The most thought of insect when the word "Pest" is mentioned. They thrive where you do, and enjoy hiding in walls/cracks making them hard to control. Especially in moist and humid areas of your home (that's why the basement is a favorite place). When you see one it's a fact that there are more hiding and multiplying.
Cockroach feces are known to make asthma symptoms worse and are often overlooked as a health concern.
What are Cockroaches?
- Sometimes confused with black beetles from the garden, cockroaches are distinguished by their very long whip-like antennae, flat oval bodies and rapid, jerky gait.
- There are three main pest species of cockroach present.
These are:
The Oriental cockroach (Blatta orientalis)
- The Oriental cockroach can reach 20-24 mm in length in its adult stage, is almost black in colour and is often associated with cooler, less humid areas such as drains.
The German cockroach (Blattella germanica)
- The German cockroach can reach 9-14 mm in length in its adult stage, is yellow-brown in colour and is often associated with warmer, more humid areas such as kitchens and boiler rooms.
The American cockroach (Periplaneta americana)
- The American cockroach can reach 30-35 mm in length in its adult stage, is red-brown in colour and is often associated with cooler, less humid areas such as drains and sewers.
- Cockroaches grow in stages, from ‘mini-cockroach’ nymphs to maturity in 6-12 months (for Oriental cockroaches) and 6-12 weeks (for German cockroaches), depending upon the environment they are living in.
- Female cockroaches carry a capsule containing their eggs, which can be dropped near to a suitable food source just prior to their hatching. It is a myth that ‘squashing’ a cockroach will release the eggs and produce more cockroaches!
- Cockroaches will literally eat any organic matter from food to the build up of dirt in drains!
What problems can they cause?
- The movement of cockroaches from unhygienic areas such as drains and sewers to food preparation areas can result in the contamination of food, food utensils and work surfaces
- Cockroaches present a ‘significant’ public health risk, carrying diseases such as:
dysentery
gastroenteritis
typhoid
poliomyelitis
salmonella
How are Cockroaches controlled?
- High hygiene standards should be maintained, particularly around food and refuse areas.
- Potential breeding and resting areas, such as cracks and crevices, broken drains and pipes should be repaired.
- Continuously maintaining and monitoring good hygiene and proofing to ensure cockroach activity is prevented.
- The use of suitable poisons (insecticides) for cockroaches to obtain control, sometimes in combination with traps (see right).
|
|
|
