But did you know you can spot the signs of a roach infestation before you see one? In this blog, we’ll take a look at five ways to know you have a roach infestation in your Las Vegas home. That way, you can be as prepared as possible to take action against these pests when they start making problems in your home.
1. Allergies Kick Up
Due to the proteins in their exoskeletons and feces, cockroaches cause allergies in many people. If you have suffered from the following symptoms without any explanation, you may have a lurking cockroach infestation:
- Stuffy nose
- Wheezing and trouble catching your breath
- Periodic feelings of heaviness and tightness in your chest
- Red, itchy eyes
- Asthma frequently is triggered at home
If you’ve started suffering allergic reactions around your home and are uncertain of the cause, roaches could be the culprit. As some of these symptoms can lead to serious reactions later on, it is important that you seek medical help if you’ve started experiencing them, and contact a cockroach control professional immediately to help remedy the situation.
2. Roach Feces
Many people with roach infestations end up seeing roach feces around their homes, but most don’t realize what they are looking at. It doesn’t look like rabbit or pet droppings, but rather like coffee grounds. The feces are dark in color and vary in size. Droppings can look small, like a speck of pepper, or like small grains of rice. Roach feces are most often found in small piles in the corners of rooms, along baseboards, and in the back of cabinets. Roach feces can harbor more than 33 types of bacteria, so use caution when cleaning it up. Wear gloves and a face mask, and use a vacuum to suck it up before cleaning the area with disinfectant.
3. Strange Odors
Does your home have a mysterious odor that you can’t put your finger on? Some people describe the odor as musky or garbage-like. The odor may be strongest in wet or damp areas of your home, such as your basement or bathrooms, since these areas are where cockroaches like to congregate. Deep cleaning your home may temporarily eradicate the smell since you are probably cleaning up feces, but the smell will soon return unless you take steps to eliminate the problem completely.
4. Chewed Packages & Disappearing Food
Cockroaches are not picky eaters and will feed on almost anything, including things like wallpaper paste, when desperate. However, they are typically first attracted to your home when food is readily available. If you notice chew marks and food missing from cardboard packages, especially sweet items, then roaches may be to blame. Cockroaches, especially larger ones, can eat right through cardboard. Some homeowners also notice their pet food goes missing and the start of an infestation.
5. Egg Casings
After cockroaches move in, they will begin mating. Different cockroach species lay different types of eggs. Those left behind by American Cockroaches are dark brown and about 8 mm long. Those left by Brown-Banded roaches are reddish-brown and about 8-10 mm long. While those from German Cockroaches are medium brown and about 6 mm long. You might see egg casings in dark corners, under cabinet ledges, and under sinks before you start to see cockroaches. Ideally, you want to catch your infestation before cockroaches start breeding and your problem grows exponentially. If you’ve started seeing any of the above telltale signs of a cockroach infestation, don’t wait: give us a call here at Anver Pest Control for comprehensive home pest control solutions. If you suspect you have cockroaches in your home, call Anver Pest Control today to get your home cockroach and insect-free!