Three Signs You May Have A Cockroach Problem In Your Chandler Home

When you think of cockroaches, people often picture dirty, rundown domiciles. However, even the cleanest, most sanitary home may find itself under attack. Fortunately, an infestation is easy to detect, and there are professionals standing by to help get it under control.

What Is A Cockroach?

The cockroach is one of the most primitive winged insects around today. They have changed little in appearance from the 320 million-year-old fossils. There are three species of cockroaches most likely to visit your home in Arizona: the American cockroach, German cockroach, and Oriental cockroach. All three cockroach species are oval-shaped with six barbed legs. The barbs allow them to grip onto smooth surfaces like walls and ceilings.

• The American cockroach, also known as the water bug or palmetto bug, is reddish-brown, and they are the largest of the home-infesting roaches at 1 ½ to 2 inches long. These cockroaches live primarily outdoors but are the most common cockroach species found in city sewers and homes.

• The German cockroach is the most common species. They are most often found in restaurants, hotels, nursing homes, and other institutions where people process food. These cockroaches are much smaller than the American cockroach, measuring at ½ inch to ? inch long. They are light brown to tan with two dark parallel lines behind their head.

• Oriental cockroaches are sometimes referred to as “black beetle cockroaches” because of their shiny black color. They are often found in damp areas like basements and crawl spaces. They are of the larger cockroach species and about one inch long.

The Dangers Cockroaches Bring Into Your Home

Cockroaches are disgusting. Cockroaches spread at least 33 kinds of bacteria, six parasitic worm species, and at least seven other human pathogens. They will bring these into your home on the spines of their legs and deposit them on your countertops, dishes, and any food left out. This puts you and your entire family at risk of contracting Salmonella, E.coli, and a lengthy list of other diseases.

Cockroaches trigger allergies and asthma, especially in children, because of the allergen proteins in their saliva and waste. Children suffering from respiratory issues is a dire sign of a cockroach infestation that is often overlooked.  

Three Most Common Signs Of A Cockroach Infestation

There are three common signs of a cockroach infestation that are easy to spot. If you come across any of the following signs, it is imperative that you seek professional help to rid your home of these vile insects.

Sightings: If you are seeing cockroaches skittering across your floors or up your walls, that serves as a clear indicator of a cockroach problem. Other places you may find them are dark, damp areas like under your sinks, in your basements, and in crawl spaces.

Droppings: American cockroaches will leave behind droppings that are very similar to mouse droppings. It often takes a set of professional eyes to discern which pest has actually left these droppings behind. German cockroaches will leave behind droppings that look more like black pepper on countertops and in drawers. You may also notice some fecal staining that looks like dark spots or smears near small cracks or openings in walls, along door trim, and in the corners of your rooms.

Odor: Cockroaches secrete pheromones to communicate with each other. People will often notice a musty smell in areas with large cockroach populations.

It is so important to be vigilant in protecting your home from these disease-infested insects. If you notice any of these common signs of a cockroach infestation in your home, don’t wait. Seek professional help to rid your home of these pests and keep them gone for good.

How Green Home Pest Control Can Help

Cockroaches can be a nightmare to deal with, and it is our goal to make the process as simple as possible for you. We use an Integrated Pest Management approach that will take care of your cockroach problem for good. We will come up with a plan using eco-friendly products, and preventative measures that will be safe for you and kind to the environment.

Contact us at Green Home Pest Control today to learn more about our cockroach control process and to schedule services for your Chandler, AZ home.