Of course, you may also find dead cockroaches in areas where they hide, since the
Dead cockroaches are a sure sign that you have a cockroach infestation. You may find them laying on their back the next morning.
Finding dead ones may simply indicate that they have reached the end of their life cycle. Environmental Stress: Changes in the environment, such as a lack of food or water, extreme temperatures, or high levels of humidity, can stress cockroaches and lead to their death.
Food Sources: Crumbs, spills, or improperly stored food can attract roaches. Moisture: Roaches are drawn to damp areas, so leaky pipes or high humidity can contribute to infestations. Entry Points: Gaps, cracks, and openings in walls or around windows and doors can allow roaches to enter.
Vacuum them but dispose of them fairly quickly after - they he dead roaches apparently leave a pheromone that attracts more. It's why the recommendation is not to crush them.
Spread of Eggs
The number one reason to not squash a cockroach is to prevent spreading cockroach eggs. Some cockroach species, such as the German cockroach (common species here in the UK) carry their egg cases (ootheca) on their body until just before they hatch.
Their dead bodies are known to discharge secretions such as acids and pheromones, telling other nearby cockroaches that there's food around. That's a fundamental issue when dealing with a cockroach infestation because killing the present cockroaches will immediately attract new ones near or inside the place.
Why? Because roaches go through several life stages, seeing nymphs likely means that adult roaches have already settled in, mated, and produced egg cases (known as oothecae). Each egg case can hold anywhere from 16 to 50 eggs, depending on the species. Keep this in mind as you consider the level of infestation.
Some strong scents, such as lavender and mint, have been known to repel cockroaches.
No matter how clean your home is, if there's some excess moisture somewhere, it could very well be an attractive invitation for your neighborhood roaches. This is one of the reasons why you'll commonly find roaches hanging out in your bathroom and laundry room or around an appliance that produces condensation.
Seeing baby roaches can be worse than seeing big roaches because it usually indicates a breeding population. Adult roaches might be solitary invaders, but baby roaches suggest that there are adults reproducing somewhere in your home. This means you are likely dealing with a larger, more established infestation.
Generally, the presence of discarded skins and feces are indicative of a nest, with other telltale features including a large number of dead roaches, egg cases, dark spots, and smears. Egg cases are usually brown and less than a quarter of an inch long. Each case can house 40 or more baby roaches.
If you spot a dead cockroach during cleaning, they probably died from thirst. Deny any water sources i.e. fix a leaking tap. Don't try flushing a cockroach into a toilet bowl. You might see them resurfacing again!
Obviously, seeing dead cockroaches is a sign of an infestation. These will most commonly be found under sinks, under kitchen appliances such as stoves and fridges, or in kitchen cabinets.
Know your kitchen and bathroom roaches
These roaches are commonly found in areas that offer a warm, humid environment with plenty of moisture and access to food. If you see baby roaches, especially behind appliances or in dark corners, it's a sign of a German cockroach infestation.
Choose your bait.
Onion is a common choice, although you can use anything fragrant. Try using a small strip of fresh banana peel or sweet, overripe fruit. You can also use a small piece of bread. If you have noticed the cockroaches in your house being attracted to a specific food, try using that as bait.
Leaving the light on doesn't deter cockroaches effectively because they can navigate in low-light conditions. While they're mostly active at night, they may still come out in search of food or water. During the day, cockroaches hide in dark areas not directly exposed to light.
Cockroaches are blessed with an amazing sense of smell. This is what they use when seeking food and mate but at the same time, this is also their weakness. A cockroach's sense of smell can be used to get rid of them.
Poor sanitation, improper food storage, and water leaks provide ample resources for these pests to thrive. Even small crumbs or spills can attract cockroaches and support their populations.
Seal Cracks and Gaps: Use caulk to seal entry points around windows, doors, and pipes. Control Moisture: Fix leaks and ensure proper ventilation to remove water sources. Use Baits and Traps: Place cockroach baits and sticky traps near high-activity areas to target nymphs and adults.
Of course, you may also find dead cockroaches in areas where they hide, since the infestation is just part of their natural life and death cycle. Dead roaches are not a sure sign the infestation is over, but more likely that it is ongoing. 2. Spotting cockroach droppings can also point to an ongoing infestation.
Vacuum all carpets to take care of roach feces, dead roaches following the treatment, etc., and then follow up with a rented (or purchased) carpet shampooer if you want to go deep and take care of things below the surface.
Smear Marks
In addition to droppings, cockroaches tend to leave streaks behind. You can often find these markings on walls; they are dark, irregular smears you can find in areas where they are most active.