Dead Cockroaches in the Morning?

Have you ever woken up in the morning and found dead cockroaches? Often lying upside down in a corner of your bathroom or kitchen. But what is the explanation behind this phenomenon? Should you be worried?

Why do you find dead cockroaches in the morning?

1. You have a cockroach infestation

Hitchhiking and passing by cockroaches do exist. For instance, the secondhand furniture you have just bought may have contained cockroaches. These pests can also come up your drain, especially if you don’t clean your kitchen sink. In these instances, you should not be too concerned.

However, the more likely scenario is that you have a cockroach infestation at home. Cockroaches don’t just randomly come to homes and die. They are probably already there in your home thriving, and they have happened to die in the open and you have seen them in the morning.

2. The infestation is already severe

Seeing cockroaches in the daytime is a strong sign that you have a severe cockroach infestation. As you know, cockroaches are nocturnal insects. They are more active at nighttime. If you see them in the daytime, whether dead or alive, it may be an indication that they are active even in the daytime.

Cockroaches are active in the daytime primarily because they are looking for resources. And if they are looking for resources even with the risk of getting caught in the daylight, they are probably overcrowded in their nest.

3. The cockroaches are looking for resources

Cockroaches are not picky eaters. They will eat anything organic, including the hair in your bathroom sink. This is one of the reasons why bathrooms and kitchens are such cockroach magnets. They are simply too full of resources that cockroaches find attractive.

If you see dead cockroaches in the morning, it’s likely that the cockroaches nesting in your home were looking for resources while you were asleep. And again, if they happen to do this search even when the sun is already out, they are desperate for food and water.

4. They are escaping from something

Cockroaches are resilient creatures. Headless cockroaches can even continue living for weeks. These insects will do anything to survive. If you see them crawling or lying dead in the morning, it may mean that they are trying to escape from something that endangers them. Usually, this thing is a pesticide. You may have sprayed pesticide the previous night and the cockroaches have died.

It can also be your neighbor, especially if you live in a tight neighborhood, like an apartment building or condominium complex. Your neighbor may have sprayed pesticide and the cockroaches have escaped to your unit where they have succumbed.

5. Your property has just undergone pest control

The most obvious reason why you find dead cockroaches in the morning is that you have sprayed pesticide the previous night. But don’t be complacent. This doesn’t mean that your cockroach problem is over. Cockroaches can squeeze through the smallest cracks in your walls and the tightest gaps on the edges of your doors and windows. They can hide in an inaccessible place where the pesticide won’t be able to reach them.

Sure, seeing dead cockroaches is a good start in getting rid of cockroach infestations. But it’s far from over, especially if you don’t cover cracks, gaps, and holes.

6. You have ‘hitchhiking’ cockroaches

It’s also possible that you don’t really have a cockroach infestation in your hands. The dead cockroaches just happen to be at your place and they have died. They have no nest in your home. Hitchhiking cockroaches usually come from new objects you have introduced to your home, like furniture. You can also get cockroaches that are just passing by and are drawn into your home because of easy access to food and water. You may also have cracks, gaps, and holes on your property that they use as passageways.

But you should not count on this. When you see dead cockroaches in the morning, be proactive. It’s better to assume that you have an active cockroach infestation, so you can investigate immediately and not just dismiss the issue.

You see dead cockroaches in the morning because you have sprayed pesticide the previous night.

Important dead cockroaches facts

1. Dead cockroaches can still spread diseases

Cockroaches carry disease-causing microorganisms, such as Salmonella typhimurium, Entamoeba histolytica, and the poliomyelitis virus. No, you are not completely safe just because the cockroaches are dead.

This is why you should clean the area of death thoroughly. Use a disinfectant or soapy water to clean the area. And then wipe it with a clean cloth. Consider freshening up the place with eucalyptus or citrus scents to get rid of nasty smells.

2. They can attract more cockroaches to the area

Do you know why the area of death smells bad in the first place? It’s because cockroaches release pheromones when they die. These pheromones are useful because they warn other cockroaches that the place may be dangerous. However, cockroaches also release pheromones when they find food, so the pheromones end up attracting more cockroaches in the area instead of repelling them.

This highlights the importance of cleaning the area of death. Cleaning doesn’t just kill disease-causing microorganisms. It also gets rid of pheromones, their smells, and their tendencies to attract other pests.

3. They can play dead

Are the dead cockroaches you see in the morning truly dead? Cockroaches are very good at playing dead. They do this so you don’t focus on them and do something else. But once you get back to their area of death, you will find that they are gone. They have escaped.

The only way to make sure that cockroaches are truly dead is to squash them. They can’t play dead anymore when their guts are all over the floor. But take note that this releases pheromones even more greatly, so be thorough in cleaning up.