German Cockroach

German Cockroach Control, How To Spot Them And Get Rid Of Them

Cockroaches are part of the most ubiquitous insects globally. There are about 3, 500 species of cockroaches but the German cockroach is one of the commonest- especially in the US. German cockroaches are widely distributed in availability covering a lot of geographical regions. They are usually light-brown in color and about ½ to 5/8 in length. They are commonly found in homes, stores, restaurants, hotels, warehouses – they are urban pests. In homes, they are common sights in kitchens especially near the moist areas (dishwashers, cabinets and cookers) as well as bathrooms. They strive better in moist environment with relatively moderate warmth. They are mainly extensive feeders but also scavengers. They can feed on varieties of food products such as sweets, meat products, bread crumbs, starch and oily foods; or just about anything in the garbage bag. Like other species of cockroach, german roaches are active night crawlers. With their very flat bodies, they hide in cracks and tiny openings and crawl out at night to feed- remember the scary movements that wake you up from sleep? They may also be seen in broad daylight if the population is high or super availability of food.

The difficulty in controlling German cockroaches is majorly attached to their ability to produce massive number of eggs per capsule. They also undergo a pretty short maturation and hatching period. This results in rapid increase in population. Female german cockroaches carry their egg capsules throughout the period of embryo development. This also contributes to the high number of successful hatching they experience. Compared to other species of cockroaches, german cockroaches are so small and protect themselves through hiding in extremely small places.

We will also like to briefly take you through the developmental stages of a german cockroach for better understanding. There are three stages in the developmental history of a german cockroach: egg, nymph and adult. The females produce thick capsules in which the eggs are held. A capsule may contain about 30-48 eggs. Each female produces about four to eight egg capsules throughout their entire lifetime. These capsules are produced in ambient temperature at approximately 6 weeks interval. Hatching of egg may occur within 14 to 35 days under appropriate conditions.

German cockroaches produce secretions with repulsive odor which may affect the flavor of food they infest.  They also carry pathogenic microorganisms and may serve as source of contamination to food and water. Food poisoning, diarrhea and abdominal comfort are symptoms of gastroenteritis diseases transmitted by cockroaches. Excreta, secretions and skins of german cockroaches are also strong allergens and can illicit discomforting responses such as skin rashes. The bite of german cockroach on human skin causes a scaly, raised patch which can progress to a wound if scratched.

It is quite obvious now that you as much as we, do not want german cockroaches near our building. Let us take you through the 5Seffective measures for controlling german cockroach infestation.

1. Survey: To determine the effective control method for german cockroaches, it is wise to have knowledge of their population. You should inspect your buildings thorough by setting cockroach traps. These traps are usually sticky and are commercially available. Place the traps at strategic places such as bathrooms, stores, under your dishwasher, close to your cooker or under your kitchen table; leave for 4 days to a week. The population of cockroaches trapped will give you an insight into the right way to go.
2. Starve them: German cockroaches remain and multiply in your home because they are well fed. Clear out left over foods, food spills and pet meals every night. Food materials should be kept in air-tight containers or plastic bags with locks.
3. Sanitation: They dwell fine in dirty, nasty and particularly moist areas. Keep your buildings neat always. Throw out garbage every night into a tight lid-fitted container. Ensure your kitchen and bathrooms are always clean and dry.
4. Structural repairs: Caulk and cover up cracks or holes in the wall or doors. Repair or replace torn nets around the vents especially in the kitchen and bathroom areas.
5. Scare them off: Use baits, insecticidal dust (e.g. boric acid) and pesticides to eliminate german cockroaches. Apply these chemicals to strategic locations including cracks and crevices. We, however suggest that caution should be taken in applying chemicals as they are poisonous for human consumption.

There are possible chances you see german cockroaches in your buildings once in a while. We at Mega pest control need you not to panic. Just take the necessary preventive measures to avoid major infestations.