Signs of Cockroach Infestation

Cockroaches are most active during the night, preferring to stay hidden in cracks and crevices during the day. They are attracted to food available in your property and will feed on nearly anything from food crumbs to animal droppings / faeces.

If you suspect a cockroach infestation, it is essential to take immediate action to ensure a fast solution to the problem and to minimise health risks associated with this pest.

Here are some tell-tale signs that indicate cockroach presence in your premises.

1. Droppings - black grainy droppings can be found in the cabinets and along the walls or routes that they travelled on.
2. Smear marks - where water is abundant, brown and irregular shaped smear marks will appear on horizontal surfaces and wall floor junctions.
3. Moulted skin - evident of brownish skins can be found close to where they are breeding as immature cockroaches shed skins about 5-8 times when they mature to adult.
4. Egg cases - appear as small dark brown oval-shaped casings.
5. Damage - look for signs of damage on food packaging and organic goods including leather and books.
6. Unpleasant odour - a distinct musty smell when cockroaches present in large numbers.
7. Live cockroaches - usually found around bathrooms and kitchens.

Locations of Cockroach Infestations

Identifying the location of a cockroach infestation can depend greatly on the species of cockroach that has invaded your property. As mentioned above, some cockroach types prefer warm and humid areas, whilst others can tolerate cooler conditions.

• Check bathrooms - right at the back of bathroom cabinets (especially if they are full of soaps and toiletry products that have been stored for a while) or medicine cabinets. Check plumbing behind sinks, baths and toilets, anywhere they can hide in sheltered dark spaces with access to water even if it's simply condensation. Cockroaches will happily eat soap residue, toilet paper and tissues - even shed skin cells and hair.
• Check kitchens - look in cupboards and cabinets, pay particular attention to hidden areas with pipework such as under sinks and behind dishwashers. Sometimes cockroaches can be found in the upper inside corner of cupboards, hanging upside down out of sight. Nooks and crannies of appliances with motors, offering warmth and hidden crevices like backs of cookers, fridges and freezers are another area to check carefully. Even smaller kitchen appliances like microwaves, coffee makers, toasters and blenders could harbour cockroaches.
• Check laundry rooms - cupboards under sinks, where plumbing enters through walls or floors leading to washing machines and tumble dryers. Also check warm areas near the motors at the back of washers and dryers.
• Check basements - search along the base and corner joints of walls in cellars for any gaps cockroaches could squeeze through. Cracks in wood baseboards or floor cavities are opportune areas for them to hide. Cockroaches will hide in and eat cardboard and newspapers, so check boxes and piles of paper stored for long periods of time.
• Check drains - as some species like Oriental cockroaches can survive in drier, cooler areas. Look around down pipes for cracks and crevices they might hide in, as well as damaged drain covers they could scuttle through. Other areas to check are pipe ducts and any opening beneath porches or decking. Undisturbed areas of garages and outbuildings may also offer shelter to Oriental cockroaches. They are also known to survive in rubbish tips.

Worried about cockroaches in your property? Call us at 1300 881 911 for your home or 1300 881 911 for your business premises. Alternatively, contact us online for a fast and effective service.