You venture into the kitchen in the middle of the night to satisfy your craving for a sandwich. And out of nowhere, a cockroach scurries past you.

Caught by surprise, you squish it using your shoe or slipper.

But what does it mean if you find one cockroach inside your home? Does a single roach mean that you have an infestation?

It is highly likely that your home is already infested with cockroaches. Although a single cockroach may not do extensive damage to your property, more often than not, seeing one inside your home indicates that there are plenty more hiding in plain sight.

Unlike other types of pests which do not even bother hiding from the occupants of a household, cockroaches try their best to go about their ways while trying to stay hidden.

A single cockroach scurrying around your home is probably scouting for food or water. Apart from that, the colony’s nest is probably nearby, hidden in one area in your home. It is also not unusual for a cockroach to venture out in one area of your home alone. Chances are, you’ll find others in close proximity.

And when these insects build a nest inside your home, it is crucial to find that nest and destroy it before they can wreak havoc in your home and cause harm to your loved ones. Employing pest control measures to deal with a handful of cockroaches inside your home means nothing over the long term as long as the nest remains intact.

How can you be sure that there are more cockroaches inside your home?

There are a few tell-tale signs to watch out for.

If there is indeed a cockroach infestation in your home, one of the first things that you will notice is the presence of dead roaches. Although these insects are known for their hardy nature, they can die due to a variety of reasons.

Discarded egg shell casings are another sign that your home is infested with roaches. Roaches also leave a trail of feces which look like ground coffee.

Areas inside your home which are heavily infested also reek of an oily smell which can linger.

Finally, if you notice cockroaches out in broad daylight, you have to take action immediately. Roaches are nocturnal creatures, preferring to venture out come nighttime. Daytime sightings of these pests simply means that the nest has become overcrowded.

To learn more about how to control pests in your home or business, be sure to contact your local Modesto pest control company.