4 Telltale Signs That You Have a Cockroach Infestation

Cockroaches are a common pest in Australia, attracted to homes by warmth, moisture and food. They enjoy eating leftover food, as well as other substances like packaging and paper, and can multiply quickly. They also look and smell unpleasant, and can cause various health risks.

Because cockroaches are quite small and mostly active at night, you might find it difficult to know whether you have a cockroach problem. This guide gives four telltale signs that your home has a cockroach infestation, from seeing egg cases to seeing living bugs.

1. You've found cockroach droppings and egg casings

Cockroaches themselves are sometimes difficult to find because they like to live in warm, dark spaces. This means they may hide out under your sink or in your bathroom cabinet during the day, so you might not see them at first. However, their droppings and egg casings are telltale signs that you have a cockroach problem.

The droppings typically look like coffee grounds or pepper, but they can be as large as grains of rice. The more droppings you find, the more cockroaches are in your home. Egg cases are oval-shaped and brown and are a sign that cockroaches are breeding in your home. You can clean up droppings and egg cases yourself, but be careful and wear gloves while doing so.

2. You know your neighbours have cockroaches

Infestations, whether of rodents, termites or cockroaches, tend to spread easily from house to house. Therefore, if you know that your neighbours have been dealing with cockroaches, you should get a preliminary inspection of your home by a professional pest control company. This is especially true if you share garden space or a common hallway, porch or entrance.

Even if you don't think you have cockroaches, paying for an inspection is worth setting your mind at rest for your family's health–Better Health Channel explains that cockroaches can carry disease and can trigger allergies.

3. You can smell cockroaches

Cockroaches have their own smell, though it can be hard to recognise. Many people describe it as an oily and musty smell, which results from the oleic acids released by the roaches. This smell will get worse as the infestation multiplies.

If your home has a strange smell that you can’t explain in any other way, especially if it's paired with other signs, it might be another sign of cockroaches. If this is the only sign you have, speak to a pest control company about a full inspection.

4. You've seen a cockroach in your home

This might seem like an obvious sign, but it's often hard to tell the difference between a single cockroach and an infestation. If you've only seen one cockroach, you should look for more. As described above, cockroaches love places that are warm and moist. They are also much more active at night. 

Try going into your bathroom or kitchen at night and quickly switching on the light to see if you can catch a glimpse of scuttling roaches, or look in your cupboards and under your sink for evidence of more cockroaches. If you aren't sure, or simply want peace of mind, get an expert to come out and look at your home— even if you only have a few roaches, it can easily develop into a full, problematic infestation over time.

Finding that you have a cockroach problem can be upsetting and worrying. However, you have many options to take care of this problem, as well as preventative strategies to help avoid future issues. If you notice any of these signs in your home or are worried about a potential cockroach problem, contact Champion Pest Control today to discuss your options.