Five Signs Your Chandler Home May Have A Cockroach Problem

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Do you know that cockroaches don't like to be seen? If you're lifting pillows on your couch and finding dozens of cockroaches running for cover, or watching in horror as a large cockroach comes crawling out of your air conditioning unit every once in a while, your home has thousands of cockroaches in it. This article isn't really for you. When you see cockroaches, you know you have a problem. And, in case you're not aware, it is a really big problem. Our goal today is to help Chandler residents detect cockroaches early, prevent cockroach-related illnesses, and address a roach infestation before harm can be done. Here are five signs that your Chandler home may have a cockroach problem.

1. Black Specks

Cockroaches leave their excrement in many places. If you see black specks on walls, ceilings, or floors, they might be cockroach droppings. You may also see black or brown stains on fabrics, upholstery, wallpaper, and other materials where the feces can soak in. You can find cockroach droppings out in the open, but it is best to go looking for it if you want to catch an infestation early. Consider these common places:

In the backs of drawers
In the cabinet under your kitchen sink
Behind and underneath appliances
In attic spaces
In drop-down ceilings
Between or underneath boxes in storage
On the floor and walls of your boiler room

2. Eggs Casings

The scientific name for the case that holds cockroach eggs is an ootheca. The plural of this is oothecae. You can find oothecae in all the locations listed above. They may be dark brown with a reddish tint or a gradient of red to yellow. The red to yellow casings are German cockroach oothecae, and this cockroach species carries its ootheca with it. That means you probably won't find them intact. You'll see the damaged casing fragments that are left after the nymphs have emerged. You can also be sure that there are at least 50 German cockroach nymphs inside your Chandler home. Each case can hold 50 eggs.

3. Shed Skins

If you have a cockroach infestation, you'll find shed skins. Cockroach nymphs shed their exoskeletons several times as they develop. Unfortunately, they're not the only insects that do this. When you uncover shed skins, you can't know for sure that they're cockroach skins. But, this is helpful to know as you piece together the clues.

4. Damaged Paper Materials

Cockroaches are interested in pantry foods. Not only do they eat these foods, they'll feed on the paper packaging as well. Tiny holes and deterioration in paper or cardboard food packaging can be a warning sign of a cockroach infestation. Roaches will also feed on wallpaper, clothing, and other things that have cellulose in them. Keep in mind that this kind of damage is also a warning sign of a silverfish infestation.

5. An Unpleasant Aroma

Cockroaches excrete pheromones. These pheromones don't smell very good to humans. If you notice an unpleasant aroma as you inspect your home, this can be a helpful warning sign. It might be the only sign you find. Cockroaches can hide inside wall, floor, and ceiling voids. If you smell something that is musky and oily, it is a good idea to contact a licensed pest management professional.

Signs You Don't Have To Look For

Cockroaches can make you sick. If you have ongoing stomach illness or someone in your home suffers from aggravated asthma symptoms, cockroaches could be to blame.
If you wake up with rashes on your skin, it may be due to roaches crawling on you while you sleep.
If you wake up with a swollen eye, it might be that a cockroach accidentally bit you on the eyelid as it was feeding on dead skin cells.
You could find dead cockroaches in a storage room or some other secluded space.
You might hear the pitter-patter of little feet. Cockroaches can make a clicking sound when they run across tiled or hardwood floors.

What You Should Do When You Discover Cockroaches

Cockroaches aren't likely to make you sick enough to kill you, but they can make you sick enough to send you to the hospital. Fortunately, it doesn't come to this often. Most of the time, cockroach-related sickness is like having the flu or the common cold; symptoms go away on their own. But, when you get a flu-like sickness three or four times a year, that can get really old, really fast. At the first sign of cockroaches, contact Green Home Pest Control. We provide industry-leading pest solutions for residents in Chandler, Arizona. You don't have to live with cockroaches. Let our service team address the cockroaches in your home and give you options for preventing future infestations. Life is better without roaches.