Early Warning Signs of Cockroaches

Cockroach infestations can happen at any time – and when they do, it’s in your best interest to eliminate them as soon as possible. If not, you’ll soon find yourself with a full-blown infestation that’s extremely challenging to stop. At Lookout Pest Control, our goal is to help you enjoy your home or business without the stress of any pests – including roaches. To help you achieve that, we’ve put together these top early warning signs of cockroach infestations.

Our experienced cockroach exterminators and pest technicians have extensive experience helping people in our region deal with problems like these. Keep reading to learn more about how to recognize the problem and how to get rid of roaches effectively.

What Are the First Signs of a Roach Infestation?

Sometimes you’ll see cockroaches wandering around; sometimes you’ll find evidence that they were there. Either way, here are the top signs you’re dealing with roaches:

• Allergic Reactions – The presence of cockroaches is bad for your overall health. Their exoskeletons and droppings contain proteins that cause allergic reactions in many people. Most of the time, these symptoms are respiratory. Some of the most common include wheezing, difficulty breathing, coughing, tightness in your chest, and red, itchy eyes.
• Visible Roaches – The most obvious way to tell you have a roach infestation is by finding a bunch of roaches. Cockroaches typically come out during the night when the home or business is the quietest. This is the most likely time to discover them, and if you do, it’s likely there are many more where they came from.
• An Oily or Musty Smell – Cockroaches give off a variety of odorous smells. If you notice an oily or musty smell that lasts a good amount of time, there’s a good chance that you’re dealing with an infestation.
• Visible Droppings – Cockroach droppings look like ground pepper/coffee grounds and are commonly found in drawers or on countertops. They are a dead giveaway that you have a pest issue to deal with. Whether a single pile of droppings or several, it’s a good idea to call a professional roach control company. Their fecal matter may even cause dark stains in the corners of the rooms in your home.
• Dead Cockroaches – If you find a dead cockroach, there are probably many more nearby, and most likely, alive and infesting your home. Shed skins of living cockroaches can indicate an infestation as well.
• Bite Marks – You may not think of cockroaches as a biting pest, but they are. They’ll even bite humans, so don’t try to pick one up. Unfortunately, they also bite and eat a lot of household things. If you notice small bite marks on boxes, little scoops of food gone, or chew marks, it could mean you have roaches, rodents, or both.

What to Do If You Suspect You Have Roaches in Your House

If you find any of the above early warning signs, there’s a good chance you’re dealing with a cockroach infestation. Your top priority should be doing everything you can to limit the spread. Here’s what we recommend you do next:

• Keep surfaces clean and disinfected. If you are unsure if an area appeals to roaches, clean it anyway.
• Don’t leave out dirty dishes. Cockroaches love to feed off the leftovers left on plates and silverware.
• Put all perishable food, including pet food, in sealed containers.
• When taking out the trash, place it in a sealed container outside.
• Seal all entry points, especially around pipes in moist areas like the bathroom or laundry room.
• Seal all entry points on the exterior of your home or business. Cockroaches can flatten their bodies and get through the tiniest cracks so this is very important to minimize activity.

Need Cockroach Pest Control? Call Us Today!

Cockroach infestations are no joke. Not only are cockroaches disgusting and a nuisance, but they are known for spreading illness and even creating allergic reactions. Don’t let your cockroach infestation get out of hand. 

Lookout Pest Control will treat your cockroach infestation at the source and prevent them from returning. Give us a call today to learn more about pricing and service availability. One of our highly trained technicians will be there ASAP to help with your residential or commercial issue.