What is a Cockroach?
Cockroaches are one of the most common pests living with human. This is because cockroaches eat almost anything we leave behind from Beer, Meat, Grease, Kitchen crumbs, Decaying organic matter (hair, dead skin, fingernails etc.) , paper, glue, leftover food etc.
(American cockroach laying an ootheca)
Cockroach Specimen
American cockroach
American cockroach are reddish Brown in color, they measure 4 cm in length and have fully develop wings and are able to fly.
Oriental Cockroach
Oriental Cockroach are very dark brown to almost black in color. They measure 2.5 cm in length. Male have short wings which cover ¾ of his body and are capable of short flight. Female have small wings that are useless and have bigger body than their male counterpart.
German Cockroach
German cockroach are light brown in color, they measure 1.2 cm in length. Both male and female have fully developed wings but they are not able to fly.
Out of the three species of cockroach living with us, German cockroach has been the most striving specie because of how fast they can multiple and become adults. Once their number become uncontrollable, you will need the help of a professional to control the infestation and it will take 1 to 3 months of treatment before the infestation is controlled. Business establishment which are highly susceptible to German cockroach infestations are restaurant, canteen, market, grocery, food storage facilities, hotels and offices.
Cockroach Life Cycle
Life cycle of cockroach have 3 stages, egg, nymph and adult. Cockroach egg are encase in a hard sealed protective case called ootheca. The ootheca are designed to protect cockroach eggs until they hatch. A Nymph Cockroach is very similar to adult cockroach except they are smaller and don’t have fully develop wings and body. Depending on the species, it will take months to years before a cockroach develop into an adult which is capable of breeding.
Cockroach Reproduction
Depending on the species of cockroach, some may carry the ootheca till the eggs are ready to hatch while others will drop the ootheca to a safe location till the eggs hatch. A cockroach ootheca may contain 15 to 50 eggs depending on the species of cockroach. American cockroach may carry 15 eggs in 1 ootheca while German cockroach may carry as much as 50 eggs in 1 ootheca.
It usually takes 15 to 30 days before a cockroach egg hatches. A cockroach can produce as much as 240 eggs in a lifetime.
(German Cockroach ootheca hatch containing around 40-50 nymphs)
Cockroach Infestation Risk
Cockroach love to eat human food and they secrete an unpleasant odor. Many people especially children may develop allergy and asthma from cockroach feces, eggs, saliva and skin. Aside from allergy and asthma, Cockroaches also are known to transmit diseases such as E.Coli and Salmonela.
Cockroach Prevention
Proper sanitation is the key for controlling cockroach infestation. The goal is to remove all food, water and place of harborage for cockroach.
Keep the kitchen clean especially the kitchen tables and cabinets from grease and food scrap and don’t leave your dirty dishes in the sink. Always consider cleaning areas under, behind and sides of appliances, stove and oven which are frequent habitat of cockroach.
Vacuum will help a lot to remove small food particles unseen by our eyes that cockroach and other insect eats.
Always close water faucet properly inside and outside the house as this may create water source for cockroach and other insects..
Brick holes are covered with cement to reduce chances of cockroach from entering your property or creating a cockroach habitat inside the hole. Any small hole or gap inside and outside your home should be sealed properly
Trashcan should have tight cover especially in kitchen that have food waste. Garbage should be taken out on a daily basis and wipe out any garbage residue. It’s also a good idea to wash your trashcan once in a while.
This advises will greatly reduce the cockroach population in your facility,
but if infestation cannot be managed anymore,
it’s time to call a Is viagra over the counter in amsterdam
Cockroach Treatment
