Fighting cockroaches
Cockroaches: how to recognise, understand and get rid of them
Cockroaches are active at night, hide during the day in warm, dark cracks and breed quickly. If you see a cockroach in the daytime, the infestation is usually already larger. The sooner you act, the easier it is.
Straight to the solution: Get rid of cockroaches or go straight to the Super Ninja cockroach trap.
How do you recognise cockroaches?
Cockroaches have a flat, oval body and long antennae, and they move very fast. Three species are most common in homes: the German cockroach (Blattella germanica), which grows to about 1.5 cm at most, the Oriental cockroach (Blatta orientalis) and the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana), which can grow to over 5 cm. Other signs are small black droppings, empty egg cases and a musty smell.
What attracts cockroaches and where do they come from?
Cockroaches follow people, because that is where food, warmth and moisture are. They often come in with cardboard boxes, shopping or second-hand appliances, or in blocks of flats they move from home to home through service ducts. Favourite hiding places are kitchen cupboards, the space under the sink and the fridge, cellars and storerooms.
What do cockroaches eat?
Almost anything: crumbs, grease, sugar, fruit and vegetable scraps, pet food and rubbish, and if necessary paper, glue and dead insects. A little grease behind the cooker or a full pet bowl is enough for them.
When are cockroaches around?
All year round, as long as it is warm indoors. In the warmer months they are more active and you see them more often.
How fast do cockroaches breed?
Very fast, depending on the species. A female German cockroach produces an egg case with 20 to 50 eggs about every three to four weeks, and after around two months the young are mature themselves. Within a few months a small group becomes a large infestation.
Are cockroaches harmful or dangerous?
Yes. Cockroaches can carry bacteria and pathogens onto food. Their droppings and shed skins can trigger allergies and asthma, especially in children. Tackle an infestation quickly.
How do you get rid of cockroaches?
Place cockroach traps along their routes, for example behind the fridge and under the sink. The traps show you where the insects are and how big the infestation is, and they catch them without you having to spray. Combine this with the tips below. For a large infestation, for example in a block of flats, a professional pest controller is often needed.
How do you keep cockroaches out?
- Keep the house clean. Remove crumbs and grease regularly, including behind the fridge and under the cooker.
- Store food properly. In sealable containers; fruit and vegetables in the fridge or covered.
- Keep rubbish sealed. Use a bin with a lid and empty it regularly.
- Ventilate damp rooms. Keep the cellar and the cupboard under the sink dry and repair leaks.
- Do not leave pet food out. Empty and clean bowls after feeding.
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