How to get rid of cockroaches

Many types of pests are common in households in Australia but none are as legendary or as famous for their infestation capabilities as cockroaches. Such insects go a notch higher by posing health risks to your loved ones since they act as disease vectors as well as carriers of allergens. In this article you will find information about the types of cockroaches found in Australia, why they are drawn to homes, and their eradication techniques. Of course it does and in this guide, we’ll look at all of this, and much more with tried and tested advice on how to combat cockroaches.

Various Types of Cockroaches Identified in Australia

Several types of cockroach abound in Australia and whereas some species of cockroach can be aggressive others have specific behaviour and habits as well as physical characteristics. The most common types of cockroaches you might encounter in your home include:

Australian Cockroach (Periplaneta americana)

The Australian cockroach is relatively big compared to other cockroaches, and generally measures between 2.5 to 3.5 cm in length. It has black and slightly glossy skin with yellowish margins around its thoracic area. However, these cockroaches are more suited to warmer and especially more humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms. It prefers to feed on food debris as well as decomposing organic matter.

German Cockroach (Blattella germanica)

Measuring about 1.3 to 1.6 inches long, the German cockroach is smaller than the Australian cockroach and is widely found indoors. This is about 1.5-2 cm in length, and its colour is light, typically light brown or tan with two parallel dark lines along the body’s back. This type of cockroach prefers warm and moist habitats, and preferred places are the kitchen and pantry since they will be close to food.

Australian Cockroach:

It’s not surprising that the most predominant cockroach species found in homes is the Australian cockroach. A cousin of the American cockroach, the Australian cockroach looks very similar though it has yellow markings on the thorax. It is mostly known from tropical and subtropical regions and may occur in leaf litter or on tree trunks.

Smoky Brown Cockroach:

This cockroach is dark brown which looks almost black and is mostly associated with the ability to fly. This species is originally from Australia and specifically likes to invade homes close to the sea and those with gardens or vegetation.

Brown Banded Cockroach (Supella longipalpa)

Despite being smaller and harder to locate than the German cockroach, the brown-banded cockroach is a light brown colour with bands across its wings. It is known to be located in warmer areas of the house like under furniture and in electrical appliances.

Each of these species has unique habits and preferences, but they all share one common trait: Their desire to get to your house and look for food, water and shelter.

What Draws Cockroaches to Your Home?

These pests are unpopular for hitching around places that offer them food, water and shelter within a short time. Here are the key reasons why cockroaches are attracted to your home:

Food Sources

Cockroaches are scavengers and will feed on nearly anything: grease, food scraps, leftovers, pet chow, trash, spoiled, or glue and scorching soap deposits. Cockroaches will be glad to take up residence in homes that are not routinely cleaned.

Moisture

One thing to remember is that cockroaches require water to live. Sprinklers, dripping taps or even water bowls made for pets are all what these pests need.

Warmth and Shelter

It is a fact that these insects especially prefer surfaces that are warm and hidden from light. As for the living conditions for cockroaches, kitchens, bathrooms, basements and attics are ideal. The birds ordinarily take up residence in small spaces that can easily be camouflaged.

Trash and Organic Matter:

Neglecting to clean up your food or forgetting to make a quick trip outside to take out the garbage will attract these creatures even more to your home.

Effective Strategies to Keep Cockroaches Out of Your Home

It is always advisable to avoid contact with this pest in the first place before they overrun your home. In essence, the key to denying these cockroaches a good habitat and thus minimizing the likelihood of an infestation of your home is simple: Eradicate these conditions. Here’s how:

Seal Cracks and Gaps




Cockroaches are rather capable of entering the house even through the narrowest cracks. Mortices, crevices and other openings can be observed around doors and windows, as well as on the exterior walls of the home. Fill them up with caulk or weather stripping whereby they will be sealed off.





Keep Your Home Clean




One must practice cleanliness to avoid bringing cockroaches into the house. Clean countertops daily, and sweep hallways and carpeted areas often for the same reasons. Be sure to clean behind and under appliances you might use, cockroaches tend to crawl behind appliances.





Remove Standing Water




Make sure your home does not have leakages; do not let water sit in basins, sinks, bathtubs or your pet’s water bowl. They recommended that individuals should use dehumidifiers in rooms that are usually damp such as basements.





Take Out the Trash Regularly




It will be helpful to regularly take out your garbage bins, especially the ones containing food scraps. Garbage must be disposable in sealed containers, the external bins must always be covered.





Store Food Properly




Make sure all foods must be stored in tight lids and it is also better not to have opened packs of foods lying around the house. Cockroaches will pay attention to even a piece of food the size of a grain of rice.

Natural Methods to Keep Cockroaches Away

Several natural repellents can be used to repel cockroaches throughout the home. Here are some effective ways to deter them:

• Essential Oils
  Certain oils naturally act as a repellent to cockroaches and these include peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil or lavender oil. Add a few drops of your favourite oil in water and spray it at particular areas in your house where people usually enter.



• Bay Leaves
  Bay leaf has a very potent smell that repels all cockroaches. To keep them away, you can put dried bay leaves in places such as cabinets, drawers and corners.



• Cucumber Slices
  Cucumbers are said to be some type of defence against cockroaches, you know cockroaches run away from cucumbers. Laying slices could be an effective way of deterring cockroaches from the area surrounding your kitchen or any other area suspected to harbour them.



• Diatomaceous Earth
  This natural powder can be used to spray around the house to eliminate the cockroaches. This is done as it dries up each time the victims come into contact with it. The only precaution is that one has to see to it that one is using food-grade diatomaceous earth to avoid harming pets and children.

How to Kill Cockroaches?

If you use repellents and other ways of preventing them from invading your house you may need to use more rigorous ways to get rid of these creatures. Here are several methods to kill them:

• Cockroach Baits and Traps
  A bait is usually used to lure the cockroaches with a view of feeding the poison once they ingest it. Put these baits in any corner that you have observed the cockroaches to be usually active. You can use cockroach traps to track the level of infestation as well as catch the bugs.



• Insecticides
  The cockroach insecticides are available in aerosol form and powders. Before applying the treatment, double-check to ensure you have selected a cockroach-targeting product and that application should be done according to the recommended procedures. Applying insecticides directly on cockroaches has always been the best technique for killing them.



• Boric Acid
  Boric acid is a good insect killer and may be used by sprinkling in the likely path of these insects. And when cockroaches tread on this powder it sticks on the body as they lick themselves and die in the process.



• Call in the Professionals
  Cockroaches are stubborn pests that may seem impossible to get rid of, especially if there is a large number of them in any given household or establishment and as such, it may be wise to call on the services of an exterminator. They get better chemicals, for instance, strong pesticides as well as better tools to control bad incidents.

How to hire the best company for cockroach pest control?

If kids attempt to free themselves from these insects do not produce any results or if a person is experiencing critical infestation, it is high time to turn to pest control services. Pest control companies offer comprehensive services that include:

• Search and find out some of the signs of infestation that could be present at your home.


• Individual treatment strategies depend on the type of cockroach and density of the infestation


• The treatments to make sure cockroaches are completely eradicated them

When in search of pest control services, it is wise to consider some important points. Here’s how to go about it:

Research Local Pest Control Companies

You should research pest control services nearby that deal with cockroach elimination. The customer must look for reviews and ratings of the companies to ensure that the companies are legit.

Request Quotes

Go to a few companies and enquire for full estimates. Inform them where the infestation is serious, which type of cockroaches they are dealing with and which parts of your house are more severely infested.

Inquire About Methods

It will also be necessary for you to enquire with the company regarding the forms of treatment they use, or when they use eco-friendly or non-toxic products if you have children or pets.

Compare Prices and Services

However, do not forget to consider quality as a part of the price you pay. A low-price offer may not tell where the problem is and the best solution for your pest problem. You must check the worth of the services and the cost you are paying before hiring.

Conclusion

Cockroaches are a pest to deal with mainly because they are more challenging to control than most of the other common household insects. First, identify which types of cockroaches you are dealing with, and do all the things mentioned above to prevent them from getting close to you and your home. If this continues then do not hesitate to contact a professional pest control company to remove these pests from your home for the long term.