Cockroaches

Cockroaches are close relatives to termites. It is believed their origins go back about 350 Million years, and in that time it is thought they have changed very little in body form.

Cockroaches belong in the order of Blattodea and are considered pests for numerous reasons, including the contamination of food products, allergic reactions, transmission of disease, not to mention the unpleasantness of having a house full of them.

To help control and prevent cockroaches the following tips may be useful:

Ensure any compost bins are well covered and sealed
Keep food sources such as pet food and people food in well sealed containers
Pick up any un-eaten pet food and dispose of it
Ensure windows and doors have well fitting fly screens
Don't leave dirty dishes out over night.

Unfortunately, sometimes it just doesn't matter what we do, cockroaches sometimes just pick on us. Some common cockroaches found around the home are as follows.

American Cockroach

Preferring warm, moist areas, the American cockroach is one of the largest cockroaches that infests buildings and homes.

An adult can get to 50 mm in length. Often living in and around pool edges, drains, sewers and even in roof voids and cavity walls. The American cockroach is a reddish brown colour, with a tan to yellow band on the edges of its head.

It is a fully winged cockroach, that in warm weather will fly for short distances at a time. It seems to prefer organic matter as a food source, but will happily eat most human and pet foods.

This cockroach has an adult lifespan of about 8 - 12 months. In this time, the female can lay up to 50 egg cases, containing up to 28 eggs. The ootheca (egg case) is frequently laid upon boxes and other packaging, these get transferred to other premises, which helps greatly with the distribution of this species.

Once the eggs hatch, the nymphs will take about 6 -12 months to reach adulthood. Adults can survive in good conditions for up to 3 months without food. The droppings from the American cockroach are so large, they are often mistaken as mice droppings.

German Cockroach

German Cockroaches are small, about 12mm to 15mm. They are a light brown cockroach with two dark coloured stripes along the pronotum (head).

The eggs of the German Cockroach can be brought into our premises via food boxes, and in appliances such as second hand fridges, dishwashers, ovens etc. These cockroaches spread quickly, and whilst predominantly make their home in our kitchens, can be found in bathrooms, laundries, and love to get in to tight gaps and cracks, such as behind pictures, around skirting boards, and other furnishings. They love the warmth, so electrical appliances like dishwashers and fridge motors are common nesting sites.

The success of this cockroach is greatly due to their life cycle. From hatching, the German cockroach takes only about 45 days to adulthood and is ready to lay its own eggs, and as the female carries the ootheca (egg sac) until a day or two before it is ready to hatch. This means it is unlikely that it will be cleaned away by the people, or eaten by predators. The ootheca has about 40 eggs in it and up to five oothecas may be produced in one year by the female.

Shining Cockroach

Possibly the most common cockroach we see around Perth homes. These little guys are more of an outside cockroach. Preferring to be around mulched areas, and gardens they typically feed on vegetation. However, like all cockroaches, they are scavengers, and will feed on human and pet food, so another common spot is around BBQ's, and between decking. More common in the warmer months, these cockroaches will often make their way inside, especially when their numbers are high. It's not uncommon to bring these guys onto your property in mulch, and firewood.

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About our Cockroach Treatments

Once a booking has been made, Joondalup Pest Control will attend the site at the arranged time. The cockroach treatment will typically involve the following:

Assess the site to determine what species of cockroach is the problem
Identify nesting sites, which may include internal areas, external areas and roof cavities
Apply the appropriate product for the species of cockroach which will provide effective control.

What should you do before and during your cockroach treatment?

Before treatment:

Avoid using DIY Products such as powders, granule, and sprays as they can negatively effect our Cockroach treatment
You do not need to empty cupboards

During Treatment:

If we are treating outside, Bring people and pets inside. You are welcome to be home whilst we carry out your cockroach treatment. Once the treatment is completed, people and pets can typically go outside in as little as 30 minutes after treatment.

DIY COCKROACH TREATMENTS

Some cockroach species are more easy to control than others, however if you suspect you have German Cockroaches DO NOT try and use store bought bombs and sprays, this will only cause the cockroaches to spread!