If you find just one cockroach in your home, you may have an infestation on your hands.
Cockroaches in your home are not something you should take lightly. These pests are known to carry over 30 different diseases, including dysentery and typhoid fever. They can even trigger reactions in people with asthma or allergies.
For the sake of your home and family, try to stop a cockroach infestation before it gets out of hand. Here’s how you can determine whether there are roaches in your home so you can address them right away.
How to Identify Cockroaches in Dallas
There are four main species of cockroaches you can find in your Dallas home.
American Cockroach
These are the largest species of cockroach. An adult American cockroach can reach up to three inches long.
You can identify them by a marking above their head that looks like an uppercase “B” or figure-eight.
Brown-Banded Cockroach
Adult brown-banded cockroaches average around half an inch in length.
As their name suggests, you can identify these roaches by light brown horizontal bands on their back.
German Cockroach
These cockroaches are usually no more than half an inch long.
They’re easy to confuse with brown-banded roaches because they have light brown stripes. However, they are vertical rather than horizontal.
Oriental Cockroach
An Oriental cockroach can grow up to one inch in length.
Their color ranges from solid black to a dark, reddish-brown color.
Signs of Cockroaches
Here are a few signs that you have cockroaches in your Dallas home.
Damage to Your Items
Cockroaches can damage your belongings. Keep an eye out for chew marks in your books, leather furniture or clothing, food packaging, and soap bars.
Droppings
Cockroach feces looks similar to ground coffee. Be sure to check your attics, cabinets, walls, drawers, and other undisturbed areas for these droppings.
Egg Capsules
Cockroaches lay eggs in small, oval-shaped capsules, also known as ootheca. They are usually somewhere between 5 and 13 millimeters long.
Oriental and American cockroach oothecae are long and dark brown. Brown-banded cockroach egg capsules are short and light brown. For German cockroaches, they are narrow and light tan.
These capsules can carry up to 40 eggs at a time.
Shed Skin
Roach nymphs grow at a rapid rate. To accommodate this, they shed their exoskeletons 5 to 8 times before adulthood.
You will likely find some roach exoskeletons in your home when you have an infestation. They won’t help you identify the species of cockroach, though. The exoskeletons turn white once they have molted.
Smear Markings
Roach feces can leave smear markings on surfaces throughout your home. These are small, brown, irregular-shaped spots that you can find on your walls or floors.
Strange Odor
One of the biggest signs of cockroaches in your home is an unpleasant, musty odor. If you notice this smell in addition to the other signs on this list, you might have a roach problem.
Where Can You Find Cockroaches?
Roaches generally prefer warm, inactive areas with high levels of moisture. Some of the most common areas for roach nests include:
- Basements. The high humidity and low activity is the perfect environment for cockroaches to make their home.
- Bathrooms. Check for any signs of roaches near your sink, pipes, or bathtubs.
- Drains and pipe ducts. These high-moisture areas are the ideal place for roaches to hide.
- Kitchens. Spilled food and crumbs are food sources for these pests.
- Laundry rooms. Standing water in your laundry room drain puts your home at risk for a cockroach infestation.
Cockroach Control and Prevention Tips
If you want to prevent roaches from invading your home, there are a few steps you can take.
You can use a caulking gun to seal up any possible entry points. Check your window screens, weather strips, and door sweeps to make sure they’re working.
Keeping your house clean can also help. Remember to dust often, avoid leaving pet food out, and don’t let dirty dishes sit out in the open. You can also use a dehumidifier to eliminate moisture.
If you notice any signs that you have cockroaches in your home, don’t wait for it to get worse. Contact Romney Pest Control right away for a free quote! Our team of Dallas, TX pest professionals will help you quickly and with guaranteed effective solutions.
