Cockroaches
Overview:
Cockroaches
are a common household pest found throughout the
world. There are around 4,000 species of
cockroach. The most common species found in
Australia are American, German & Oriental
cockroaches.
Cockroaches are commonly
associated with unsanitary conditions & there is
some truth to this, although even the cleanest of homes
can get them.
Cockroaches are
nocturnal which means they rest during the day &
are active at night time. This is why you often
see them scurrying away as you turn on a light
in the middle of the night.
They are one of
the hardiest creatures on the planet, able to
survive without food for up to a month.
Health
concerns:
Cockroaches aren't
just an unattractive nuisance to have around
your house, they also pose a health risk. They
are not fussy when it comes to the food they eat
which includes feces, pet food & rotting waste,
nor the environments in which they inhabit such
as sewers & drains. Thus they are able to
passively transport harmful bacteria, viruses,
protazoa & fungal organisms on their body,
causing sickness.
Cockroaches are
also believed to cause allergies & asthma in
some people, especially children.
Signs of
cockroaches:
Cockroaches thrive
in warm, dark, moist environments. As they are
nocturnal you may not see them during the
daytime when you are active. If you do, it could
be a sign you have a serious infestation.
You may have
noticed pepper like deposits on kitchen bench
tops. This is cockroach feces.
Places cockroaches
like to hide include;
How to prevent
cockroaches:
Cockroaches have
three basic requirements; Food, water & a place
to hide. Therefore eliminating these will
greatly reduce your chances of developing a
cockroach problem in your home.
-
Keeping your
home spotlessly clean. Removing food scraps,
cleaning & putting away dishes, food
utensils etc.
-
Wipe down
kitchen benches, kitchen stoves etc., to
remove food & grease traces that cockroaches
feed on.
-
Make sure you
remove crumbs from inside & below the
toaster, regularly clean behind spice racks,
behind bread bins, coffee machines etc.
We have a flap at the back of our coffee
machine (I'm not sure what it's for), and
cockroaches were getting into that. So make
sure compartments on kitchen equipment are
properly closed.
-
Regularly
vacuum & mop your floor to remove food
traces & crumbs. Even the tiniest amount of
food is enough to encourage cockroaches.
-
Storing food
in airtight containers.
-
Sealing gaps
in cupboard doors, external doors, gaps in
walls, windows & in the bathroom will reduce
places cockroaches can hide.
-
Wash pet food
bowls & clean food scraps from around them
daily.
-
Cockroaches
like moisture so keep surfaces dry. Wipe
down sinks, kitchen benches & showers after
use.
-
Fix leaking
taps & pipes.
How to get rid
of cockroaches:
You have two
options, attempt to get rid of cockroaches
yourself or pay a professional pest controller
to come in & spray your home.
There are a variety of products available to
kill cockroaches. The most common ones are;
Professional pest controllers can come out &
spray your home for cockroaches. They will have
access to specialised chemicals that we don't.
It is important to remember though that even
after a professional has sprayed your home, a
high standard of hygene & cleanliness is still
necessary to prevent cockroaches coming back.
