Cockroaches are one of the most common household pests. They’re not just small creatures—they’re dangerous. If you see one, kill it right away. But how do you know for sure if you have cockroaches? Here is a list of 5 signs of cockroaches that will show that you have an infestation.
1. Live Cockroaches
There are numerous warning indicators that will tell you that you have a cockroach infestation in your home. Finding live cockroaches is one of the most evident signs of an infestation. There are over 4600 species of cockroaches in the world. The cockroach species found in India are as follows:
German cockroach ((Blattella germanica)
American cockroach (Periplaneta americana)
Brown-banded cockroach (Supella longipalpa)
Oriental cockroach (Blatta orientalis)
Each variety of cockroaches is different from the next and has a unique appearance. Despite this, they do share some common characteristics. Cockroaches are arthropods and have oval body shapes. They have six legs and lengthy antennae that they use to sense their surroundings.
They are typically brown or black in colour. You can also spot nymphs (baby cockroaches) and egg cases during a severe infestation. I hope this information about live cockroaches is helpful. And, you can easily come to know that there are cockroaches in your house by checking for the above signs.
2. Cockroach Egg Cases
Have you ever seen egg cases of cockroaches? You may not have noticed them, because they are tough to spot and identify. However, there are some signs that may indicate the presence of cockroach egg cases in your home.
What is the appearance of cockroach egg cases? What do they look like? Where do they appear? What is the size of the egg cases? No worries. Here, I will share some helpful information regarding the appearance and size of the cockroach egg cases.
Cockroach egg cases are protective cases for developing cockroach eggs. These cases hold up to 50 embryos (eggs) in the female cockroach that hatch in 24-38 days.
3. Cockroach Droppings
Cockroach droppings are also a significant indicator of whether you have a roach infestation at home. How will you identify the cockroach droppings? Well, let us share some information regarding the appearance and size of the droppings produced by the roaches.
Cockroaches produce a lot of faeces and can poop anywhere. The most common places for them are near the places where they nest, hide, or feed. Their droppings are usually small in size and dark brown in colour. The size of the droppings is directly correlated to the size of the cockroaches.
You must not confuse roach faeces with mouse droppings. Cockroach droppings or faeces are small flecks and resemble coffee grounds, black pepper flecks, and dark grains of rice. Furthermore, remember that roach droppings or faeces leave behind dark brown smear marks.
4. Cockroaches’ Shed Skins and Body Parts
Cockroaches often shed their exoskeletons, skins, and other body parts as part of their life cycle. They do so to keep themselves growing. From the moment they are newly formed nymphs until they are fully grown adults, cockroaches can exuviate their skin and other body parts up to eight times.
While it is common for cockroaches, people typically consider expelled skin to be dead cockroaches. But you must not think so. Remember that the size of shed skin varies based on the cockroach’s life stage at the time the exoskeleton was exuviated.
5. Stench or Disgusting Odour
You can easily detect the infestation by the awful stench of cockroaches. Most species of cockroaches produce unpleasant-smelling pheromones. Other pests also do. Remember that roaches flourish because of many sources, such as debris, standing water, and other forms of squalor. If your home is infested with cockroaches, you may notice a musty smell.