How To Spot A Cockroach Problem In Your Imperial Valley, CA Home

There's nothing quite as alarming as finding a cockroach in your home. But even worse than finding cockroaches in your Imperial Valley, CA home is having an infestation you don't know about. To prevent this from happening, learn the common signs of cockroaches and what to do to keep cockroaches from taking over.

Know The Cockroaches In Imperial Valley

Before you can successfully identify a cockroach infestation in the Imperial Valley, CA you need to know a bit about the local cockroaches. One of the most common cockroaches in the area is the German cockroach. This insect is light brown and grows to about 0.63 inches. If you look in the damp and warm areas of your home, you might find them hiding out. You can identify these pests by the two dark stripes on their heads.

Another potential home invader is the American cockroach. This large roach is reddish-brown and often hangs out in sewers and water meters. Meanwhile, the oriental cockroach is black and has short wings. If you see any cockroaches in your home, don't hesitate to call a pest control professional. They can identify the type of roach and take steps to eradicate it.

Keep An Eye Out For Other Signs

Even if you can successfully identify the various local roaches, you might not realize you have an infestation before the issue is out of control. Because cockroaches usually hide out in dark and damp places, they aren't always visible. For that reason, it's essential to know how to spot other signs of a cockroach infestation. That means to be on the lookout for all the following issues.

Cockroach Droppings

When you have multiple cockroaches in your home, you're bound to come across cockroach droppings. But not everyone realizes what they're looking at when they come across the feces. Droppings from small roaches look like ground pepper or coffee. If you have large roaches in your home, you'll see cylinder-shaped droppings with blunt ends.

You might find these droppings in your hallways, basement, or under your sinks. As soon as you notice them, don't hesitate to take action. It's only a matter of time before you see other signs of roaches.

Smear Marks

Cockroaches are messy creatures, and leave behind a trail of filth. In addition to leaving feces everywhere, roaches also mark your walls and surfaces with brown smears. This happens in areas with excess moisture, like under bathroom sinks. At times, these marks will appear on the wall to floor junctions.

Egg Capsules

One of the strangest signs of cockroaches you might see is the egg capsules. When a female is ready to reproduce, she lays eggs in a purse-like capsule. Anywhere between 10 and 60 eggs can be in a capsule. If you find these in your home, you can expect to have a serious infestation in a short time.

Musty Odors

A foul odor in your home is a telltale sign of a pest problem. When cockroaches are abundant, they have an unpleasant smell that's repulsive to most people. While the smell isn't noticeable with a few roaches, it's apparent when you have an infestation.

What You Should Do If You Spot A Problem

A cockroach infestation is much more than an annoyance. It's a sign that you and everyone in your household could be in danger. As transmitters of disease, cockroaches have the ability to make you very ill. They spread salmonella as well as a long list of other diseases.

Once you have cockroaches in your home they are reluctant to depart. The best way to handle an infestation is to call us atImperial County Pest Control. We are family-owned and operated and offer home pest control services and commercial pest prevention plans. Call us today at Imperial County Pest Control for a free inspection to help you safely eliminate these unwanted pests.