In this blog we look at how to prevent a cockroach infestation. Most of what we’ll touch on is the advice we give to our customers on prevention, because even with the best pest control service in place, infestations will continue to thrive when these prevention tips aren’t implemented.
Cockroaches are a major nuisance all year round for both homes and businesses, and can be detrimental to the success of a business (especially a food business) for obvious reasons.
They are known to be very secretive by nature which make them especially hard to get rid of without the correct knowledge and treatment – often only coming out when it’s dark.
This means that seeing cockroaches during the day may indicate a major infestation, as they have most likely been pushed out by overcrowding in their hideouts, or the infestation was left undisturbed for so long that they have grown in confidence and feel it’s safe to scuttle around without fear.
As a rule of thumb, seeing single cockroaches seen in broad daylight is a sign that you have a cockroach infestation and that there are plenty more to be found in their hiding places.
Here are our top 5 tips for preventing cockroaches, because without these in place, even the best pest control service is destined to fail.
1. Eliminate food sources
Eliminate food sources for cockroaches
Promptly remove crumbs and spills. Crumbs may seem inconsequential, but for cockroaches those little crumbs could feed them for a couple of days. Fix dripping water taps and leakage cockroaches like most living things require water to thrive. Store food in sealed containers and do not leave any food out for extended periods.
2. Keep your kitchen clean
A clean kitchen also eliminates potential food sources for cockroaches. Do not leave dirty dishes overnight, as cockroaches will have a feast on what you leave them. Empty the garbage bin regularly, and store garbage outside and far from the building. Clean up spills and vacuum regularly.
3. Prevent cockroaches from hitchhiking into your premises.
Carefully inspect incoming cargo, boxes and LPG gas cylinders as cockroaches often hide their egg cases in the handles and near the bottom of these bottles. For homes, carefully examine second hand furniture and dispose of packaging materials fast.
4. Deprive them of breeding places.
Declutter, because cockroaches will nest in anything from paper to clothing. Cardboard is a favourite breeding ground for them.
Seal all cracks and crevices inside your building. Pay close attention to doors and window mouldings, pipes in bathrooms and kitchens. Additionally, ensure your drain remains clean and install fine netting – this is because cockroaches are known to breed in drains and use them to enter your building.
5. Call a pest control expert immediately
Cockroaches are prolific breeders and the longer you wait the higher the risk of a major infestation and the more difficult it will be for you to get rid of them. An egg capsule can produce up to 42 cockroaches. Given ideal conditions, a pair of cockroaches may be able to give rise to as many as 20,000 offspring in one year. That is, in a laboratory with loads of food but even a fraction of that will be enough to give you huge health hazards.
My advice would be to contact an expert as soon as you spot one, ‘cause unfortunately if you’ve already seen one of them then there are a lot more waiting in hiding.
Contact the experts at Rentokil today for a free quote if you suspect that you have a cockroach problem.
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