If you live in a city or a densely populated area, then you likely understand that cockroaches are just a part of life. While this is true, you still want to invest in pest control services to get rid of the insects as soon as possible. This means looking for the subtle signs that cockroaches are near. Keep reading to learn about a few of them.

Small Brown Streaks

It can be extremely difficult to identify a cockroach infestation. The insects will hide and show very little evidence of their presence until dozens of the pests live inside your home. However, if you look closely, you may see some signs. For example, cockroach feces may be present. The fecal matter will often pile up in areas that are close to a source of water. So, look in your bathroom, kitchen, or basement area. Even your sink may contain the droppings with spots of waste on your dishes. 

Cockroach feces look fairly distinctive with a cylindrical appearance. This is evidence of an adult insect. Smaller cockroaches may leave behind small specs of debris that look a lot like bits of coffee spilled on the ground. The fecal matter will look either brown or deep red and it may be smeared into the ground leaving a small trail behind it.

Roach droppings are often clustered in one area, making them easy to spot if you are looking for them. 

Musty Odor

Cockroaches have an extremely distinct smell. Like other animals, the odor is released to send messages to other cockroaches. The messages tell the insects where they can find a safe place to hide or where a food source can be located. The chemicals are a type of naturally produced hydrocarbon that is specific to the cockroach. And, it smells quite musty. While the smell may be more subtle with fewer cockroaches in the home, it can still be detected. So, if you smell a musty odor and cannot detect the source, then it is time to contact a pest control professional.

You may smell another odor when a cockroach dies. This is a distinctive musty smell and can be detected when only one or two insects have died. 

Contact a professional for pest control services as soon as you notice odors and fecal matter. A cockroach infestation can grow out of hand quite quickly and make it more difficult to control the infestation.