Cockroaches can wreak havoc on your home. To win the war in cockroach control, here’s what you should know.

COCKROACHES

• Entry:

Cockroaches can enter your property in many different ways, from the outside through cracks and crevices, vents, sewer and drain pipes. We even bring them in on products like grocery bags, boxes, purses and on our person!

• Ideal environment:

our home is an ideal breeding ground for certain pest species of cockroaches. With plenty of food, warmth, water and nesting sites, they can remain active all year round.

• Reproduction: Cockroaches reproduce quickly. For every one you see there can be many, many more hiding and multiplying behind your walls.

• Evasiveness:

Because cockroaches typically are nocturnal, if you’ve seen one, you probably haven’t seen them all. The few cockroaches you see by day could mean they were likely forced out by overcrowding; a possible sign of severe infestation.

• Allergies/Asthma:

The debris created by cast-off cockroach skins, dead bodies and droppings can aggravate allergies, especially in children and sensitive individuals.

• Do-it-yourself ineffectiveness:

Cockroaches are better at hiding than you are at finding them, and their eggs are naturally protected from many over-the-counter insecticides. Without special equipment, materials and know-how, cockroach control can be a losing battle.

Cockroaches impacting New Zealand

German Cockroach

The German Cockroach is a very common problem in the greater Auckland area. Originating from Africa and named during the German colonial influence on the continent, this cockroach needs to be warm. It prefers the warm areas around fridge motors, hot water cylinders and dishwashers. The German Cockroach is small to medium sized and rectangular in shape. Able to spread disease, the German Cockroach is considered a significant health risk and has been implicated in causing asthma.

Gisborne Cockroach

The Gisborne cockroach is a forest cockroach preferring damp, decaying bark and logs to live in. They can grow very long. Some have been found up to two inches long. ‘Gisborne’s’ mostly come into properties when the weather cools down.

Propest find many Gisborne Cockroaches have established themselves inside the garages and laundries of homes and warehousing, storage areas of businesses. Air conditioned offices and rooms are too dry for Gisborne’s and are not ideal conditions for them to survive. The adults are dark brown (mistaken for black) and have a tan stripe down the each side of their head/body.

American Cockroach

The American Cockroach breeds in damp, wet conditions. They like drains and sewers and are found around many parts of Auckland. The American Cockroach becomes a very real problem where drainage systems are faulty or in need of repair. Wet damp floor boards and leaking toilet facilities and loose flooring such as vinyl and tiles are perfect harbouring areas. They gain access to businesses and dwellings through gaps and crevices and once settled with poulate rapidly. The American cockroach is a dark red colour and very large in size. American Cockroaches can appear in large numbers and are a significant health risk.

NZ Native Cockroach

The Native Cockroach is a small forest cockroach and is a light brown (red) colour and oval in shape. They invade homes when the temperature drops but rarely establish themselves. Not classified as a real threat to your home – they can also be found in fire wood piles and bark/decaying wood/stumps.