Roaches

Out of all the millions of living organisms in the world today, cockroaches are among the very that can survive a nuclear war!

Cockroaches are a very distasteful variety of pests. They mostly seek warmth, moisture and food, making the kitchen the most common place they would be found. This means that every home and businesses such as catering companies and restaurants are at the top of their list for potential destinations. 

They are known to spread diseases, produce horrible smells and are a terrible sight to you, your guests at home and your customers at work.

The good news is that they can be managed and prevented using the following methods

• Block and cover up all holes and cracks in walls and floor.

• Ensure that all waste is properly sealed and disposed

• Ensure that all counter tops and floors are free of food particles

• The use of insecticides have been in some cases effective in eradication

But be WARNED!

• Cockroaches are nocturnal, meaning that any activities you see during the day are only small signs of the actual level of infestation

• A lot of off-the-shelf insecticides can be ineffective at permanently solving the problem as cockroach eggs are highly resistant to a lot of them.

• And cockroaches are very good at finding refuge to escape the effect of insecticides. So if such methods are not applied thoroughly it can quickly become a lost battle.

That is why if notice any signs of cockroach activity it is best to CONTACT US as soon as possible.

 

Signs of Infestation

• Oval shaped egg cases (oothecae) seen under furniture and in cabinets.

• Some species emit sour, oily or musty odors in cases of high levels of infestation

• Black cylindrical droppings

Basic Info about Common types of Cockroaches

GERMAN COCKROACHES

The adult German cockroaches are about ½ inch in length and have wings that cover their entire abdomen. The roach is most commonly found where food is handled and stored and will eat almost any food consumed by humans. Their temperature preferences are similar to humans and are considered more wary and active than other cockroaches.

The German cockroaches has the shortest life cycle, producing more eggs, therefore giving it the greatest reproductive potential and also resulting in the most rapid development of resistance to insecticides.

Female may produce 4-8 egg capsules in their lifetime, each containing 30-48 eggs.

German cockroaches have been identified as the most common source of cockroach allergy in the USA.

ASIAN COCKROACHES

The Asian cockroach, unlike the German roach, is attracted to reflected light on light-colored walls and TV screens. They are not attracted to ultraviolet light, but to incandescent lamps.

They travel to the brightest rooms and find the brightest walls, both inside and outside. The principle habitat of the Asian Cockroach is typically leaf litter or natural mulches, in and under ground cover in whole or partial shade.

Males can be identified by looking at the genital, while females are not easily identified.

AMERICAN COCKROACHES

The American cockroach is the largest of the domestic species. They are brown to reddish-brown in color and have wings covering their entire abdomen.

American cockroaches prefer warm, damp, dark areas and may live in sewers. Decaying organic matter is their preferred food. Adult can survive two to three months without food, but only a month without water.

BROWN BANDED COCKROACHES

This cockroach is thought to have originally come from Africa. It was named for the pale brown bands which cross the wings of the adult and the abdomen of the nymphs.

The female brown banded can be separated from the males by their broader abdomen and shorter wings which do not cover the abdomen.

The female carries egg capsules for 24 to 36 hours before she attaches it to an object such as furniture or shelves.

Brown banded cockroaches do not harbor near moisture. This is the cockroach most frequently found in the bedroom, not the kitchen or bathroom where the German cockroach is usually found.

ORIENTAL COCKROACHES

The oriental cockroach is shiny black or very dark brown. They often live in sewers and enter buildings through drains. They may also be found under leaves, in floor drains, crawl spaces, and damp basements.

Indoors, they prefer basements and crawl spaces. They typically move to the upper floors by climbing water pipes.