Habits

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.

Cockroach

Solution

We would be delighted to offer you any of the above services, or assist with identifying and exterminating any other pests not listed on our website.

Please feel free to contact us regarding your requirements, and we can tailor a specific treatment schedule for your business.

Cockroaches

Features

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

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).

(hide/show)

Type	Features	Nesting Habits	General Comments	Photo
Small Brown Ants
American Cockroach	Reddish brown, with a pale yellow border around pronotum. Large wings which cover the abdomen, fly in warm weather. 35-40 mm in size.		Found in sub floors, roof & wall voids, cellars, grease traps, sewers, in and around garbage areas. Commonly infest food stores & warehouses, restaurants, hospitals, and other food handling areas.
Australian Cockroach	Brown with distinct yellow border around pronotum. Wings cover abdomen, may fly in warm weather. 30-35 mm in size.		Found mostly outdoors, and prefer areas that offer moist, decaying vegetable matter & plant materials (under bark of trees, among woodpiles, sub floors, wall voids, garages & sheds).
Brownbanded Cockroach	Pale brown with very pale band across thorax and abdomen. Female has smaller set of wings than male. Flies when warm or disturbed. 10-14 mm in size.		Found mostly indoors, infesting houses, offices, etc. Prefers drier areas in furniture (bookcases, desks, wardrobes), around picture frames, light fittings, among stored files & paper, etc. Infests throughout the entire building and is not restricted to kitchen areas.
German Cockroach	Light amber brown with 2 dark stripes on pronotum. Does not fly. 12-15 mm in size.		Found mostly indoors, and prefers a moist, warm environment close to food (in the kitchen, food storerooms, stoves, refrigerators, sinks, water heaters).
Oriental Cockroach	Dark brown to black. Female has smaller set of wings than male. 20-25 mm in size.		Prefers cool environments, and can be found indoors or outdoors (damp cellars, sub floors, inside walls, around drains, under garden debris, in dumps).
Smokeybrown Cockroach	Dark brown, no pale markings. Wings cover abdomen. Flies in warm weather. 30-35 mm in size.		Found mostly outdoors and prefers plant materials. Often a pest in nurseries, garages, woodpiles, sub floors, roof & wall voids, around drains & under garden mulch. Sometimes attracted to light at night.