There are around 4,600 documented species of cockroaches in the world — probably not that many near you, but they multiply so fast if you have them it might feel like you have all 4,600 species living in your walls. German cockroaches are the most common type and they love to live around humans. The females can even reproduce asexually if there aren’t enough males around. No wonder it’s so hard to get rid of cockroaches!
You might already know that you have a cockroach infestation, but here are a few of the most common signs cockroach exterminators might see.
Cockroach droppings are about the size, shape, and color of a grain of black pepper. They’re usually found in the back of drawers or cabinets, behind bookshelves, under ovens or refrigerators, or other obscure, hidden places.
Cockroaches shed their skin (exoskeleton) during a process called “molting.” These might look like brown or black shells left behind where they commonly hang out.
Their exoskeleton (skin) has a musty odor that people can smell, especially in extreme cases of a cockroach infestation.
Cockroaches are sometimes found under garbage cans, under refrigerators, or other places. They can be forced to scurry away if their hiding place is discovered. However, cockroaches are extremely terrified of open spaces, so if one runs into the open, it’s a sure sign that there are many, many more lurking – and that you need to call a great cockroach exterminator likeSpire Pest Control.
Call (888) 316-3615 for a free bed bug treatment quote and a timely appointment with skilled technicians. No obligation to proceed.
A certified technician will conduct a thorough bed bug inspection of your home to provide a customized treatment plan.
We provide a detailed report of the service and helpful recommendations. For maximum effectiveness, receive a follow-up treatment 14 days after treatment.
We guarantee you won’t see bed bugs for 30 days. If you do, we will come back and treat again for free.
It’s possible to eliminate a cockroach infestation, but there’s no telling whether they might come back. Roaches are really good at hitchhiking, hiding, and crawling into tiny cracks and crevices.
Cockroaches will leave behind a few signs you can detect. If you spot any of these signs, it’s best to contact professional pest control experts right away:
Fecal spots, which look like tiny black pepper dots that stick to any surface where they were deposited.
A musty smell, which is produced by the keratin of their exoskeletons.
Water streaks, As cockroaches grow, they leave behind smears in little water puddles or moist areas as their abdomen drags along the ground.
Discarded exoskeletons. As a cockroach grows, it sheds its exoskeleton in a process called molting.
Egg shells. Ootheca are egg sacs that hold up to 40 eggs. After the eggs hatch, the ootheca hardens into a shell.
Live cockroaches. Cockroaches hate to be out in the open, prefering to be active at night instead. You might see them when you flip on the light or startle them.
German cockroaches can multiply extremely fast, which makes them tough to eradicate. Females can lay 30-40 eggs at once. If she lays her eggs in the house, the infestation could be serious, extensive, and spread throughout the house within just a few months or less.
If you see a cockroach skitter across the kitchen, you’ve most likely got a massive infestation. Once all the best hiding places are taken, the other cockroaches might push one out and force it to run into the open, which roaches are terrified to do.
Follow the helpful hints listed above. Cockroaches are less likely to stick around if there’s no food and few hiding places. That is why frequent, rigorous cleaning is vital. Those methods are most effective when combined with professional pest control.
Every situation will be different, but the first few treatments to get rid of cockroaches will not produce results right away. These initial services are designed to root cockroaches out of their hiding places, so you can expect to see an increase in activity at first. As the product takes effect over time, you’ll see fewer and fewer cockroaches.
German cockroaches cannot survive without living among humans. They breed extremely quickly and are very unsanitary.
Cockroaches don’t have a sting, they aren’t poisonous or venomous, and they don’t bite.
Cockroaches can spread E. coli, salmonella, and other microbial pathogens by crawling around unsanitary areas and then crawling onto your food, dishes, cutlery, counters, and other places in your house.
Yes, because cockroaches don’t mind crawling just about anywhere. For example, a single cockroach might travel through a sewer and then find its way onto your food. In this way, they can spread microbial pathogens like E. coli and salmonella.
As opportunistic omnivores, cockroaches will eat just about anything. They can raid food pantries, food storage containers, and even refrigerators.
As long as they don’t make their way inside or bother humans, most cockroaches are actually beneficial to the environment by helping with decomposition. Cockroaches will eat almost anything, which helps clean up the earth.
The most common cockroach species that invade homes are German cockroaches. They have been invading human habitations since ancient times. Unfortunately, they don’t like living anywhere except near humans, which makes them a significant pest problem.
There are around 4,600 species of cockroaches in the world. Only a few are regularly found in homes, including the American cockroach, the Australian cockroach, the Oriental or Asian cockroach, the brown-banded cockroach, and worst of all, the German cockroach.
German cockroach females produce 30-40 eggs together in an egg sac called an ootheca. That means a single fertilized female could result in a pretty extensive infestation in only a couple of months -- don’t let it get that far, get rid of cockroaches now!
If there aren’t enough male cockroaches to go around, German cockroaches and other species can reproduce asexually, without a male. They can self-fertilize through a process called “parthenogenesis,” but only if there aren’t enough males. This is why it’s vital to call a cockroach exterminator as soon as they’re discovered.
Cockroaches are excellent hitchhikers and incredibly adept at squeezing through tight spaces. If a single female survives, she could restart an infestation by herself — with or without a male around. It’s always good to take precautions to ensure they won’t come back by hiring professionals who can respond quickly to additional activity and continue to fight roaches effectively.
Even a homeowner with the highest quality and most powerful products to kill cockroaches could have a difficult time against these critters. Using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques,Spire Pest Control technicians have the training, equipment, and experience needed to get rid of roaches for good.
“IGR” means Insect Growth Regulator. This is a chemical control method that acts like insect hormones to stop roaches from reaching adulthood and reproducing. This is a benign chemical used in some cockroach control products.
To ensure our customer's safety, we insist on a thorough screening process for all Spire Pest Control Technicians. They also complete extensive training in the classroom and on the job with an experienced mentor before servicing alone.
See photos of our team by visiting the Meet Our Team page for your branch.
If a Spire Pest Control customer has an infestation of covered pests in their home or business between regularly scheduled Home Protection Plan treatments, we will come back and perform targeted treatments to get rid of the pest at no charge. If Spire Pest Control cannot resolve the problem after three such targeted treatments, we will cheerfully refund the customer’s last monthly subscription fee, as long as all other terms of the agreement have been met.
And if you see any pest activity between your regularly scheduled treatments, simply give our office a call; we'll come back at no additional charge.
*Call us today before 2 p.m. (Monday-Friday) for a same day, zero-obligation inspection and estimate or to provide pest control & extermination services near you.