One of the worst infestation fears of any homeowner is from the cockroach. These small insects are a regular occurrence where waste food attracts the bug while there are plenty of hiding spots for them. Envirobug, after years of helping people with natural cockroach control methods when homeowners find a cockroach infestation in house, has experience and expertise to advise on getting rid of these potentially disease-spreading bugs.
In this article, we will detail how cockroach infestations start and how to control them with simple environmental changes and cockroach traps.
What Causes Cockroach Infestation?
Cockroach infestations can happen when the right environmental conditions arise for the bugs. Understanding the basics of their lifecycle, behaviour and more you can determine why an infestation of cockroaches has happened and it can help you formulate a strategy for cockroach control in your home.
What Is a Cockroach Infestation?
A cockroach infestation is described as when a population of the bug establishes itself within a building and is able to breed. Cockroaches have an interesting life cycle. Many carry the eggs in an ootheca to give birth to live young when ready. If threatened, the female can release the young prematurely where they can survive. Others will deposit the ootheca which can contain dozens of eggs.
Cockroaches prefer to live in dark and damp locations, and tend to come out in the night, when there is less human activity. They search for food which has been dropped or discarded by humans, consuming large quantities of it.
Cockroaches tend to be a community species, so when you see one individual scurrying across the floor, you’re likely to find more hidden away.
If you do get an infestation, you will need to clean a large area, as they can spread out in their search for food. And they’re probably hidden at the back of a cupboard or appliance where they can access moisture, warmth and have easy access to the food.
Common Cockroach Species in Australian Homes
There are more than 4,600 species of cockroach in the world, but only about 30 of these are deemed a pest and live around human habitats. In Australia, you can expect to find one of three main species.
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German Cockroach (Blattella germanica): A small species of cockroach, typically only about 1.6 cm long. It varies in colour from tan to black, with two dark parallel streaks on the pronotum running from the head to the base of the wings. Despite having wings, it can’t fly but can glide.
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American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana): One of the most common bugs to cause a cockroach infestation, this is a larger species, of about 4cm with the longest lifespan (about 700 days). They are reddish brown and have a yellowish margin on the pronotum. While they’re known as the American Cockroach, they originate in the Middle East and Africa.
© Gary Alpert
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Australian Cockroach (Periplaneta australasiae): Another species of cockroach with a deceptive name. The Australian Cockroach probably originates from Africa, though it is not entirely known. It is common throughout the country, generally getting to between 2.5 and 3.5 cm in length. The bug is brown with a conspicuous lateral pale stripe.
Main Causes of a Roach Infestation Indoors
Before you know how to get rid of roach infestation, you need to know why the infestation has happened.
There are several reasons why there are cockroach infestations in the home. The most obvious reason is that there is food residue in the area. If you don’t sweep or clean your floors or cupboards very often small particles of food are likely to build up and attract the bugs. Even if you regularly clean the floor, it is easy to miss behind appliances like the fridge and freezer.
Another reason can be moisture. Roaches regularly shed their exoskeleton to facilitate growth and maturity. To help them they need to have access to humid locations, often those that are also warm. Therefore, the back of appliances, around the sink area, and in the corners of cupboards are perfect locations for them.
Access to a home can often be gained through structural cracks in the home. Damage to the home caused by other animals in Australia or due to poor repairs to the home can allow any cockroach to access the home.
You might also find that they access your home when you bring in plants from the local garden centre.
Finally, the local climate can entice cockroaches to access your home. While they like it warm, cockroaches aren’t very good in overly hot and cold conditions. Homes are more temperature-controlled and therefore are ideal for the needs of the cockroach.
Health Risks of Cockroach Infestations
There are numerous reasons why you would need to learn how to treat roach infestation in your home. A cockroach infestation can cause significant issues for your health.
Can a Roach Infestation Cause Health Problems?
Roach infestations have numerous issues for people. Many people have a cockroach allergy. Coming into contact with their shed or frass can cause itching, skin rashes, or respiratory responses. Those with asthma are at greater risk if they also have an allergy.
If cockroaches can gain access to the main food stores, which in large cockroach infestations is possible, then they can contaminate food. If this does happen, the food will need to be thrown away as it is no longer safe for human consumption.
Another issue is disease transmission. They are known as a public health risk because they can spread dysentery, gastroenteritis, and salmonellosis among other potential diseases.
Allergies, Asthma, and Other Health Concerns
Numerous allergies and health conditions can cause health complications with the presence of cockroaches in the home. For example, those with asthma can have trouble breathing and need more support. In the worst case scenario, close contact with the sheds or frass can bring on an attack which could be fatal if not treated quickly.
Another problem faced by people is skin rashes. Even brief contact with any aspect of a cockroach can cause a skin reaction.
Finally, the indoor air quality can drop when cockroaches are present. This is because the extra humidity, fass and sheds can contaminate the air, making it less healthy to be in the room.
How to Identify a Cockroach Infestation
Cockroach infestations normally go unnoticed until the population has gotten to a specific size which makes it hard for them to conceal their presence. That is why it is important to always look for signs of infestation.
Signs of a Minor Cockroach Infestation
There are numerous minor signs that you have a cockroach infestation. One of these is that you can see sheds of the youngsters and adults around. These will normally be around the main hiding place of the cockroach colony. In the same area, you’re likely to see ootheca, which is what contains the eggs of the bug.
Another early sign is the fass, or cockroach droppings. Small black specs can be seen all over where they’ve been.
Signs You’re Facing a Heavy Roach Infestation
There are numerous ways you can see that you’re facing a significant cockroach infestation. One is that you spot a cockroach during the day. They will only be spotted during the day when the colony has reached such a size that they need to forage for food all the time. You might also see multiple live roaches during the day.
Another issue you might find is foul odours. These are caused by the number of cockroaches present which are pooping and discarding shells.
If this is the case, you need to learn how to get rid of a heavy roach infestation fast. The problem will only grow worse.
How to Deal With Cockroach Infestation
There are numerous ways to deal with a cockroach infestation. Below are some of the best methods for cockroach control in your home.
Fastest Way to Eliminate Cockroaches Safely
The quickest way to eliminate a cockroach infestation is to use fast-action techniques such as cockroach gel baits, contact-kill sprays or rapid action traps. These are lethal to the cockroaches and can be easily placed near a colony site to kill as many as the adults and nymphs as possible.
They are fast acting, but there is a risk the poisons spread and they’re not, in many cases, safe for humans or pets.
DIY Methods Using Traps and Repellents
There are lots of DIY methods that you can use. Like many insects, cockroaches are deterred by boric acid. Or you could rigorously clean your home, clearing out each space and adopting a more minimised lifestyle, leaving few hiding spaces for the insect to live.
Alternatively, you can Envirobug Sticky Traps that capture and kill the insect quickly and effortlessly.
These efforts might be cheaper but, besides the Envirobug Sticky traps, they are less effective.
Natural & Eco-Friendly Remedies for Cockroach Control
There are lots of natural and eco-friendly remedies for cockroach control in your home. You could for instance use peppermint oil or eucalyptus plants around your home. These are known to deter the cockroaches.
Alternatively, use Envirobug Natural Repellents. These are scientifically proven to repel cockroaches in the home.
On the pictures above Cockroach Sticky Trap
Chemical Solutions: When & How to Use Them Safely
Using natural remedies for cockroach infestation can be better for your health and safer for kids and pets. There are numerous chemical solutions that you can use. These include Fipronil and other cockroach bait stations. These can be used to poison and kill the colony with ease. But there are often residual leftovers. Therefore, you need to store and use these very carefully, especially if you have children, cats or dogs in the home.
Professional Pest Control vs. At-Home Solutions
If you do have cockroaches within the home, you might need to consider calling out a professional pest control service. These can be very useful because they can identify the cause, the location and the best treatment for your problem.
They will also teach you how to prevent cockroach infestation issues from happening again.
When to Call in Pest Management Professionals
There are numerous times when you might want to call out the pest management professionals. For instance, those who are facing multiple pests at the same time might require a more managed and integrated pest management programme.
If you’ve got a severe infestation, you might need more commercial and professional solutions to eliminate the cockroaches in your home. And you might be required to have a licensed pest control solution if you're a tenant or there are particular laws in your area.
How Envirobug Products Support Professional Results at Home
Envirobug are experts in supporting commercial entities and the public in pest control using the best scientifically backed products to humanely and carefully reduce and eliminate pest numbers. Our solutions include cockroach management kits and multi-solution bundles to help take back control of your home.
We offer a guarantee of satisfaction and our products are designed to be safe around kids and pets.
Preventing Future Cockroach Infestations
To prevent future cockroach infestations, you need to be sure that you are taking active steps. Here are some suggestions.
Envirobug Tips for Long-Term Roach Prevention
It is important to ensure you manage the sanitation of your home with regular cleaning and inspection behind appliances and cupboards. Use sticky monitors to see if you can trap any cockroaches early in an infestation so you can take early action.
At the same time, home maintenance is critical. Look for and seal cracks in the walls and around the windows of your home. Always check the roof and ceiling of your home too, as this is a place people often miss.
Integrated Home Protection Strategies
There are numerous integrated Home Protection Strategies that you can use to help you control small cockroach infestation issues, but also other pests in the home. Be sure that you’re being eco-conscious in the home. While these are pests in the home, they do have an important part to play in our ecosystems, being used to control buildup of toxins in the environment and also being a food source for many native species.Can you get rid of a roach infestation without an integrated strategy? Yes. But it takes longer and might be more expensive. And you run the risk of missing some of the roaches that start the process again. The fastest way to get rid of roach infestation problems is to act aggressively to kill cockroach infestation colonies and prevent them re-establishing themselves.
Regional Considerations: Cockroach Infestation in Australia
Can you get rid of a roach infestation in any part of Australia? For safety, yes. But how to handle cockroach infestation might be different depending on your property. There are also some regional considerations in Australia. These can be particularly troublesome if you don’t know the local laws.
Australian Cockroach Challenges and Climate Factors
Climate factors can be a significant issue when you want to kill cockroach infestation outright. The warm, humid weather in Australia can be a good environment for the cockroach to thrive in. Therefore, you want to be sure that you’re keeping the airflow moving in the home and doing regular inspections of the bug.
You also need to check that you know what you’re looking for. There are several species that you could have in your home and some of these might be covered by pest laws in Australia either nationally or in your state.
You might also find that one roach infestation treatment is not as effective as another due to variations in seasonal humidity or heat.
What to Do About a Cockroach Infestation Today
Cockroach infestations can’t be waited on. You need to take action today. Below are some suggestions on how to get rid of a bad infestation of roaches and small infestations.
Immediate Actions with Envirobug Products
To stop an infestation of cockroaches from getting out of hand, learning how to handle cockroach infestation issues fast is critical. The most immediate action that you need to take is to use fast-acting traps and deploy DIY solutions. Also make the necessary purchases online for next-day delivery in Australia. Early action prevents the problem from getting larger and making it more challenging to solve. Just simply cleaning the room immediately can reduce the population size in the immediate future and help reduce the problem when the products arrive.
Final Word: How Do You Get Rid of a Roach Infestation?
If you want to know how to get rid of a roach infestation fast, you need to be proactive. Roaches are known to survive some of the harshest environments, including nuclear explosions. Using natural remedies for cockroach infestation issues is the fastest, and you should use multiple cockroach infestation treatment options.
When in doubt and you want to learn how to get rid of roach infestation fast, don’t forget to contact the team at EnviroBug. They can help you choose the best products and strategy for effective control of an infestation of cockroaches.
