Florida is home to several types of cockroaches, including the American cockroach and the German cockroach. It can not only be extremely alarming if you see one of these creepy bugs crawling through your home, but it could also potentially be hazardous to your health. At EnviroGuard, we understand how important effective pest control in Pensacola is. Here is a look at everything that you need to know about how to detect and treat a roach infestation.
How To Identify A Cockroach Infestation In Your Home
Cockroaches like to stay out of sight and can easily hide in various parts of your home. However, you don't have to see them to know if they have been in your home. Some of the clues that cockroaches behind include:
- Skin casings: As a cockroach grows, it will shed its skin. One cockroach will molt 10 to 13 times before it reaches full maturity.
- Egg sacs: Roaches lay egg sacs, called oothecae, that can hold up to 30 nymphs at one time. Oothecae comes in various colors and sizes. Depending on which roach species the ootheca comes from, it can measure between 1/4 and one-half inch long and is usually dark brown or tan.
- Roach droppings: One roach can leave several hundred droppings in your home in one night. A roach dropping is usually black or dark brown and resembles ground black pepper or ground coffee.
- Musty odor: Roach dropping contains strong-smelling pheromones that have a damp, musty odor. The more cockroaches that you have in your home, the stronger the odor will be.
Cockroaches have also been known to leave dark smear marks on countertops, walls, and other places where they are active. The smear marks are usually dark brown and can vary in shape and length.
Cockroaches In Your Home Is A Hazard To Your Health
Even though cockroaches do not bite or sting, they can still cause a lot of harm to you and your family. They have been known to spread a wide range of illnesses, such as:
- Cholera
- Dysentery
- Salmonellosis
- Streptococcus infections
- Staphylococcus infections
- Typhoid fever
Many people are allergic to cockroach droppings and saliva. In fact, cockroaches are one of the most common sources of indoor allergens and could cause severe allergic reactions in some people.
How And Why Cockroaches Find Their Way Into Your Home
Cockroaches need food, shelter, and water to survive. If you have any of these three things accessible, they are likely to come into your home. Their small bodies allow them to easily fit in the small gaps and cracks around your house. They have also been known to enter people's homes by secretly hitching a ride in backpacks, luggage, and clothing.
What's The Best Way To Get Rid Of Cockroaches In Your House?
It can be extremely hard to get rid of cockroaches on your own. If you see any signs of a cockroach infestation in your Pensacola home, don´t hesitate to call us today. At EnviroGuard, we have decades of experience dealing with all types of cockroaches. We have the skills and the knowledge to eliminate these unsanitary insects from your home for good.