Read all about the cockroach breeding cycle – because forewarned is forearmed. If you know how they breed you can make sure you eliminate them before Christmas.
With businesses winding down and people turning their attention to the festive season and finally getting a chance to spend time with family, now would be the perfect time to do some spring cleaning in preparation for the influx of guests that will share in the festivities.
With that in mind, the last thing we’d want to encounter during this period is uninvited guests in the form of cockroaches peeking through creeks and crevices and spoiling the festive fun.
In this blog we’re aiming to equip you with knowledge that will help you better understand the enemy, giving you insights on how to protect your home from cockroaches so that you need not worry about them when your family is over for Christmas
There’s Never Only One: Cockroach Breeding Cycle
There are around 3000 different species of cockroaches, with German, Oriental and American being the most common in South Africa. All of these cockroaches go through three different stages in their lifecycle: egg, nymph and adult.
German Cockroach Life Cycle:
- Females can carry 35 to 40 eggs until they are ready to hatch.
- Their eggs only take a month to hatch.
- After hatching the nymphs take between 6 to 8 weeks to develop into adults.
- Therefore in a space of a year if left unchecked you could find yourself harbouring the third or fourth generation of the cockroach that initially invaded your premises.
Oriental Cockroach Life Cycle:
- Females deposit 16 eggs in an ootheca (egg case).
- Hatch in 2 months.
- Nymphs take 6-18 months to develop into adults.
American Cockroach Life Cycle:
- The ootheca (egg case) containing up to 16 eggs is carried by the female for several days before being deposited.
- Sometimes cemented down and tends to be grouped.
- Hatch in 1 – 2 months.
- Nymphs usually develop in 6 -12 months, but it can take up to 15 months.
With this in mind, we often say “there’s never only one” if you’ve spotted a cockroach in your home because there’s a huge chance that you already have an infestation.
How to get your home ready for guests this Christmas:
If you suspect that you already have an infestation or (like me) just like being on the safe side, ensure that you make time for a thorough spring clean.
Not only will your home be clean when your guests arrive, but pests such as cockroaches hate it when furniture and appliances get moved around. They prefer harbouring behind and under things that hardly get moved.
Furthermore, spring cleaning helps remove crumbs and spillages that may get overlooked by a daily cleaner – and thus provide a hearty feast for cockroaches.
Additionally, ensure that food in your pantry or kitchen is always tightly sealed. Make it a habit to remove all standing water around the house, and ensure that you seal any cracks and openings.
Essentially do the opposite of what you intend to do when family comes over: don’t welcome them in, don’t offer them drinks and deprive them of food.
What should you do if you already have an infestation?
Follow the tips mentioned above to help limit the infestation and follow that up by contacting a professional pest control provider.
A professional pest control service uses technology that isn’t available over the counter and products which require professional technicians to apply them – and are less likely to harm your family when compared to DIY methods.
Contact Rentokil today if you suspect that you have a cockroach problem. Remember, there’s never just one.
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