Cockroaches are probably one of the most ubiquitously hated pests in Brisbane and for good reason. They're dirty, capable of spreading disease and their rapid breeding cycles make them a particular pest as they are able to infest homes and commercial premises in a very short time frame.
When we get that call from a new client suffering with a cockroach infestation one of the first things we ask is: what kind of cockroaches they're seeing, what do they look like? As you can imagine, most of the time we get an answer like "....uh a cockroach?"
The reason we ask this question is so we can recommend the best treatment option for you, if you have American or Australian cockroaches (see below) a general pest control service will be sufficient in resolving the problem. If you however have German Cockroaches, you will need a general cockroach control treatment and a second stage follow up treatment 4-6 weeks afterwards to resolve the infestation. This is why we have put together a profile for the most common types of cockroaches you are likely to find in your Brisbane home.
American Cockroach:
The American Cockroach is approx 35mm - 40mm in length and reddish-brown in colour. Prefers to run but will fly in warmer temperatures. Likes warm, moist, dark places. They are commonly found in sub floors, kitchens, roof voids, bathrooms and laundries of homes.
A female with lay 16 eggs at a time within an oothca (egg case) and the eggs take 1-2 months to hatch. Typically, it takes 12 months for the nymphs (baby cockroaches) to become fully developed.
Australian Cockroach:
Don't let the name fool you, these are not a native species and they are thought to be originally from Asia.
Slightly smaller than the American Cockroach, measuring 23mm - 35mm they have similar colouring but the Australian Cockroach has a yellow margin on the thorax and yellow-ish streaks at its sides near the base of the wing. They enjoy a warm, moist climate and are a common house pest although, frequently they come into the homes from surrounding gardens as they like to dwell in loose leaf litter and debris.
The female Australian cockroach lays approx 24 eggs in the ootheca and the nymphs take 6 - 12 months to develop into adults depending on food and shelter available.
German Cockroach:
The smallest of these three types of cockroach, measuring 12mm - 15mm in length. The German cockroach is a notorious pest and are found world wide. They are lighter in colour with two prominent stripes down their back.
A female German cockroach will lay between 35-40 eggs in an ootheca and it only takes between 6 weeks and 6 months for the nymphs to develop into breeding adults. There are generally 3 - 4 generations of German cockroaches per year, in comparison to the Australian or American cockroach where they are likely to have 1-2 generations per year.
German cockroaches thrive in dark, moist and humid places like underneath dishwashers, behind and under fridges, drains, under sinks, sewers, bathroom and laundry areas. Their rapid breeding cycle and love of human dwellings makes them a serious pest that can get out of hand very quickly, so we urge you to call a professional pest controller if you do have German cockroaches so the infestation doesn't get worse.
These three species are the most common and most invasive of the pest cockroaches that you are likely to find in your Brisbane home. What is common across all three species is they will linger where there is food and shelter, so it's important to maintain good house keeping habits and read our tips on avoiding a cockroach infestation.
If you are in the midst of a cockroach invasion, call Results Home Services now on 3823 2500 and talk to our friendly and professional staff about how we can resolve your pest problems whether it be cockroaches, spiders, ants, termites of bed bugs.