Florida Pest Answers
"I found black specks inside my kitchen cabinets: how can I tell if they’re from cockroaches?"
Cockroach poop usually looks like ground pepper or coffee grounds, although larger roaches can leave dark, ridged pellets.
Small species, such as German cockroaches, produce tiny specks that may smear when wiped. Larger species, including American cockroaches, leave cylindrical cockroach droppings that can be mistaken for mouse waste.
Location offers another clue. You may find cockroach feces in cabinet corners, beneath sinks, behind appliances, along baseboards, or near food and water. Mouse droppings are generally smoother, larger, and shaped like rice grains with pointed ends. Cockroach pellets often have blunt ends and ridges.
Finding cockroach excrement means roaches were present recently or are active right now. Numerous droppings, or fresh ones appearing after cleanup, may indicate a nearby hiding place or established infestation.
Wear gloves and a mask, vacuum the waste using a HEPA-filtered vacuum, and disinfect the surface. Avoid dry sweeping, which can send contaminated particles into the air. Seal food in hard plastic or glass containers, fix leaks, and contact a pest control professional if droppings return or appear in several areas. A pest inspection can pinpoint potential entry points, eliminate roaches and their hidden nests, and keep them out with anti-roach exclusion.
