9 Common Warning Signs Of A Cockroach Infestation

Cockroaches. Now there's a word nobody wants to hear. Especially if it is about an insect infestation in their home. These pests are notorious for spreading bacteria and diseases throughout a home, leading to dangerous illnesses. Some people also experience problems with asthma or other respiratory problems because of the shed skin or droppings they leave behind in a home. What's more, cockroaches may also potentially damage furniture, clothing, rugs, curtains, and more. Identifying an infestation while it is still in the early stages is critical.

Let's take a look at some of the warning signs of a cockroach infestation. Once you know what to be on the lookout for, you'll be prepared to act quickly and prevent a few bugs from turning into a serious infestation. You can get rid of the cockroaches before they have the opportunity to cause serious harm to the people who live in your home or any of your belongings.

Spotting cockroach droppings is a sure sign that there are at least a few of these pests that have found their way into your home. Before you can go searching for cockroach droppings, you'll need to know what you're looking for. They can vary in appearance based on the size of the roach that left them and some other factors. If left by a smaller roach, the droppings may have a similar color and texture to coffee grounds, while others may be darker in color and look like black pepper.

If the cockroaches you're dealing with are larger, their droppings are going to look a little different. Expect them to be bigger and rounder in shape. As with the smaller roaches, the color may be black or brown. Because the droppings are bigger, you'll often be able to see a few ridges throughout them. Because the waste is similar in size to that left behind by mice, looking for these ridges can really clue you in that you're dealing with cockroaches.

Now that you know what cockroach poop looks like, you can keep an eye out for it if you're trying to catch the early stages of an infestation. Look along your baseboards, in your pantry cabinets, on shelves, in drawers, behind your appliances, in darker storage areas, or anywhere else you think the bugs could be hiding. If you find lots of droppings in the same area, it will let you know where the insects may be lurking. You might also be able to identify the food or water source and remove it to limit their spread.

Sometimes cockroach feces appear in the form of smears. The smears are trails of poop that are left behind when the bugs crawl throughout the home. For this reason, you might find them anywhere that they've been scuttling. Walls and ceilings are common locations for these marks to be spotted.

The exact appearance of the smears can vary depending on the type of cockroaches you have and how big of an infestation you're dealing with. Smaller marks generally signal smaller insects, while larger smears should alert you that larger bugs are invading your home. Smears are also more likely to be left in humid or damp spaces. In these environments, the roaches' feces turn into a paste that rubs off of their bodies wherever they go. If you notice large areas of smear marks, it should be a clue that there is a source of food nearby. Remember, these smear marks carry bacteria, so carefully disinfect surfaces where they're located, throw out any food that may be compromised, and call in the professionals to take care of the infestation before it gets any bigger.

If you or someone in your home recently started suffering from increased allergies, cockroaches could be to blame. While some allergies are seasonal, cockroaches can cause symptoms to appear regardless of the time of year. As with other allergens, not everyone will have a respiratory reaction to these pests. Those that do are allergic to one of the proteins that the bugs possess. They'll appear symptomatic when exposed to the roaches themselves, as well as their waste or saliva.

Some of the symptoms to look out for include a runny nose, itchy or watery eyes, sneezing, itchy throat, or skin rashes. Because these symptoms are so similar to those of other allergens, it can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint the cause. However, if they seemed to appear out of nowhere, and you're noticing some of the other signs of a potential infestation, then you likely have cockroaches in your house. Remediating the infestation will be the most effective solution, but you should also talk to your doctor about whether you need an antihistamine, a nose spray, or any other medications to help manage your symptoms.

Where there are cockroach eggs, there are adult roaches. Don't fool yourself into thinking that because you found eggs before they hatched you stopped an infestation before it could even start. The eggs themselves are either black or brown, shaped like an oval, and very small. You also won't find just one egg or two eggs by themselves because roaches lay their eggs in clusters. So, you may find a group of as many as 40 eggs. These clusters could be anywhere that the cockroaches have been hiding, typically in a cooler and darker place. The eggs will be in a protective casing, called an ootheca. The ootheca will still be small but larger than each of the individual eggs it holds.

The eggs won't hatch for 2 to 4 weeks. If you find one of these cases, there are probably more lurking in your house, along with several adult roaches. Your best course of action will be to contact an exterminator immediately.

Cockroaches have a very distinct odor. And, while it isn't very pleasant, detecting its presence could allow you to catch an infestation while it is still in the early stages. The odor is best described as musty and unfresh. Oleic acid, one of the chemicals produced by the pests, is the compound to blame for this foul stench. The insects use it as a form of communication; other roaches smell it and are attracted to it, helping them find the food and other necessities they require to survive.

If you've been noticing a faint odor that doesn't belong in your generally clean home, use it as a sign to act quickly. Start searching for other signs of an infestation, or contact your local extermination company to have them come out to evaluate the problem. The longer the intruders are present, the stronger the stench is going to become.

Another sure sign that cockroaches are making themselves at home in your space? Molted skin. If you see what looks like a dead roach, it may actually just be the skin left behind from a nymph molting. The nymphs are the young versions of this insect. Like other animals, their skin doesn't grow with their body, so they have to shed it and allow their new cuticle to harden (during this time, the roach will look white until their new "skin" is ready).

As the nymphs grow, they'll go through this process of molting several times (somewhere around six to seven, depending on the species). If you think about how many eggs each female cockroach lays (about 16 eggs for 10 months straight), you can imagine how many skin casings are going to be left from all of the nymphs molting. So, it should go without saying that you should contact a professional if you're seeing skin casings around your home.

Food is one of the reasons cockroaches were attracted to your home in the first place. So, if you're dealing with an infestation, it is likely that they've gained access to your pantry or other stores of food. While you might not catch them in the act, you can look for signs that they've been breaking into your supplies. In addition to looking for droppings, smears, or eggs near your pantry, you should also inspect the packages and food that it holds. If the roaches have visited, there will be chew marks on boxes or plastic packages. Food may also be missing from where they have successfully broken into different containers, bags, or boxes.

Human food isn't the only thing that these pests will eat. They may also have gotten into your bags of dog or cat food. If you leave food out for your pet overnight, it is also a good idea to look around their bowl to see if it looks like anyone has been "helping" them eat their meals.

It would be nice if we could say that seeing one cockroach isn't cause for concern. However, these pests don't live alone. Even if you don't see more, they're hiding somewhere. If you want to confirm your suspicions that there are likely others lurking around, the best time to look is after dark. Because these insects are nocturnal, they're more active at night. Leave the lights off in your kitchen, laundry room, and any other rooms where you think they've been visiting. Then, walk down and turn on the lights in one of these rooms after it's been dark for a while. Chances are, if they're in the space, they run across the floor to a hiding place when the lights go on.

The presence of just one cockroach should be enough to set you into action. Reach out to a professional exterminator immediately so that they can help you eradicate your problem and take your home back from the pests.

Apartment dwellers or anyone else who shares a wall with a neighbor should be prepared for the potential of an infestation if they hear that their neighbors are plagued by cockroaches. Because these pests are so adept at getting in through small openings, it won't take much for their problem to also become your problem. 

To minimize the chances that the cockroaches will actually enter your space, or at least keep them out in the event of future infestations next door, there are a few things you can do. Start by closely examining the walls that you share with a neighbor. If there are any openings — no matter how small — seal them up or ask your landlord to seal them for you. You'll also want to be very careful with how you store your food and take care to avoid leaving any sitting out or on the floor. Respectfully giving your neighbor advice about what they should do or who they should call to clear up their infestation can also limit the chances that a few roaches will migrate to your property.