Need to have cockroaches controlled? Or rather prevent them?

Cockroaches are beetle-like instects found in homes and other buildings around the world. Cockroaches can be harmful and pose a health hazard, so it is important to keep them out of your home. Fighting them yourself or having Cockroaches controlled is therefore very important. Cockroaches can invade homes in search of food and water. They are usually active at night, crawling out of their hiding places in walls and cracks in search of food. Cockroaches eat everything from food scraps to dead animals.

Recognizing cockroaches is not an easy task. These pests hide during the day and are only active at night. If you have a lot of cockroaches in your home or business, you can probably see them walking around. If you can’t see them, but you notice damage, you should look for signs. Because the sooner you detect cockroaches, the sooner you can get rid of them!

Cockroaches can transmit diseases to humans and animals and be a source of allergic reactions. Cockroaches can cause a lot of distress. So while cockroaches can be very annoying, fortunately there are several ways to control them.

Recognize a cockroach: what does this insect look like?

There are several species of cockroaches in our country. The most common cockroach is the German cockroach, followed by the Oriental and American cockroach. We also know the Australian cockroach and the hissing cockroach, but they are rare here, so we will leave them out. How to distinguish these crawling insects? The following descriptions will help you get started.

What does a German cockroach look like?

Yellow to light brown body
Body is quite flat
Two black longitudinal stripes on neck shield
10-15 mm long (excluding two head antennas)
Has wings but cannot fly.

What does an oriental cockroach look like?

Dark blue to black body
Body is broad and flat and slightly curved
21-18 mm long (excluding two antennae at the tip)
Has wings but cannot fly

What does an American cockroach look like?

Reddish-brown body
Body is quite flat
28- … mm long (except two antennae at the tip)
Looks a bit like a grasshopper
This species has wings and can make gliding flights, in the Netherlands this is not possible due to the low temperature.

Identifying cockroach eggs

Unfortunately, cockroaches reproduce quickly. All the more important that you recognize their eggs quickly. Cockroach eggs come in a kind of package. A package looks like a tube with ribs. It is brown to very dark brown in color and protects the eggs from all kinds of outside influences.

An adult cockroach (obviously a female) can lay eggs anywhere. Some species even carry the package until all the nymphs hatch. Nymphs are larvae: they look like small white cockroaches. They multiply several times before they become adults. Females produce egg packs several times during their lifetime, which they place in random places or hide well somewhere. Depending on the species, there may be 20-30 cockroaches in a package, and the higher the ambient temperature, the faster the young cockroaches hatch from the eggs.

Nuisance from cockroaches?

Important to know: the vast majority of cockroaches like homes and businesses where hygiene is not taken very seriously. Are the floors already full of food scraps? Then finding the damage caused by cockroaches is very easy.

But what evil should you really think of?

Droppings and shedding of the skin. These droppings resemble coffee grounds.
Unpleasant odor in home or business. Think strong musk smell.
Affected foods and food packages. Products high in sugar, fat and carbohydrates are particularly affected.
Damage paper, plastic and cardboard. Cockroaches eat it when there is nothing else to eat.
You can find dead cockroaches in various places. But beware: both dead and alive they can transmit diseases so never touch them with your bare hands.

Recognizing cockroaches in the home: where are they?

Cockroaches are always looking for warmth, moisture, food and dark hiding places. Cockroaches are usually located in the kitchen or bathroom but if the infestation is severe enough, they can walk everywhere. They are then in the craziest places, but of course never without reason:

Microwaves, ovens and kettles are nice and warm. So they can also gather around the boiler or heating system.
The refrigerator is also a popular location with lots of food and the motor behind it produces heat.
Cockroaches find even more food in the kitchen cupboard.
Extractor hoods contain a lot of tasty grease residue.
The bathroom is not only hot, but also humid. Cockroaches hide near the toilet or in bathrooms.

Could it get any worse? Sure Cockroaches can hide in the smallest cracks and crevices as long as there is food nearby. They find many ways to live and survive in any home or business. And has the building ever been infested with pests? Cockroaches quickly spread to neighbors, too!

If they find a good hiding place and enough food with you, they will feel comfortable and start breeding. That’s how you’ll quickly have a cockroach infestation. Of course, it helps to keep your home or business neat and clean so that cockroaches cannot find what they are looking for. After all, preventing cockroaches is better than having cockroaches controlled.

Tips for preventing cockroaches

You don’t want to be constantly infected by bacteria-carrying insects. Not now, not ever. That’s why it’s absolutely right to prevent the appearance of cockroaches. Fortunately, you can do so with these tips.

Always clean up food and greasy residue after cooking or eating.
Store food in tightly closed cans, jars or boxes.
Keep all areas as clean as possible, especially food areas.
Seals holes and cracks in walls, floors, ceilings or roofs.
Seal the vents with fine mesh.

Cockroaches love humidity! So leaks should be prevented and fixed as soon as possible.
Ensure good ventilation and do not let the temperature rise too high.
Always check (tropical) products carefully before buying. When in doubt do not buy.
Traveling in a tropical country? Check your belongings regularly for damage.

Need advice or more effectively, a cockroach exterminator? Call us at OFS services to schedule an appointment or advice. Having cockroaches controlled is one of our specialties.