Glimpse a sight of a cockroach and it is enough to make your skin crawl. Most insects leave pretty much anyone scurrying in the opposite direction – but cockroaches are one of the least appealing of all. There are lots of facts and myths surrounding cockroaches: one of the most common is that they can survive a nuclear blast. Whether this is true or not is almost impossible to say, but amazingly, these creatures can survive a week without their heads, dying only through lack of water.
As one of the least popular insects, it is no surprise that if you have a German Cockroach infestation, you will want it dealt with straight away. Essex and Suffolk Pest Solutions are the pest control experts, tackling infestations in and around Ipswich, Colchester, Woodbridge, Felixstowe, Manningtree, Harwich, Clacton and further afield. As experienced pest exterminators, with a history of high standards for private and contract clients, you know you can count us.
Pest Control Ipswich – Click here to find out how Essex and Suffolk Pest Solutions can help eliminate a German Cockroach infestation.
This article looks at basic facts and information about German Cockroaches and who to count on to tackle an infestation in your Essex or Suffolk home or business.
What do German Cockroaches Look Like?
German cockroaches are about 1 – 1.5 cms in length and are brown in colour. Although there are many other types of cockroaches, these are the most common type in the UK, and worldwide. They were thought to have originated from Southeast Asia, and came to Europe via trade ships in the 17th century.
What do they Eat?
Cockroaches are omnivores, which means that they eat meat or plant food, and this includes pet or human food lying around on surfaces, or in bins. They are attracted to sweet foods, but they can also eat kitchen grease and even munch through glue, book bindings, or household products such as soap. They need mainly water to survive as they can live for up to seven days without food. Although German Cockroaches wouldn’t normally bite humans, they will if there is a major infestation and they can’t get access to food.
How Long do they Live and What is their Breeding Cycle?
Cockroaches can live up to 200 days, depending on the conditions in which they live and whether or not they have access to food and water. The females carry their egg case around, and an average of 15-18 young (or nymphs) can hatch at any one time. Once the nymphs have hatched, they can transmute to the adult stage in just a matter of weeks; they reproduce quickly, so as you can imagine an infestation can develop very quickly.
Why are they a Health Threat?
German cockroaches are a serious health threat as they can contaminate food products with their secretions and faeces. They can spread all sorts of diseases such as food poisoning and salmonella, and even typhoid, which can be spread to multiple organs and can be fatal. In addition to this, cockroaches also generate some allergic reactions in humans from their faeces and the skin that they shed.
Not only is health at risk but there is the psychological impact too, as cockroaches are mainly associated with contamination of dirty buildings – although they are not only known to infest insanitary buildings, but also clean ones too.
Where do they Live?
German cockroaches can inhabit homes and apartment buildings and are also a threat to supermarkets, restaurants, hotels, public houses, and even shipping containers. They can fit into tiny cracks and crevices and are usually found in bathrooms and kitchens but can also inhabit storage areas, drains and sewers.
How Can I Prevent a Cockroach Infestation?
The best way to prevent a cockroach problem is to keep kitchens clean and sanitary and to keep bins sealed. Once you have a cockroach infestation, this is difficult to bring under control yourself because they breed so rapidly.
There are various sprays and baits that you can buy over the counter but the best option is to bring in professional pest control experts who can deal with infestations quickly and effectively.
How do Essex and Suffolk Pest Solutions tackle a German Cockroach infestation?
Essex and Suffolk pest solutions are the pest control experts for Ipswich, Colchester and the surrounding areas. In addition to carrying out free surveys of commercial or residential properties, we also offer service contracts which include constant monitoring and full site inspections.
We provide advice on proofing for German cockroaches, and because of the nature of these creatures (they are generally nocturnal), we can carry out night time inspections before treatment. We can also arrive in unmarked vehicles on request.
Essex and Suffolk Pest Solutions - Click here to contact the region’s pest control experts.
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