Dealing with a cockroach infestation

Have you ever looked down from your sink or desk to see a cockroach skittering across the floor? It’s enough to have you screaming and running for something to whack them with! Cockroaches are pretty much universally despised – and with good reason.

Cockroaches carry diseases, emit an unpleasant odour, worsen allergies (particularly in children), and destroy food. In extreme cases, they even bite!

How cockroaches get indoors

How cockroaches get into the house

Unfortunately, our homes provide ideal conditions for a cockroach to evolve. Cockroaches don’t ask for much – just food, heat, moisture and shelter. Homes have all those things, from cupboards full of food to lots of cracks and crevices where cockroaches can hide and lay eggs. For Essex Pest Control, visit a site such as https://stgeorgespestcontrol.co.uk/

A messy or unkempt house, in particular, offers the perfect conditions for roaches. Cockroaches are interested in the food that has been left on the table, dirty dishes in the sink and crumbs lying on the floor. These critters also love moisture, such as that coming from a leaking pipe under the kitchen sink or wet towels left on the floor.

Whereas some insects are seasonal, the cockroach is a year-round problem. That being said, they are more productive in the summer and fare worse in the cold, but they thrive in heat and humidity. This means that you should be extra vigilant during warmer weather.

While having a dirty house can seem an attractive prospect to visiting cockroaches, having a spotless pad won’t guarantee that you will not get them. Cockroaches and their eggs can come to your home in several ways, including through cracks, piping and vents, and even in things such as shopping bags, purses, boxes and shoes.

Cockroaches are creatures of the night, which means that you may not notice them until there is a serious infestation.

Spotting a cockroach

How to recognise a cockroach

Cockroaches have a flat, oval body with small heads and six legs. The young ones are paler and they become darker as they mature.

Signs of an infestation

Signs of a cockroach problem

Cockroaches are creatures of the night, which means you may not see them until there is a serious infestation. Cockroaches you see during the day have been driven out of hiding places by other cockroaches as a result of overcrowding. However, besides actually seeing the cockroaches, there are other signs you can look out for. These include:

• Roach droppings, which resemble pepper or coffee powder
• The bodies of dead cockroaches
• Oval egg-shaped casing
• An oily or musty smell in your kitchen, bathroom or other areas of your home

Summary

This article explains why cockroaches get into homes and how to spot an infestation. It notes that cockroaches need only food, heat, moisture and shelter to thrive, that a spotless house is no guarantee against them, and that they are most active in summer. It also describes what a cockroach looks like and signs of infestation such as droppings resembling pepper or coffee powder.

Questions this article raises

• What conditions make a house more attractive to cockroaches?
• Why might cockroaches be seen during the day if they are nocturnal?
• What are the early warning signs of a cockroach problem?