If You See One Cockroach There Will Be More!

Here’s something we always tell our clients: one pest means there are usually more. For example, if you see a cockroach in your kitchen, you probably have dozens hiding around your home. But why is this and what can you do about these pests?

Did you see a cockroach? Be careful! 

The reason why we say this is because – like most pests – cockroaches are social creatures. They live together in nests which can number in the hundreds, or even thousands. This means that if you do see a cockroach, there are usually others nearby.

That being said, there are exceptions to this rule. You may have inadvertently brought the cockroach inside. A good example is when you take firewood into your home. The cockroach may have been hiding on one of the logs. There are also times when cockroaches wander in from outside. These pests can also come in through drains. They travel through pipes and enter the home via sinks.

Something else to consider is the size of the cockroach. Smaller cockroaches do not travel great distances. There’s a good chance they hatched nearby and are now looking for food. One newly hatched cockroach is likely to mean others are hatching nearby. Bigger cockroaches may have come in from outside.

Action to take if you see one cockroach

Ultimately, it’s a bad idea to simply kill the cockroach and carry on with life as if nothing happened. As we’ve said, you probably have more of the pests. These can quickly breed into an infestation and make your life a nightmare as they can spread illnesses such as food poisoning.

The best thing to do at this point is look for the signs of cockroaches. This will help you determine if there are more in your home. One of the biggest signs is faeces. These look like small brown grains. You’ll see them scattered around in dark places like your cupboards. You may also find these near sources of food and water.

Also look for shed skin and egg casings. Cockroach skin is thin and brown. Eggs casings are also brown and thin but have an oval shape. Something else to realize is that if you see a cockroach, it’s because something attracted it. In most cases this is food, water, or shelter which is why they like basements and similar places.

So, the first thing you want to do is eliminate these attractants to avoid getting cockroaches. Deep clean your kitchen and remove all food debris. Make sure that your bin has a lid that seals tightly, so that pests cannot get into it and take out rubbish regularly. Also, close-up cracks and crevices which allow pests to enter. Finally, make sure that none of your taps are leaking.