In the last year, 14 milllion homes in the US had roaches.
We all live in fear of discovering a cockroach infestation. It’s even scarier to imagine discovering it too late when the infestation is so large and disgusting that it becomes hard to handle. This fear becomes even larger when you’re living in a city apartment where they’re so much more common.
To prevent that from happening, you need to know the signs of a cockroach infestation in apartments.
1. Cockroaches – Dead or Alive!
What is the most obvious sign that you have a cockroach infestation? Cockroaches, of course!
If you find any cockroaches in your home, there’s a good chance that there are more. Cockroaches reproduce fast, and one cockroach can become many before you know it.
Keep in mind that you might not see them right away. Cockroaches are mostly nocturnal and prefer the dark. Try to notice if you see any sudden movement when you turn on a light in a dark room.
Don’t trust that a dead cockroach means you’re in the clear, either. A dead cockroach could be one that found poison somewhere, or it could be an older member of a colony. Just because it’s dead doesn’t mean there are many others hiding out.
If you find any cockroaches dead or alive, your need to use this service. Pest control services are the only way to adequately deal with a cockroach infestation.
2. Egg Shells
Cockroaches reproduce via eggs. This means that as they reproduce and grow their numbers, you’ll get a pretty obvious sign that they’re around. Look for little rectangular, dark brown egg sacks left behind after the baby cockroaches hatch.
3. The Cockroach Smell
Cockroaches have a distinctive and awful smell. Like many other insects, cockroaches use pheromones to communicate, but humans, unfortunately, can smell them too. It’s worse in the summer heat, but if you have a large enough bug infestation, you’ll smell them in the winter too.
It’s a musty, oily scent. And if you’ve ever lived in a city, you’ll probably recognize it. Some people even describe it as sickly sweet. Basically, if there’s a new smell, you can’t place, and it matches that description, start looking for other signs.
4. Cockroach Droppings
Cockroaches also leave droppings behind. They look like coffee grounds or black pepper scattered around your home. They’re smaller than mouse droppings but look similar. If there are any tiny black particles on your floor, you should get your home looked at by a pest control service.
5. Shed Pieces
Like many other insects, cockroaches molt as they grow larger. Their internal bodies become too large for their exoskeletons, and they need to shed their old skeleton to grow a new one.
You’ll find evidence of the molting when they leave pieces behind. You may find bits of their outer shell, what looks like cockroach legs, and other unidentifiable bits.
Safe From A Cockroach Infestation in Apartments
By recognizing the signs, you can prevent a cockroach infestation in apartments you live in. Catch these signs like live roaches, eggshells, smells, droppings, and sheddings early, and then call in pest control. They can handle the problem before it becomes too large to handle and give you tips on preventing cockroaches in the future.
Want other home-keeping tips? Check out our Lifestyle articles for more.
