The cockroach can be found scurrying through the night and retreat to the darkest corners of your home the moment someone flips the light switch. These pests spend all of their time hiding in the shadows, waiting for darkness to come so that they can invade your kitchen, looking for their nightly meal. These bugs can be under counters, sinks, refrigerators and stoves. These insects breed very quickly. If you happen to see signs of them, you can bet that you already have an infestation.

No one wants roaches in their home. It is safe to say that most people view the lowly cockroach with a mixture of disgust and outright loathing when they see them, but these pests can also pose health risks that you may not even be aware of. Cockroach waste, saliva and bodies carry properties that are known to cause asthma symptoms. They can also transmit bacteria that can lead to food poisoning as well as parasitic worms and other diseases.

Luckily, there are ways that you can help prevent these bugs from taking up residence in your home. They can fit into almost any opening so it is important to seal gaps around doors and windows and where utility lines and pipes come into your home. Make sure that all of your screens are in good repair. Keep shrubs, bushes and trees far enough away so that they are not touching your home and stack any firewood or brush piles at least 20 feet away. If you have leaking pipes in your basement or crawl space, it is important to get that fixed as well.

Inside your home, you should try to keep any clutter in your living space and storage areas to a minimum to cut down on hiding spaces. Insects are attracted to warm areas where food can tend to collect. On top of and underneath your refrigerator is a prime example of this so make sure that it is cleaned regularly. Be sure to clean around baseboards and inside your cabinets as well. Your trash should be covered and removed from the home regularly and food should always be stored in airtight containers.

If you have an infestation, you will see visible feces that looks like coffee grounds or perhaps pepper around the house. You will likely run across bug bodies and might even detect a faint unpleasant smell near their hiding spots. If this occurs, it is imperative that you call a professional pest control company to inspect and exterminate your infestation in order to make sure that all of the bugs are taken care of, and to keep your home pest free.