While a bad review or discovering broken equipment can ruin a business owner’s day, nothing can quite frighten you like discovering a live cockroach on your property.
Not only are these pests creepy and unpredictable, but they are also known to carry several diseases that can be harmful to humans who come in contact with them.
If a customer spots a cockroach while on your property, the consequences to your reputation within the community can be devastating.
A quick Google search will uncover dozens of businesses that have shut down nationwide due to cockroach sightings by customers and inspectors.
The subtropical climate of Maryland and urban environments, such as Baltimore, make the region a hotspot for German and American cockroaches that infest properties with fury.
Being proactive is key to stopping cockroaches in their tracks at any business. Learn five signs to spot a cockroach infestation, which industries are most at risk, and how to prevent future infestations.
Health Risks Associated with Cockroaches in Businesses
First, it’s important to understand the health risks that cockroaches can carry for customers and employees.
Cockroaches are known to carry and spread diseases and bacteria that can be harmful to humans, such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Cholera, and can also trigger allergy symptoms in some people.
In addition, cockroaches are social creatures, meaning spotting one cockroach, especially during the day, will certainly mean a larger infestation is at hand.
5 Telltale Signs of a Cockroach Infestation at Your Business
In addition to live cockroach sightings, there may be additional signs of their presence that should trigger alarm bells at your business.
1. Sightings of live or dead cockroaches
The appearance of even a single cockroach is rarely an isolated incident. These nocturnal insects are highly elusive, so visible sightings often indicate a larger infestation nearby.
2. Cockroach droppings
Their fecal matter resembles black pepper or coffee grounds and is commonly found along baseboards, inside cabinets, or near food prep areas. The volume and spread of these droppings can indicate the severity of the infestation.
3. Unpleasant, musty odor
A musty, oily smell in enclosed or poorly ventilated areas is often attributed to cockroach secretions. The odor becomes more pronounced and harder to ignore as the infestation grows.
4. Shed skins and egg casings (ootheca)
Cockroach egg capsules (oothecae) are often tucked away in dark corners or crevices. Finding these, along with shed exoskeletons, signals a breeding population that must be addressed immediately.
5. Smear marks on surfaces
Cockroaches tend to leave behind dark smear marks as they travel across surfaces, so if you notice any strange marks in your establishment that can’t be explained, you should contact an exterminator right away.
Where Do Cockroaches Typically Hide in Commercial Properties?
Cockroaches tend to hide in dark, undisturbed places where they can go unnoticed by humans or other animals. In commercial properties, you are most likely to find cockroaches hiding in bathrooms, utility rooms, inside cardboard boxes, underneath shelving, and even in kitchen or food prep areas.
Be sure to inspect for cockroaches in the following areas of your property:
- Behind kitchen equipment and refrigerators
- Inside storage rooms and cardboard boxes
- Under sinks and around plumbing
- In break rooms and trash areas
- Near drains, utility closets, and floor gaps
Facility managers should routinely inspect these areas, especially in older buildings or properties with deferred maintenance.
Industries Most at Risk
While cockroach infestations are possible virtually anywhere, certain industries tend to be more at risk. These industries include restaurants, hotels, and healthcare facilities, to name a few.
Restaurants often see cockroach infestations due to the amount of food and drinks being prepared on a daily basis, and hotels can experience cockroaches due to travelers constantly coming and going, potentially carrying these pests on their luggage.
Cockroaches can also appear in healthcare facilities for the same reasons they appear in restaurants, as these establishments typically serve food and contain rooms with excess moisture, such as laundry rooms.
How to Prevent Cockroaches at Businesses
Preventing a cockroach infestation at your business is similar to preventing one at home. The key is to understand what attracts cockroaches to your property (i.e., moisture, food, and shelter). Here are a few helpful tips for avoiding these pests:
- Store food and drinks properly
- Keep food and drinks elevated and off the floor
- Maintain daily cleanliness
- Carefully inspect all cardboard boxes and packages before bringing them inside.
- Seal all possible entry points
- Have routine pest inspections performed by a pest control professional
While some natural remedies might be effective at preventing cockroaches, nothing compares to investing in an ongoing pest prevention plan.
The Importance of Regular Pest Inspections
Having your establishment regularly inspected for pests is imperative to ensure your health and safety, as well as that of your customers and employees.
By having routine pest inspections performed, you will be able to catch an infestation in its early stages and will ideally be able to eliminate it before it gets out of control. Doing so can also help protect your business’s reputation as a clean and safe facility.
FAQs
Are cockroaches more common in certain types of businesses?
Cockroaches are more common in businesses that serve or store food, such as restaurants and grocery stores.
What should I do if I see one cockroach?
If you see one cockroach in your establishment, there is a good chance there are others lurking that you haven’t seen yet. Calling an exterminator at the first sign of a cockroach infestation will give you a greater chance of eliminating the infestation quickly and effectively.
How fast can a cockroach infestation grow?
Cockroach infestations can grow incredibly fast, with some species of cockroach reaching maturity and reproducing in just a few weeks. Because of this, it is important to act fast when dealing with a cockroach infestation.