Cockroach Pest Control Guide

Everything you need to know about cockroach control.

Cockroaches can be one of the most distressing insects to find around your home or business. They carry lots of nasty diseases, such as salmonella and gastroenteritis, and their droppings can encourage the development of eczema and asthma. Read on to find out all the information you need regarding cockroaches, including how to deal with them and more.

What is a cockroach?

Cockroaches are a very successful species of winged insect. They are in a sense living fossils, not having changed much in appearance or behaviour for over the past 300 million years (source). They are common and hardy creatures and don’t just live in hot countries as many people believe. But they also don’t much like the UK weather — which is why they prefer to live indoors.

How many species of cockroach are there in the UK?

There are thousands of cockroach species all over the world but only two of them are responsible for most cockroach pest control problems in the UK. They are:
- the Oriental cockroach (Blatta orientalis)
- the German cockroach (Blattella germanica)

As the name suggests, these creatures arrived from overseas a long time ago, possible even under the Roman occupation of Britain.

Appearance

Here’s how to spot pest control cockroaches and differentiate them from other insects.

What do pest control cockroaches look like?

The Oriental cockroach is the more common of the two species, and it’s also the one that looks more stereotypically like a cockroach (see the picture above). The German cockroach on the other hand, could be mistaken for another bug as its features are not as easily identifiable.

What bugs can be mistaken for cockroaches in the UK?

Beetles, crickets, bed bugs and termites can all be mistaken for cockroaches. And for the German cockroach in particular.

Where are Oriental cockroaches found?

Mainly indoors in warm areas, for example behind a refrigerator where it tends to be hotter. On rare occasions, you might find Oriental cockroaches outside near rubbish bins or tips. Infestations tend to be most common in big commercial buildings such as hospitals and hotels, or in residential blocks of flats.

Survival

These questions all relate to the cockroach’s incredible survival skills.

How long do cockroaches live?

An adult cockroach can live for about six months (source).

How do cockroaches move about?

Cockroaches can swim and climb even smooth surfaces. They can also squeeze easily into small cracks and otherwise accessible places.

How far do cockroaches travel?

Not that far. If there’s an infestation problem on the ground floor of a building and you are also seeing cockroaches on the fifth floor, then they are likely two different infestations. Cockroaches do not move all that far from their hiding places and sources of food and water.

How long can a cockroach live without food or water?

About one week without water. Cockroaches are cold-blooded insects, which makes them more durable. They can even last an entire month without eating food.

Feeding

These questions relate to the feeding habits and diet of cockroaches.

What do cockroaches eat?

Pretty much any available food source. Cockroaches are omnivorous, meaning they’ll eat both meat and fruits and vegetables. They prefer meats, starchy foods and sweets, however. They have been known to even eat hair, books, dead skin cells and decaying matter.

What food attracts cockroaches the most?

As bizarre as it sounds, cockroaches enjoy anything with sugar. Such as drops of Coke or any dried sugary drink, sweet apple cores, and even sprinkles of cake. Leave a bag with bread in it, and a cockroach will happily eat both!

Bits of cheese left about, grease and grime baked onto the hob and even rubbish (a filled-up binbag is essentially a buffet for a cockroach) are all inviting for a cockroach.

Can cockroaches bite?

Yes. It might surprise you to learn that cockroaches can indeed bite humans. Such instances are rare however, but should be avoidable because they can lead to the transmission of the many diseases they carry.

Breeding

These questions answer some of the most commonly asked questions about cockroaches’ breeding habits.

How often do cockroaches reproduce?

Both German and Oriental cockroach species can lay down a new batch of eggs approximately every two months, laying about 30 eggs each time (source).

How quickly do cockroaches multiply?

The German cockroach can breed slightly faster than the Oriental cockroach. Both, however, if unchecked, can multiply exponentially, laying and hatching many thousands of eggs within a single year.

Do cockroaches need other cockroaches to reproduce?

Yes. The cockroaches that act as pests in the UK reproduce with a mate. Some species around the world can reproduce asexually — without the need for a male — but this is not the case with cockroaches in the UK.

Cockroach Pest control

These questions relate to pest control and how to get rid of cockroaches in the UK.

How do I get rid of cockroaches?

If the infestation isn’t too severe, you can try some DIY products such as insect powder (such as Borax) sticky traps and insect bait traps to kill the cockroaches yourself.

Other cockroach treatments and solutions include making the environment as unwelcoming for cockroaches as possible. Including, eliminating any food sources that the roaches might be feeding on and keeping good standards of hygiene; and fixing any leaks (as dampness may encourage them to settle).

However, if the infestation is a big one, then it may be time to call in the professionals.

How do you know if you have an infestation of cockroaches?

Aside from the cockroaches themselves, you will notice their droppings, egg cases, smear marks and molted skins. The skins are usually found near where the cockroaches are sheltering.

Cockroach droppings look a bit like black pepper or coffee grounds. Some larger cockroaches may even drop cylindrical droppings.

Extreme infections may even ‘smell’ peculiar. Many people have reported musty, oily, or mildewy smells generated by large numbers of cockroaches. And Oriental cockroaches are thought to generate the worst smell (source).

What do cockroach smear marks look like?

They are dark and irregular shaped brown shaped marks. Cockroaches usually only leave these marks in wet conditions or if water is abundant, and usually in ‘high traffic’ places where they scuttle along.

Where should I check for a cockroach infestation?

Places you should check include the:

Bathroom — check at the back of cabinets, check the plumbing behind sinks, baths and toilers. Check any dark, sheltered spaces with access to water. Even condensation counts. Cockroaches can eat toilet paper and soap to survive.
Kitchens — check cupboards and anywhere with pipework such as under sinks and behind dishwashers or any warm spots such as near refrigerator motors. Check in the hidden cracks between ovens and counters, fridges or freezers.

Get effective & affordable pest control for cockroaches.

Cockroach control problems can be disruptive and inconvenient for businesses. Throughout the North of England, we provide effective and cost-effective commercial pest control services to a wide range of commercial, industrial, and agricultural businesses.

Over the last 30 years, VermEx has dealt with a wide range of pests with tailored solutions to meet your specific needs. You can be confident that our professional pest control solutions will provide you with peace of mind regardless of what your pest management problem may be. Contact our cockroach control experts if you have a cockroach problem on your commercial property.

Pest Control from VermEx

VermEx is a family-run pest control company with over 30 years of experience in providing a professional pest control service to commercial clients across the North of England, including Manchester, York & Leeds. We pride ourselves on our ability to quickly and effectively react to our customer’s needs and provide an unparalleled level of service that is individually tailored to their needs.

If your hotel has a pest problem, get in touch with us today and we can arrange a free quote.