Cockroaches

Termigon Pest Control offer different type of treatments for different type cockroaches and cost of treatment is depending on it.

Mainly two types of treatment:

• Cockroach Gel baiting
• Wet chemical spraying and dusting

Types of Cockroaches

A.) German Cockroaches
German Cockroaches are 10-15mm in length, dark orange/brown in colour.
They are only found internally amongst electrical appliances and warm environments. Cracks, crevices and kitchen door hinges supply great breeding areas for this species and they are usually found in large numbers. German Cockroaches are the WORST of them all as they breed a lot faster and are the hardest to control.

B.) Brown Banded Cockroach
Brown Banded Cockroaches are 13-14mm in length, gold/brown in colour.
These are commonly mistaken as German Cockroaches but they are only found in low numbers (eg. 1 or 2) and usually fly in from the outside neighbouring trees.

C.) American Cockroach
American Cockroaches are 28-44mm in length. Dark orange in colour.
Found in roof voids, drains and sewers and are the largest cockroach found in the Sydney Metropolitan area.

 

 

 

D.) Australia Cockroach
Australian Cockroaches are 30-35mm in length. Dark Brown/Black in colour.
These cockroaches are more easily defined in colour as they have distinct yellow/white markings down the sides of the wings. Found in gardens and subfloor areas.

E.) Smoky Brown Cockroach
Smoky Brown Cockroaches are 30-35mm in length. Dark Brown/Black in colour Found in fences, stored timber and subfloor areas

 

F.) Oriental Cockroach
Oriental Cockroaches are 20-24mm in length. Dark Brown in colour.
Found in basements, cellars, cool damp areas.

 

 

 

 

Features of Cockroaches

• Cockroaches are very adaptable, and often live in human dwellings.
• The carrying of human diseases in and on their bodies has given the cockroach a pest status. Eg. Salmonella food poisoning.
• Live among decaying leaf matter, under bark, in caves & burrows, on the foliage of shrubs and in the nests of social insects.
• Some may even bore into wood or adapt a semi-aquatic habit.
• They are mostly oval shaped (when viewed from above) with usually long and threadlike antennae.
• Compound eyes are usually well developed, the legs are often endowed with protective spikes, and some species may have wings.

Life Cycles of Cockroaches

Adult life span may be a few months to over a year. Depending on the species and conditions, the female may produce up to 5-30 oothecae (each oothecae may contain 12-40 eggs).

Habits of Cockroaches

Cockroaches may be carried from place to place as live individuals or as egg cases, in foods and their packaging, luggage, furniture, buses, trains, ships and aeroplanes. They eat virtually any human or animal food or beverage and any dead animal or vegetable materials. These may include leather, cardboard, fabrics, hair, glue and starchy bindings in books. They are mostly nocturnal. Most cockroaches rest in tight cracks and crevices. They groom themselves so as to keep their sensory receptors clean and well functioning. They may contaminate food, utensils and various areas with droppings, cast skins, empty egg cases, dead cockroaches and vomit marks on surfaces. Their mouth and cuticle secretions may cause an unpleasant odour.
Correct identification is essential: There are several cockroach pest species that infest domestic and commercial premises. The identification of each species is necessary to best determine likely harborage areas and an effective pest control program.

Professional Pest Control: Cockroaches

IGR cockroach baits: Modern science has the answer. A cockroach food bait that has a delayed lethal effect … ensuring enough time for the bait to be transferred to other cockroaches by each others feces.
The IGR bait is an insect growth regulator that stops the ability of the cockroach to replace its skin – made of “chitin”. These IGR’s are of ultra low toxicity to people. Applied as small blobs in cockroach habitat areas away from human contact, the gel-bait is highly attractive to cockroaches and provides effective control, usually for many months.
Permethrin dust: In some cases, we recommend the use of a synthetic pyrethroid (permethrin) dust inside roof voids and under floors. Permethrin dust is modeled on the natural extract of pyrethrum flower and if used in accordance with label directions is one of the safest insecticides (to humans, dogs and cats) commercially available. Low concentrations (2 percent) of permethrin, as in flea sprays labeled “for cats,” are not considered toxic to cats. It is only the spot-on flea products that contain high concentrations (45 to 65 percent) of permethrin and are approved for use on “dogs only” that are considered dangerous.

What the Home Owner can do

Inspection: first, inspect the entire kitchen area, under sinks, refrigerator, dishwasher, stove, microwave oven, other cooking appliances, bathroom cabinets, draws, basement and sub-floor crawlspace (if any) for likely high activity and harborage areas. Look for cockroaches, alive or dead, their feces and egg sacs.
Identification: place “sticky” glue traps in any likely high activity areas. At night sneak into the kitchen, turn on the lights and observe any cockroach activity. Observe where they scurry to. Place your sticky traps near these areas to collect and identify the species and the source of infestation. Food, shelter and water – we all need it, so do cockroaches. Make your home unfit for cockroaches, where possible, take away their food, water and restrict shelter and access points into the kitchen and they will almost certainly move somewhere else. Starve them out – keep all food in sealed containers. Particularly at night, do not leave food scraps exposed in the kitchen or waste storage areas. Thoroughly clean all benches and food preparation areas, particularly between counters and appliances. Regularly vacuum accessible likely harborage and high activity areas, carpets, drapes, furniture, kitchen and bathroom cupboards in order to remove cockroach eggs and food deposits. Cockroaches need water and will thrive in damp sub-floor crawl space areas, near leaking taps, etc. Ensure adequate drainage and ventilation. Regularly check and fix any plumbing problems, broken roof tiles, etc that may allow or cause moisture ingress to potential cockroach harborage areas. Wipe kitchen sink of moisture before retiring or going out at night. Turn off leaking taps. Reduce shelter and access points: seal all cracks and crevices in bathroom, pantry and kitchen cupboards. Store all cardboard boxes and the like above ground level. Cockroaches do not like drafty exposed areas, nor bright lights. A good reason why some restaurants keep lights on at night around their dumpster waste bins.