German Cockroach

Firstly, we must discover the scale of the infestation as to decide on the best course of action.

To determine how bad an infestation is or if there is one, a thorough survey should be taken out, searching in cupboards, behind cookers, fridges, under sinks etc. Sticky board insect monitor traps with pheromone attractants can be a good way to identify numbers and location of harbourages. Entering a room early in the morning (2am’ish )and quickly turning on the lights will likely find some scurrying around (worth noting which way they run). Another more professional indicator is to use a flushing agent into crevices and holes etc, this will drive them out and locate there preferred harbourages.

There is two main ways of dealing with cockroaches, spray treatments (including ULV) and baiting them.

Spray treatments use residual insecticides sprayed onto floor/wall junctions, under and around likely harbourages and anywhere the roaches are likely to come into contact with them. In addition to a spray treatments, insecticidal dust can be blown behind cupboards, skirting boards, under work surfaces, into wall voids, behind sockets etc. Insect lacquers also provide a good means of control by forming long lasting barriers around affected areas.

Baiting is a more cost effective measure and uses less insecticide around the home or business. Highly palatable baits containing insecticide are placed at many different locations (only tiny amounts are used) focusing on harbourages and affected areas. The baits act quickly killing any cockroach which feeds upon them. The ingenious part of this treatment is that specially formulated roach baits then make the deceased roach a toxic bait for its cannibalistic friends, with the same bait effectively being consumed by many different cockroaches.

We use a micro encapsulated bait which gives the roach enough time to return to its harbourage before succumbing to the active ingredient. This has the effect of essentially placing a bait (the dead roach) exactly where the other roaches are hiding. This creates a domino effect and is a highly effective treatment for these tough to beat creatures.

German cockroaches carry their oothecae (egg case) with them until the nymphs are about ready to hatch. German cockroach oothecae contain as many as 40 nymphs, which can reach maturity within two months in good conditions.

Dispite having wings and being able to fly German roaches rarely do, instead they are highly mobile and can run/crawl at a rapid pace. They spend most of the day hidden in cracks and crevices together and come out when dark to forage for food.

Cockroaches are vectors for some wonderful diseases including; Salmonella, Gastro-enteritis, Amoebic dysentry, Tuberculosis, Tape worm and Hookworms.