Cockroaches – More than a Summer Pest

Our February pest spotlight: Cockroach Pest Control. Because cockroaches prefer warm environments, people often believe them to be more of a summer nuisance.  Sadly, this isn’t the case.  With our efficient central heating systems, cockroaches can stay snug as a bug in our homes all year round.  In February last year, Country Living reported findings from Hillarys who conducted research into Britain’s most prevalent pests by region.  They found cockroaches to be the biggest issue in the Midlands.  So, we need to be vigilant throughout the calendar year, especially in Warwickshire county.

Food

These pests aren’t picky!
They are happy to eat faecal matter, paper, packaging, and refuse as well as pet food and food from our cupboards.

Habitat

Cockroaches thrive in dark, warm, humid climates and enjoy congregating near heating ducts, pipes, sinks, and cookers.  Whilst they can live for several months without a food source, cockroaches can only live for a few days without water, therefore you’ll often find them near a water source.

Prevention & Cockroach Pest Control

To help prevent cockroaches taking up residence in your home, Avon Pest Control recommends the following preventative measures:

1. Seal entry points (e.g. cracks, crevices, gaps around windows) with caulk
2. Avoid leaving uncovered food on kitchen surfaces
3. Avoid leaving dirty dishes and utensils in the sink overnight
4. Store food in sealed glass or plastic containers
5. Opt for a kitchen bin with a lid, and empty it regularly
6. Don’t leave pet food out overnight; cockroaches are most active at this time

Signs of Infestation

1. A strange odour; cockroaches produce an odd smell, so, if your house is smelling unusual and unpleasant more investigation is needed
2. Shed skins; cockroaches shed their skins 5-8 times as they develop into adults. These are usually found near to where they are sheltering
3. Droppings; depending on what the cockroach has eaten; the droppings can be solid or liquid. Solid faeces appears black and small, around 1mm in size.  Liquid faeces presents as small dark smear marks
4. Seeing one! Cockroaches are mostly nocturnal, so you may see one coming out to feed during the nighttime. If you see a cockroach, it’s likely that its living with you and not just visiting

Spotted any of those signs? If cockroaches have already made themselves at home, they can be notoriously difficult to uproot.

This is due to several reasons:

1. They can flatten and hide in very small spaces in many different areas, making the magnitude of the infestation difficult to determine
2. Females do not rely on males to reproduce (known as parthenogenesis), thus they have a very high reproductive potential
3. They can adapt, developing resistance to some pesticides
4. The pesticide needs to be strong enough to kill nymphs (immature/baby cockroaches) inside unhatched egg capsules (oothecae)

Because cockroaches contaminate any surface or food stuff they walk on and can carry organisms which cause food poisoning, such as E. coli and Salmonella bacteria, they are not safe to ignore.  The safest, most effective way to eliminate cockroaches is to use an expert pest controller.

Has Your Home Turned into a Roach Hotel?

If these unsanitary pests are causing you a problem, give Avon Pest Control a call on 01789 293 463 or 01926 632 929, or alternatively click here for professional, expert advice, information, and/or treatment pricing.