Is Your Home Infested With German Cockroaches?
German cockroaches are one of the most common and invasive pests in Santa Clarita. And yes, these are the “bad” cockroaches.
Contrary to popular belief, an infestation can occur even in the most spotless of homes. These cockroaches are known to hitchhike in delivery boxes, grocery bags, luggage, and even new or used furniture. They can also pass between apartments by traveling through light switch plates and electrical sockets.
Have you recently seen a small roach-like bug skittering through your kitchen in the dead of night? Or perhaps it gave you a fright in the bathroom? How can you tell if that bug is the first sign of a German cockroach infestation?
The Santa Clarita cockroach control experts at No Bugs Termite and Pest Control Inc. are here with helpful tips to identify the breed of cockroach in your home, how to recognize 5 common signs of a German cockroach infestation, and your best options for treatment.
Are you tired of fighting cockroaches on your property? Dial (661) 294-0206 to schedule a free consultation with our licensed technicians. We can inspect your property and complete a treatment that protects your home from harmful infestations.
How to Identify a German Cockroach
Fortunately, there are noticeable differences between the three cockroach breeds in Santa Clarita.
The German cockroach, or the “croton bug,” is a small species of roach that is typically .5-5/8″ long. This species ranges in color from tan to a dark shade that looks black. Their most recognizable feature is two dark and roughly parallel streaks on their abdomen.
How Do I Know What Kind of Cockroach Is In My Home?
Two other cockroach species are common in Santa Clarita: American and Oriental roaches.
American cockroaches can grow to be 1.5-2″ in length with lighter reddish-brown bodies, a thorax edged in faded yellow, and unique figure-eight markings on the backs of their heads.
Oriental cockroaches have shiny black or dark reddish-brown bodies and an “armored” appearance. For this reason, they are often called the “black beetle” cockroach. The males are slightly shorter (1″) with stubbed wings, while the females are longer (1-1 1/4″) and wingless.
How Are These Types of Cockroaches Different?
Oriental and American cockroaches subsist on decaying organic matter and thrive in yards with mulch, leaf piles, flower beds, and other areas prone to debris build-up. While interior infestations are possible, these roaches usually only enter a home if they are lost or desperate for water.
How Do I Know If I Have A German Cockroach Infestation?
So how can you tell if you have a lost cockroach or the first signs of an invasion? The No Bugs team is here with 5 helpful tips to help you identify an infestation. Consider the following signs and contact the No Bugs office at (661) 294-0206 if you have any questions or would like to schedule an inspection.
1. Oily and Musty Odor
A stingy odor penetrating the house is one of the first signs of a German Cockroach infestation. If you ever go into a cockroach-infested area, you will immediately notice a musty and very unpleasant odor. This is caused by the mixture of food scraps, dead bugs, fecal stains, and other organic matter that roaches leave behind as they roam around.
Cockroaches also utilize a pheromone that they use for communication. That’s right! This scent is a calling card for other roaches to find your home.
2. Dark Droppings
Are you seeing small dark spots that look like coffee grounds or pepper littered around your home? Excrement is a tangible sign that you might be dealing with a German cockroach infestation. If you see black specks on walls, ceilings, or floors, then you might be looking at cockroach droppings.
3. Brown or Black Fecal Stains
German cockroaches also leave black or brown stains on structures, fabrics, and furnishings. This action is aptly known as fecal staining.
Cockroaches may not poop solids because they tend to consume greasy or pasty filth. You can find these smears on doors, room corners, countertops, and even the junctions between walls and flooring.
The most popular locations are the usual cockroach targets: basements, crawlspaces, kitchens, and bathrooms.
Are these smear marks dangerous? Yes, absolutely. Cockroaches pick up germs as they crawl through filth, decaying matter, and sewage. Fecal staining can impact your health because cockroaches can spread at least 33 kinds of bacteria and 6 types of parasitic worms that are harmful to humans. Their feces and skin contain these pathogens, some of which cause asthma and breathing disorders.
You need to clean up the mess quickly because not removing these stains can attract other cockroaches to your home, triggering an infestation.
4. Dead Roaches
Are you finding dead German cockroaches in your home? Unfortunately, there are likely many more living out of sight.
The first dead German cockroach you find in your home is a red flag to inspect your home and contact a pest control company ASAP. Take a picture or save a sample to show the technician, and then immediately clean up the mess to prevent others from being lured to your home.
5. Shed Skins
That’s right! It isn’t just snakes that shed their skins. A German cockroach will shed its skin about 5-8 times during its lifetime. The discarded skins are light brown and cockroach-shaped, and spotting them in your home is a major sign of an infestation.
How Do I Get Rid Of A German Cockroach Infestation?
If you are dealing with a German cockroach infestation, call the experts at No Bugs Termite and Pest Control Inc. today. Our Santa Clarita cockroach control technicians are only a phone call away from your home or office. We can inspect your property and complete a comprehensive treatment plan that clears your living space of these dangerous pests.
Dial (661) 294-0206 to schedule a free evaluation with No Bugs, Santa Clarita’s #1 cockroach control team!
