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Coming across a cockroach in your home is never pleasant, but you may not need to freak out over a single roach. Whether you should call someone for roach control will depend on what type of roach you spot, and how many you see.
Roaches Big and Small
There are many different types of cockroaches, but the two most common pests in the area are the American cockroach and the German cockroach.
The American cockroach is large, measuring up to 2 inches, and brown. Although this species can infest buildings, American roaches are most at home in the outdoors. If you only come across one large, brown roach, you may not need to call a pest control company. The roach may have wandered indoors on accident, and it likely doesn’t want to be there any more than you want it in your home. In all likelihood, it will not find enough water in your home to survive and will soon die.
The German cockroach is much smaller, measuring only about ½ inch, and has two stripes behind its head. German roaches often live indoors. If you see one, you may have an infestation on your hands. In this case, you should contact a pest control company soon before the situation worsens.
Roaches in Ones and Twos
The above information assumes you only saw one roach. While a single German roach may be a sign of an infestation, a single American roach does not necessarily mean you have a problem. If you only see one American roach, simply wait and watch for any more.
Once you see two roaches, regardless of whether they are American or German, then you have an infestation. You should quickly call someone to come over and begin taking roach control measures.
In short, no one likes coming across a roach in their home. A single American roach, however, is not cause for concern. Only when you see a German or multiple American roaches do you need to call an exterminator for professional roach control.