Cockroach pest control

Cockroaches as a species are one of the oldest insect groups, dating back to the time the dinosaurs, they can adapt to almost any environment. Of the approximate 4,600 species of cockroach worldwide, only 30 are associated with human habitats of of those, only 5 are well known as pests.

The two most common cockroach pests found in the U.K. are the Oriental cockroach and the German cockroach, although the two of the other three pest cockroaches (the American cockroach, Brown-Banded cockroach) may be encountered if the conditions are suitable.

Suddenstrike Pest Control are here to help, we are your local, friendly, professional pest control providers, with British Pest Control Association (BPCA) certified technicians, ready to assist you, with a range of treatments available, including non-chemical measures and environmentally friendly solutions.

Why control cockroaches?

No insect can ruin the reputation of a business or property faster than news of a cockroach infestation. Associated with unhygienic and unsanitary conditions, cockroaches pose a significant risk to human health as they are vectors of disease and illnesses such as food poisoning, dysentry, tapeworms, roundworms, fungus, carrying bacteria and viruses including salmonella, staphylococcus and streptococcus, and even being the cause of allergies, causing eczema, contaminating anything and everything that they come in to contact with, disgorging portions of their partially digested food (cockroaches are omnivores and will feed on almost anything) and faces along the way.

Signs of cockroaches

Cockroaches are more suited to tropical environments, so in the U.K. they are found within buildings where it is warmer and drier. Oriental cockroaches are the most common, encountered in the U.K. and are typically found in cool, damp areas such as basements and drains, with German cockroaches are likely to be found behind appliances with warm motors such as a fridge. It is also common to find both of these species of cockroach around heating ducts and pipework, boiler rooms of large centrally heated buildings, stoves, sinks as well as bathrooms and humid areas.

The most obvious sign of an infestation is spotting an adult insect; however, as a nocturnal species, this may not always be the case, especially since cockroaches can move at 1.5 meters per second (equivalent to a human running at 200 miles per hour). Other signs that you have cockroaches present at your property include –

Droppings – approximately 2mm long, brown in colour and cylindrical in shape.
Egg cases (known as ootheca), approximately 10mm long.
Shed skins (cockroaches have to moult their skin in order to grow).
Foul odour (more common with large infestations).
Damage to food or packaging.

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Cockroaches

Oriental Cockroach (Blatta orientalis)

• The most common cockroach encountered in the U.K. • Shiny black, brown or mahogany in colour. • Adults measure approximately 20-24mm long. • Females will carry the egg case (ootheca) on their backs, depositing them in a suitable location. • 16-18 nymphs will hatch from the ootheca, moulting 5 or 6 times over a 12 month period, before they reach the adult stage.

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German cockroach (Blattella germanica)

• The second most common cockroach encountered in the U.K. • Light yellowy/brown in colour • Adults measure approximately 10-15mm long. • Females will carry the egg case (ootheca) on their backs, depositing them in a suitable location. • 30 nymphs will hatch from the ootheca, moulting 5 or 6 times over a 12 week period, before they reach the adult stage.

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Brown-Banded Cockroach (Supella longipalpa)

• Dark brown in colour with yellow-brown stripes across their abdomen. • Adults measure approximately 10-14mm long. • Females will carry the egg case (ootheca) on their backs, depositing them in a suitable location. • 10-18 nymphs will hatch from the ootheca, moulting 8 times over a 5-6 month period, before they reach the adult stage.

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