Breadcrumb Trail
Cockroaches
What do they look like?
There are two common species of cockroach in Britain, the Oriental cockroach and the German cockroach:
Oriental Cockroach
Adults are 20-24mm long, dark-brown, almost black in colour and can climb rough but not smooth vertical surfaces.
German Cockroach
Adult are 10-15mm long, yellowish-brown in colour with dark markings, and can readily climb rough and polished vertical surfaces.
They deposit eggs near food sources and these grow into adults, over a period of several months, in stages called nymphs.
The nymphs are similar in appearance to the adult but smaller. They are initially white, but quickly darken to the normal colour.
Where do they live?
Cockroaches are found in houses and commercial premises associated with the production or handling of food. They are usually seen at night, spending the day hiding in cracks and crevices around such areas as sinks, drains, cookers, the backs of cupboards and in refrigerator motor compartments.
The two types of cockroach are occasionally found together, but the German cockroach generally prefers warmer, humid environments, e.g. centrally heated buildings, whilst the Oriental cockroach is frequently encountered in cooler, less humid areas such as basements and drains.
Pest Status
Cockroaches have been implicated in the spread of a number of human diseases, such as food poisoning, dysentery and similar gastroenteric illnesses.
They may also leave a distinctive unpleasant smell or taint on food and other articles with which they come into contact
German cockroaches are particularly successful as they produce more eggs than Orientals and take less time to reach maturity.
What do they eat?
Their diet consists of a wide range organic materials including food for human consumption, food debris, hair, leather, paper, wallpaper, and faeces.
Control
Hygiene/management
- A high standard of hygiene will deny sources of food and hidingplaces. And sticky traps may help control the numbers of cockroaches but will not be successful in the long-term.
Chemical control
- This is the only effective long-term control method, and should only be undertaken by qualified pest controllers.
Professional help
- The Local Authority can provide a full treatment service (there is usually a charge for this service).
Booking an Appointment
At present the only way to book an appointment for a pest control treatment is by contacting Access Trafford:
Email: access.trafford@trafford.gov.uk
Customer Services Telephone: 0161 912 2000
Textphone: 0161 912 2102
Monday to Friday 8.30am - 5.00pm
Saturday 9.00am - 1.00pmon
If there is a charge for the treatment, payment will normally be collected by the Pest Control Operative on completion of the first visit. If we are coming to treat for fleas or cockroaches we aske that you do some basic pre-visit preparations.
This page was last reviewed on 28 August 2008
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