The thought of a cockroach creeping up a wall is enough to make anyone a little grossed out. Having a cockroach skitter away when you pick up a wet towel off the bathroom floor may even give you a real fright. But is the presence of one cockroach anything to worry about? It is possible that the cockroach somehow got into your house and that there is not an infestation behind your walls. But ignoring the possibility that there is a bigger problem is not a risk worth taking. A single cockroach can be responsible for laying up to 400 eggs in a single year. Warmer weather speeds up incubation time for the eggs as well, so more cockroaches can hatch quicker, producing cockroaches who can lay more eggs in your home. Cockroaches are notoriously difficult to eradicate and takes multiple different extermination methods and a highly experienced pest control professional to eliminate the infestation and prevent these disgusting critters from slinking back into your home.
Health risks
Cockroaches climb through all types of trash and filth. They pick up bacteria from sewers and other disgusting places and bring them right into your home. Cockroaches can be found hiding inside the toilet bowl and have been known to eat food particles left on your toothbrush if not washed out properly. Cockroaches are known to carry bacteria such as listeria, E. Coli, and salmonella. An increase in allergies and asthma symptoms for those who already suffer from these respiratory problems is often found in cockroach-infested homes.
Be on the lookout
Seeing a cockroach in your home should lead to an immediate search for more signs of cockroaches that may indicate a bigger problem. The more evidence you find, the larger the infestation is and the more critical getting in touch with a pest control professional becomes. Signs of cockroaches to look for are:
- Smear marks left on surfaces and walls: Cockroaches often hang out in wet, damp areas in the home. If the cockroaches are very active in one area, they scurry through water, and leave behind brown, smear marks.
- Casings or Capsules: Cockroaches lay a lot of eggs. You may find egg casting after the eggs hatch.
- Droppings: Though the droppings produced by cockroaches are quite small, when many are found in a small area, you are likely to notice.
- Exoskeletons: Much like other insects, cockroaches have an exoskeleton that they have to shed in order to grow
Store-bought cockroach solutions may have some initial success. But if cockroaches are not completely eliminated, the population will grow and you will have a full-fledged infestation on your hands once again. Cockroaches carry risky bacteria into your home. Hiring a pest control professional to inspect and treat your home for cockroaches is the single best solution to eliminating these disgusting bugs from your property.
If you are in Passaic County, NJ, and are worried you may have a cockroach infestation, give Abarb Pest Services a call today.
