Damages Caused by Cockroaches

Do you know whether you have a possible infestation of cockroaches or not? Before you answer, keep in mind that you may not actually see the little pests until it is too late. Instead of looking for the creepy pests, look for the damage that they can cause. There are a few damages caused by cockroaches that are easily identified when you know what to look for. Simply read about some of them below, and you will have a good idea of whether or not you should be calling in an exterminator for a better look.

• Signs of feeding. One of the earliest and most easily disregarded signs of cockroach damage is the signs of feeding. Cockroaches love to eat things such as glue, paste, starch, and even regular food. Furthermore, cockroaches love to live in areas that are particularly damp or dark. Putting this information together means that you may find signs of cockroach munching on things like letters, books, drapes, and even wallpaper. The signs won't be easily seen at first, but if you think that you have a potential problem keep an eye on the area and watch for growth. If the munched areas grow in size over the next few days then you need to start looking for other damage signs.
• Excrement. As mentioned above, there are certain places that cockroaches love to live and eat. That means that these are also the places that you should keep an eye out for signs of cockroach excrement. When seen, it will appear as very small brown spots usually located near the edges of the material that you are looking at. For example, if you find potential signs of feeding, as well as these brown spots in close proximity then you just may want to call in an expert to get a second opinion.
• Allergies. People who are susceptible to allergies may want to keep an eye out for allergic reactions that are out of season, or even more severe reactions than what you may normally experience. While by itself an allergic reaction does not signify that there is a problem, when combined with any number of these other damage signs is a clear symptom of possible cockroach infestation.
• Illness. Cockroaches are not directly responsible for generating any diseases, but they definitely have a hand in the spreading of it. What this means is that if you suddenly see that you, or a member of your family, or both have a tendency to get sick with no visible reason, then you could possibly have some cockroaches. While it is true that your family could just periodically get ill, the biggest clue is that you are getting ill over and over again. If you find this happening, particularly in conjunction with the other damage signs, then you really should call in an exterminator to do a thorough examination.