Cockroaches are disgusting and dangerous insects that are far more common in the UK than many people realise and will do a significant amount of harm if allowed to thrive.
You might think that because it is winter at the moment and temperatures are low, that cockroaches, like wasps or similar insects, will be less of a threat to humans. In reality, however, the opposite may actually be true.
Many insects are actually more common during the winter as they seek shelter from the brutal cold outside and enjoy the warmth and comfort of heated buildings.
It is for this reason that you will often first see the signs of a cockroach infestation near a boiler or in another hot and humid location.
If there is a water source nearby for cockroaches to utilise then even better. Cockroaches are notorious for being difficult to kill, but they also require very little to keep alive, and will eat pretty much anything including waste or food packaging.
It is their diet and the places they are willing to go in order to feed that makes these insects so much of a health hazard as they will often spread all sorts of germs using both their mouths and feet.
What are the signs that you may have a cockroach infestation?
Cockroaches, especially young cockroaches, can be very difficult to spot and to deal with.
Even worse, they are nocturnal so will often only come out to play whilst you are sleeping. What a lovely thought.
Some of the most common signs of cockroach infestations include:
Droppings
Tiny droppings might not be exactly easy to spot either, but at least they don’t disappear during the night.
The exact colour of the dropping will depend on the food source that the cockroaches are living off and you may well require a professional pest controller to identify the species using faeces alone.
At least you will know that you are indeed facing issues, however, and that you need assistance.
Weird Smells
A musty unpleasant odour coming from somewhere within your property could be another sign that there is a cockroach infestation not too far away.
Unfortunately, if you can smell an infestation there is a good chance that the population of insects has already reached a substantial number.
Egg shells
When cockroaches grow they shed their skins to make room for their larger bosies and will discard their old ones in the form of egg sacs.
Physical Sightings
As we have already mentioned, cockroaches are not exactly easy to spot during the day but it is not unheard of, especially if you take a look behind your boilers, under the sink, and in other dark and damp corners of the property.
If you have spotted any of the signs of a cockroach issue in your home, call Harvey Pest Controllers and we will be delighted to help resolve your issues. This can often be achieved after just a couple of visits.