Get Rid Of Cockroach Problems | Cockroach Removal Specialists
How Do I Know I Have A Problem?
If you have a cockroach problem you will see dead and alive cockroaches. Usually in kitchens or rooms with boilers and/or electrical devices such as fridges or cookers.
Cockroaches are mainly nocturnal so they are more likely to be seen at night. They require high temperatures, although will survive and tolerate low temperatures (but will not thrive). Due to this they are most commonly found in kitchens, laundry rooms, boiler rooms and anywhere where high temperatures occur. In a kitchen, the favourite places for them to live will be inside fridges (fridge motors constantly give off heat), cookers, boilers and washing machines.
Why Should Cockroaches Be Treated?
Cockroaches are a health hazard. If you are a commercial premises and you have cockroaches, the Environmental Health Dept. may close you down, fine you or both. If left the numbers will increase.
Preparation Prior To Treatment
The cleaner the infested areas the better chance of success any treatment will have. Clean under and in cookers, fridges, etc. All areas up and down (cockroaches can climb) need to be cleaned and degreased thoroughly. Contact your neighbors or any building connected to yours to see if they have a problem. Treatments of large communal type buildings will only work if the whole building is treated at the same time.
Treatment
The cockroach infestation will have been baited using a bait called Advion Cockroach Gel Bait which contains Indoxacarb or treated with one of the following insecticide sprays: Effect Microtech CS’* which contains Lambdacyhalothrin, Ficam W which contains 80% Bendiocarb w/w or K-Othrine which contains Deltamethrin. Also, a powder might be used called Ficam D*. This contains an insecticide in a dust formulation @ 1% w/w Bendiocarb. All insecticides are biodegradable, almost odourless, non-tainting and do not corrode or stain.
In some instances, such as heavy infestations, infestations spreading from neighboring properties, or unclean surfaces, more than one spray or bait treatment will be needed for complete control. In some cases, it may be necessary to spray or bait on a monthly basis until the infestation is eradicated, especially in shared, communal or multi-occupancy buildings.
What Do I Do Afterwards?
You will see dead cockroaches around for a few weeks after each spraying or baiting. Remove these to the outside bin for disposal. Try to refrain from washing down treated surfaces (for 2 months after the last spraying), as this will wash away some or all of the insecticide or bait. The cleaner the premises are kept the more successful any treatments will be, and any infestations will be kept to a minimum. Insecticides work better on clean surfaces and cockroaches will feed on any sort of food debris, but this means keeping areas clean that are not usually seen (i.e. under ovens, wall-floor junctions). Cockroach monitoring traps will be supplied to you to see if there are any cockroaches left or a new infestation has occurred. These are harmless sticky traps with pheromone bait. They are a monitor only and will not act as a control.
Guarantee
We can guarantee cockroach treatments but only in detached buildings that have been treated in their entirety, flats, terraced houses and multi-occupancy buildings cannot be guaranteed as there is a probability that cockroaches may spread from adjoining premises. This may take weeks, months or years depending on circumstances.
Cockroaches – General Information
Cockroaches
The 2 most likely cockroaches to be encountered in the UK are the German and the Oriental Cockroaches. Although a few other species could be encountered treatment would be the same.
Cockroaches have been great pests in domestic dwellings for centuries and are always difficult to eradicate, largely because of their secretive and nocturnal habits. They will only be seen occasionally during the daytime, and the destruction of these does little to reduce the population. They live during the day in cracks and crevices, behind tiles, in refrigerator motors, junction boxes, light fittings etc. If cockroaches are seen regularly during the day then the infestation is usually quite serious as they are nocturnal. The 2 most likely cockroaches to be encountered in the UK are the German and the Oriental cockroaches. Although a few other species could be encountered, treatment remains the same. Cockroaches are common in commercial premises associated with the production or handling of food. Gregarious and nocturnal, they spend the day hiding in cracks and crevices around such areas as sinks, drains, cookers, the backs of cupboards and in refrigerator motor compartments. They especially favour buildings with service ducts and complex plumbing installations. Infestations may be introduced through incoming laundry, on raw materials, in crates and packaging, or arise as the insects enter the buildings via such routes as drains or refuse chutes.
German Cockroach
The adult is 10-15 mm long, yellowish-brown with wings well developed on both sexes. The wings are never used. It is an excellent climber on both smooth and rough surfaces. The female of the species produces 4-8 egg capsules at monthly intervals. Each capsule contains about 30 eggs, which the female carries with her until just before hatching, which then takes 2-4 weeks. Efforts are made to conceal the capsule near a food source, where the nymphs will hatch and pass through 5-7 moults before reaching maturity. At a temperature of 25C maturity is reached in 3.5 months, but this time is subject to great variation depending on the temperature. Adults live approximately 8.5 months at 25C.
The German cockroach is particularly successful for the following reasons: a large number of eggs per capsule. The female protects the egg capsule, by carrying it until just before hatching. Short development period to hatching and maturity. Small size, therefore readily conceals itself. The German Cockroach prefers warm moist conditions (25-31C) such as occur in kitchens and restaurants. For this reason, it is sometimes known as the steam fly. It moves quickly and climbs with ease, thus it will be found in harbourages on vertical and upside-down surfaces, in cracks and crevices, behind panels and notice boards, in drawers and cupboards, inside electrical equipment and machinery.
Oriental Cockroach
Adult, 20-24 mm long, dark brown, nearly black. Wings of males cover two-thirds of the abdomen. The wings of a female are vestigial and she cannot fly. Both can climb rough but not smooth surfaces. The female produces 5 egg capsules at monthly intervals. The thick-walled resistant capsules, 12mm in length, each contain up to 16 eggs and are cemented to the substrate in the vicinity of a food supply, and might be covered over with debris. Nymphs emerge 6-12 weeks later and progress through 7-10 moults before reaching maturity, a process which takes 10 months to 2 years depending upon temperature and food supply. Adults live approximately 4.5 months at 25C. The slow proliferation of the Oriental cockroach will limit its success where reasonable standards of hygiene exist. The Oriental cockroach will tolerate lower temperatures than the German but will tolerate higher temperatures as long as the water is available. It is largely being replaced by the German, which is a better climber and faster breeder.
