I saw one cockroach in my restaurant. Is that an infestation?

Oklahoma State University Extension notes that during the day German cockroaches hide in cracks and crevices under appliances, sinks and cabinets, behind baseboards and moldings, and in wall voids. Penn State Extension notes one egg capsule holds up to 48 eggs, usually 30 to 48, and a female produces four to eight capsules in her lifetime. A roach out in the open is the visible edge of a population.

Waiting gives capsules time to hatch. An inspection finds where they are hiding and how many there are, while the problem is still small.

If an inspector finds them first, it goes on the record. In New York State inspection records for Nassau County restaurants, the violation is logged as item 14A, Insects, rodents present, and those results are public.

For the full picture on what a single sighting means, read our full guide on what one cockroach means.