Finding evidence of cockroaches in your home or business can be distressing, but what harm do they cause and why are they so difficult to get rid of and control?
Cockroaches move from sewers, drains into buildings and homes to forage for food and water. They will contaminate anything they come into contact with; food, utensils, and preparation areas, leaving partially digested food and dropped faeces along the way. This poses a direct health risk to humans since cockroaches are known to carry the organisms which cause food poisoning in humans and many other bacteria, such as staphylococcus, streptococcus and salmonella which is why professional cockroach pest control is necessary.
All businesses are at risk, but companies that handle food and drink, and operating within highly regulated environments, may face an increased danger from exposure to cockroaches.
Customers spotting evidence of a cockroach infestation on your business premises, can damage the reputation of your business through complaints and negative reviews. Aside from these reputational costs, there could also be fines for businesses found to have a cockroach pest control problem, with repeat issues at risk of facing legal action. For businesses that don't have adequate cockroach pest control management procedures in place, Environmental Health Officers can issue enforcement notices to company owners.
Cockroaches need access to water and will be generally found in inaccessible nooks and crannies, close to water and food. Feeding on almost anything, including refuse, faecal matter and even other cockroaches, they can survive for several months without food, but cannot live for more than a few days without water.
Ideal environments for cockroaches to thrive are areas with food, water and dark spaces to hide such as bathrooms, kitchens, utility rooms and boiler rooms of large, centrally heated buildings. They're likely to be found behind appliances where there are warm motors, such as ovens or fridges but also like the back of cabinets, dishwashers, behind sinks, baths, toilets and washing machines and anywhere that’s dark and sheltered.
It's unlikely you'll see cockroaches during the day since they're nocturnal, but other signs of their presence such as droppings, egg cases, shed skins, an unpleasant smell in your property, as well as damage to food, packaging, leather items, clothing or books could be a sign of cockroach infestation and will require professional cockroach pest control.
Prevent the need for professional cockroach pest control by carrying out the following in your home, property or business:
Cockroaches are hard-wired to survive since they're adaptable, highly mobile and their life cycle makes cockroach pest control an uphill task for the untrained property owner. The insects hide in many different areas, breed quickly, have a very high reproductive potential and may develop resistance to pesticides. Control of cockroaches is rarely easy because of the difficulty in getting the pesticides to the insect.
However, our professional cockroach pest control service offers discreet and effective solutions to solve any infestation quickly, efficiently and with as little disruption to your home, property or business as possible. We'll carry out a detailed inspection of your property to assess the degree of the problem and recommend the best course of action for the cockroach pest control treatment. We'll also provide advice and recommendations for preventing cockroaches and the need for professional cockroach pest control treatment going forward.
