have suffered from minor wound infections.
Cockroaches are not likely to bite living humans, except perhaps in cases of extreme infestations where cockroach population are large, especially when food becomes limited. In most situations, cockroaches would not bite humans if there are other food sources such as in garbage cans or exposed food.
When cockroach numbers are left unchecked, the population may outgrow the normal food sources. Once the food becomes limited, the cockroaches will be forced to forage more and on things they would not normally consume. Ordinarily, pest control would be contacted before the populations reach these levels.
The most serious cases of cockroaches biting humans have been on ships. It has been documented that some cockroaches on seafaring vessels have become so numerous that they gnawed the skin and nails of those on board. Some sailors even reported wearing gloves so that the cockroaches would not be able to bite their fingers.
Among the many cockroach species, it is the American cockroach Periplaneta americana and the Periplaneta australasiae which are the most likely to bite humans on ships. German cockroaches have also been known to bite humans.
Cockroach Crap
Cockroach feces are easy to identify. Droppings from small cockroaches resemble ground coffee or black pepper. Larger roaches leave behind dark, cylindrical droppings with blunt ends and ridges down the side.
With a closer look, homeowners can tell the difference between rodent and cockroach feces. Mouse and rat droppings have pointed ends, while cockroach poop does not.
Cockroaches are omnivores, and the pests are not fussy about where they get their meals. Garbage, sewage, carrion, and crumbs are all fair game. As a result, their digestive systems retain disease pathogens from anything they’ve eaten. These microbes then leave the pests’ bodies within cockroach poop.
Like most insects, cockroaches don’t concern themselves with bathroom hygiene. The pests defecate in or near whatever they eat. When cockroach droppings pollute pantries, kitchen surfaces, or poorly sealed food containers, all the bacteria the insect has consumed may be spread to people.
In addition to cockroach feces, the pests’ body parts, saliva, and cast off skins can trigger allergies as well as asthma attacks. Symptoms often worsen when fans or HVAC ducts cause this debris to become airborne.
If you find cockroach droppings in your house, vacuuming and cleaning affected areas with soap and warm water helps prevent disease and may reduce allergic reactions. However, cleanup without proper protective gear can also lead to infection.
Contact local Spring Valley pest control professionals to deal with cockroach infestations in a safe, effective manner.
How to Get Rid of a Spring Valley Roach Infestation
If you have a Spring Valley infestation of cockroaches or even a severe cockroach problem, it's of little use to spray (or stomp) the one or two roaches that you happen to see in the daytime.
There will be dozens, scores, hundreds or more that you don't see when they come out at night.
And even more significant, there are multiple generations just waiting to hatch.
There's really only one solution. You need to engage a Spring Valley pest control expert to get rid of your cockroach infestation and make sure it doesn't return.