The pest scourge of homes – German Cockroaches!

If I asked people in general to name the one one pest that afflicts their home, I think it would be roaches. So what is it about roaches that makes them a up close pest within our homes? Basically these roaches have adapted well to humans and they will eat anything we eat. Cockroaches are among the hardiest insects on the planet.

Cockroaches typically become established in homes after being introduced in grocery bags, with laundry or, in some cases, wandering in from outdoors. Once cockroaches become established they are prolific breeders capable of producing several thousand offspring in a year.

 

Cockroaches prefer to live where there is food, warmth & moisture. Since cockroaches flourish where food and moisture are readily available, sanitation is an important step in prevention and control. Empty soft drink bottles, cardboard boxes and paper bags should not be allowed to accumulate. Food containers should be sealed and any crumbs or spillage cleaned up, along with any grease that accumulates around the stove area.  I also suggest that you pull out the stove and refrigerator yearly and clean the area, including the fan motor. If you are going to store food items, I prefer to freeze them and then seal them in food containers.

If you notice one roach react quickly because they are breeding machines. Don’t just let it go because one roach may become several roaches quite quickly. The German cockroach produces more eggs and has more generations per year (three to four) than other roaches.