Yuck. There’s not much else to say when you spot a cockroach skittering around your home. These pests are a pain to get rid of and can make you feel like you’re living in filth. But the truth is, even the cleanest homes can get cockroaches. The trick is to get rid of them before an infestation grows too large. And if you’ve spotted one roach, there is likely more hiding where you can’t see. That’s why it’s so important to look out for signs of cockroaches in your Plano home.
What To Know About Cockroaches
Cockroaches are flat-bodied insects that have evolved to thrive in human habitats. While appearances vary from species to species, most roaches can be recognized by their oval-shaped bodies, long antennae, six legs, and large eyes. These bugs will eat just about anything, and because they tend to feed on rotting garbage and waste, they are known to spread disease. A female cockroach can lay four hundred eggs or more in her short lifetime, causing infestations to grow quickly if not addressed.
These pests prefer the cover of darkness and are unlikely to appear in the open. They often hide under heavy appliances, in bathrooms, and in trash bins. Cockroaches are also adept at squeezing through tight spaces to hide in walls and void spaces. You are far more likely to see the signs of a cockroach infestation than to see actual roaches themselves.
Three Signs Of Cockroaches To Look Out For
The signs of cockroach activity are not always apparent at first, but if you know what to look for, you can stop the infestation from growing too large. Signs of cockroach activity include:
- Droppings: Cockroach droppings appear as small granules resembling coffee grounds or specks of black pepper. Larger cockroaches may deposit longer, pellet-like droppings. Rodent droppings can be mistaken for roach droppings; the difference is rodent droppings have pointed ends while cockroach droppings have flat, blunted ends.
- Odor: When a cockroach infestation reaches a significant size, a musty odor tends to develop. The smell is caused by pheromones in cockroach droppings, which in turn attract more roaches. The more intense the stench, the more severe the infestation is.
- Egg cases: Cockroaches lay their eggs in long cases called oothecae. These strange egg cases typically measure between ¼ and ½ inch in length and are brown or black. Roach eggs can resemble a stack of coins or a tiny leather purse and are often found in clothes, cardboard, and paper materials.
Are Cockroaches Dangerous?
Cockroaches are known to spread bacteria that cause diseases like salmonellosis, gastroenteritis, dysentery, and more. They can contaminate food and surfaces with harmful pathogens which can then be transmitted to humans. Cockroaches are also known to cause allergies; the detritus that accumulates from shed skin, droppings, and saliva can irritate the skin and lungs. Accordingly, people have been known to develop eczema and asthma as a result of living or working in a space with a severe cockroach infestation.
Roaches also cause stress because they are so difficult to get rid of. Cockroaches are fast and can often scamper out of reach when confronted. They are also crush-resistant and are sometimes unaffected by commercial pesticides. Most active in the dark, many homeowners might not even see cockroaches or notice signs of activity.
That’s why the best thing you can do to deal with cockroaches in your Plano home is to get in touch with the experts at All-Safe Pest & Termite. With residential pest control plans starting as low as $29.99 a month, our friendly and knowledgeable technicians will provide comprehensive relief from cockroaches and other pests in your home without making a dent in your wallet. If you’re suffering from cockroaches in Plano, contact us today.