Cockroaches

Cockroach Control from Rentokil

Protecting Your Family from Cockroaches

Cockroaches are a high risk pest to have in the home.

They carry a range of serious illnesses including salmonella, dysentery, gastroenteritis and typhoid.

The risk is particularly high in homes with children, the elderly or those fighting illnesses.

Cockroach droppings also cause eczema and asthma.

Beyond the health risks, cockroaches are a distasteful pest to have in the home. Not only are they disturbing by sight, but cockroaches produce an obnoxious odour that taints food and objects they come into contact with.

Cockroaches can breed rapidly and are highly resilient. A quick response is essential to ensure a cockroach infestation does not become established or spread to neighbouring properties.

Signs of a Cockroach Problem

There are three common species found in the home:

• German Cockroach - 12-15mm
  
  
  Brown in colour with 2 dark stripes on the thorax. The wings are as long as the body or slightly overlapping in both sexes. Despite this they prefer to run or climb.
  

• Oriental Cockroach - 20-30mm
  
  
  Dark brown to black in colour. The wings are undeveloped in the female but cover ¾ length of the abdomen in the male. Both sexes prefer to run or climb.
  

• American Cockroach - 20-30mm
  
  
  Also known as the palmetto bug, the American Cockroach is reddish brown in colour and has a pale yellow area around the perimeter of the pronotum. These cockroaches tend to be found in dark, undisturbed areas that are high in humidity.

Both species will tend to be found in greatest numbers in the kitchen or where food is stored.

The typical signs of a cockroach problem are:

• Seeing live insects – cockroaches are nocturnal and hide during the day. You will most likely see them when turning on the light in the kitchen at night
• Egg cases and cast skins – cockroaches shed their skin 5-8 times as they mature
• Droppings – cockroaches leave a dust of black droppings less than 1mm wide and of varying lengths
• Odour – established cockroach infestations produce an unpleasant, musty smell
• Damage - cockroaches will attack organic goods including leather and books

How to Keep Cockroaches Away

Sealing entry points can help prevent a cockroach from entering the home. Key risks are gaps under doors or around pipes to the exterior, or neighbouring properties.

Also seal gaps where cockroaches can harbour - cockroaches are nocturnal and hide during the day in cracks and crevices in the walls, around skirting boards or behind electrical sockets.

The most effective way of controlling cockroaches is to deny them food and water:

• Store food in containers or in sealed plastic bags
• Clean all waste food and spillages immediately
• Clean food debris from under fridges or cookers
• Clear used crockery and cutlery immediately
• Remove pet food, water and litter trays overnight
• Keep refuse or compost in sealed bins
• Take care with soiled nappies or dirty clothing
• Do not leave liquids in sinks or buckets overnight

In our view, electromagnetic or ultrasonic repellers do not work with cockroaches and are not recommended to prevent or control cockroach infestations.

How to Get Rid of Cockroaches

If untreated, cockroaches quickly establish themselves in high numbers and will spread to adjoining properties.

Rentokil offers a range of DIY products that kill insects including cockroaches but an established cockroach problem will often require professional pest control to ensure that it will not reoccur.

DIY Cockroach Control

Rentokil offers a range of DIY insect killers that are effective on cockroaches. Please follow the instructions to ensure safe and effective use.

However, it is difficult to reach all cockroach hiding places with amateur products. Infestations are likely to reoccur especially when surviving cockroach eggs hatch after one or two months.

Professional Cockroach Control

Cockroaches are very resilient and while Rentokil DIY products can deal with the immediate problem, treatment by a qualified pest control technician is often necessary to deal with cockroaches over the long-term.

Rentokil technicians have a range of powerful insecticides to deal with cockroaches.

We also minimise the risk of insecticides in the home with proprietary products such as non-toxic RID (Rentokil Insecticide Dust) or PyGo which is highly targeted at the crevices where cockroaches hide.

Rentokil offers a call-out service to deal with cockroach and other pest problems in the home.

Our service is fast, effective and offers the highest level of safety for your family and pets.

If you would like further advice or to arrange a visit by a Rentokil technician, call us free on 0800 218 2210.