Cockroaches

What do Cockroaches look like?

Adult Cockroaches have long, shiny, oval shaped bodies that are usually brown in colour.

Cockroach heads are equipped with a pair of long, whip-like antennae’s to sense their surroundings. Cockroaches have really strong mouths which can chew through things. The cockroach has really long, spined, highly sensitive legs give them amazing speed and agility.

Even though most cockroach species have fully grown wings they are often reluctant to fly, instead preferring to run as their main mode of transportation.

There are quite a few species of Cockroaches that live in and around our homes. The two main species here in Australia are the German Cockroach (Blattella germanica)which is approximately 15 mm in length, pale yellow-brown in colour with a pair of dark brown stripes running down their shield-like thorax and the American Cockroach (Periplaneta australasiae) which are much larger (up to 40 mm) and are reddish brown in colour with pale brown markings on their thorax.

Cockroach infestation: How do Cockroaches reproduce?

A cockroach infestation can happen very quickly. A single female German cockroach can produce over 300 offspring a year and their lifecycles result in a high infestation in a very short amount of time.

How to get rid of cockroaches: Where do Cockroaches live?

Cockroaches are a global pest and most species have arrived in Australia through infested cargo ships from other countries. They generally prefer warm, moist environments such as:

 Storerooms and cupboards
 Moist areas (bathrooms, toilet and sink areas)
 Kitchens and pantries
 Warm areas (crevices near hot water pipes, hollow walls near stoves and ovens)

Cockroaches are nocturnal and will often come out once it is nice and dark. However, in homes with large infestations they can be found scuttling around at any hour of the day.

The only way to get rid of cockroaches is to call a professional Pest Controller who takes the time to inspect your property before commencing the cockroach treatment.
Commercial Pest Control for Cockroaches
Cockroaches can cause considerable amounts of problems in and around Commercial kitchens, hospitals, and other commercial premises that handle food. Regular cockroach inspections, monitoring and cockroach control is a must for all commercial food premises.

What do Cockroaches Eat?

There’s not much that a cockroach won’t eat – they will consume almost any type of food you can imagine including:

 Starch
 Sugar
 Leather
 Paper
 Fermented foods
 Dog biscuits
 Carpet

Cockroaches can live for 5-6 weeks without a food source.

Are Cockroaches Dirty?

In large doses cockroaches can transmit nasty bacterial diseases to humans. Germs and bacteria hitch a ride on their spiky legs and are deposited on food, kitchen benches, plates and eating utensils. Cockroaches contaminate food products, kitchen utensils, and children’s toys with droppings, cast skins, empty egg cases and vomit marks. In a severe cockroach infestation an unpleasant odour will develop.

Cockroach Prevention

Cockroach Infestations can spiral out of control if you don’t clean up dirty dishes, clean the pet bowl and clean regularly, so having a cockroach prevention plan is very important. Try the following measures to eliminate potential food and water sources and to reduce available hiding places:

 Keep food in air-tight plastic or glass containers
 Store household rubbish in bins with tight fitting lids

 Ensure cupboards and benches are free of crumbs and food scraps
 Vacuum inside cupboards, under the fridge and around cracks and crevices to remove food sources and cockroach egg cases.
 Store household rubbish in bins with tight fitting lids
 Fix dripping taps, wipe down wet sinks and keep the toilet lid closed to eliminate access to water

Cockroach Control

With the cockroach’s rapid lifecycle, it is very important to treat an infestation promptly. Pestfree Pest Control treatments are environmentally friendly, child and animal safe.

The chemicals we use are spread through grooming practices which means once the cockroach comes in contact with the chemical they will groom themselves and that the chemical will attack their nervous system.

Pestfree technicians can identify the different cockroaches that are in and around your home and have detailed knowledge of their behaviour and where they harbourage.