How To Tell If Your Memphis Home Has Roaches

9/24/2021

The world is filled with interesting creatures. Some are large and harmless. Others are small and incredibly dangerous. One creature that lives in our area and packs a punch, despite its size, is the cockroach. This pest regularly finds its way into homes in our area and is known for the many problems and dangers it causes. Something that makes these pests extra problematic is how difficult they are to identify. This is where we come in. Here is everything you need to know about cockroaches around Memphis and how to identify these pests inside your home.

What Roaches Live In Memphis?

Memphis is home to three species of cockroaches: German cockroaches, Oriental cockroaches, and American cockroaches. Each is different in looks and behaviors. Here is what you need to know about these three pests to identify them inside your Memphis home.

1. The German cockroach is ½ to ⅝” long, light brown to tan in color, and has two dark almost parallel stripes located just behind its head. Known for being the most common home-invading roach in America and most other places around the globe, this pest regularly causes trouble inside Memphis homes.

2. The Oriental cockroach is 1” long, jet black, and has no discernable features. Also called the water bug, this pest loves to stick around humid areas and is most commonly found indoors around basements, crawlspaces, and in other dark, damp areas.

3. The American cockroach is 1 ¼ to 2 ⅛” long, reddish-brown in color, and has a yellow figure-8 pattern located just behind its head. Despite its larger size, this creepy pest has no trouble finding its way into homes in our area and is just as dangerous and problematic as other area roaches.

Signs Roaches Leave Behind

One thing about cockroaches you should know is that they are notoriously shy. This means they do everything in their power to stay out of sight. In short, your home could have dozens of roaches and you wouldn’t know it. A better way to know these pests are around is by identifying the signs cockroaches leave behind. Here are some clues you should look out for.

Dead roaches: Cockroaches do not live forever. If your home’s infestation is mature enough, you will start to notice cockroach corpses in dark secluded areas throughout your home.

Fecal droppings: Cockroach droppings are regularly mistaken for coffee grounds from a distance but are clearly not when closely examined. Where coffee grounds are fine and dust-like, roach droppings are more rice-like. Find this sign in areas where roaches hide such as beneath large appliances and in the backs of pantries.

Egg castings: Cockroaches do not lay their eggs one at a time but rather in batches inside containers called castings. These castings are ⅖” long and are found in areas roaches feed and hide.

Shed skins: Cockroaches regularly shed their skins while growing from their nymph stages to adulthood. These sheddings sometimes appear fully intact and other times as pieces. Shed skins can be as small as dust and are found near areas where cockroaches feed and hide.

What Professional Pest Control Does About Roaches

If you suspect your home is crawling with harmful roaches, your next step should be to get a professional involved. At Dart Pest, Lawn & Wildlife, we have over 45 years of experience in dealing with invasive pests. In this time, we have learned what works best to eliminate and prevent dangerous cockroaches. Call us today to discuss our comprehensive home pest service plans and schedule your Memphis home for a detailed pest inspection to assess your risk. 

Tags: cockroach control | cockroach prevention | cockroaches in memphis