German Cockroaches

Thought to have originated in North East Africa, German Cockroaches are by far the most widely distributed and objectionable, disease-spreading cockroach worldwide.

They infest homes, apartments, supermarkets, food processing plants, and restaurants and are generally found infesting kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and any areas with sustainable moisture. A nocturnal creature, cockroach populations can increase dramatically without people realizing. An excellent cockroach harbour is the fridge motor.

Cockroaches can grow from eggs to adults in 36 days under good conditions and produce egg sacks containing between 30-40 eggs. Cockroaches attach their faeces to surfaces in and near where they live. These spots can look like pepper/ coffee grinds and is one of the key signs that cockroaches are there or have been. Infestations have a characteristic musty smell mainly caused by the aggregation pheromones in the faeces.

Moisture and electrical equipment are key factors where they are found. Because cockroaches commonly feed on decaying food scraps and frequent sewage systems and septic tanks, they are a huge threat to human health. German cockroaches produce filth, contaminate food, pollute water supplies and are vectors of diseases such as salmonella (food poisoning), gastro-enteritis and diarrhoea. They are always associated with parasites and are a source of allergens for people, particularly children. If food sources are locked up and homes are kept clean, cockroaches have been known to feed from inside children’s nappies and will bite the child if it stirs in the night. The resulting sores can become large and infected. This problem occurs in New Zealand and has been witnessed by our technicians in Auckland.

Cockroaches have the potential to transmit disease not only by walking on any food you are about to eat but by also walking on utensils used to prepare food. With this knowledge, we believe it is unacceptable for any restaurant, café, food producer, landlord, or private dwelling to allow cockroaches to be present.

Modern treatments are now low impact and targeted at the biology and feeding behaviour of the cockroach in most cases and should be undertaken as soon as the problem is realized.

PHONE US IMMEDIATELY IF YOU SUSPECT A PROBLEM!

German Cockroach Control - HELPFUL HINTS

• Keep all food in airtight containers.
• Clean the kitchen and laundry regularly.
• Pull out the fridge, freezer, stove, dishwasher and microwave and clean the cavity thoroughly.
• Fix any leaky pipes or taps.
• Cracks and crevices should be sealed to stop cockroaches harbouring.
• Rubbish should be removed regularly and should be kept in a tightly closed container.
• Never leave unwashed dishes or utensils on the benches overnight.

Wood Cockroaches (Native Black/Gisborne)

There are two types of wood cockroaches: Native Black and Gisborne.

Native Black is a wingless cockroach that is native to New Zealand and lives in leaf litter, under loose bark, in rotten wood and amongst stones on the ground. It eats decaying plant material and will not usually establish itself inside houses.

Gisborne cockroach is an Australian species but was first found in New Zealand in Gisborne during the 1960s, hence the name. This cockroach is dark red/ brown to black in colour with distinctive white bands down the thorax. Its flat body is smooth, shiny and wingless. 

Adults grow up to 45mm in length and 12-15 mm wide. The Gisborne cockroach’s normal habitat is outdoors in timber or bark chips, but in cooler temperatures they can be found in roof voids and wall cavities.

Neither species become a huge problem inside, however they can be an annoyance or cause of fear when they are spotted in odd places around your home. 

If you have bark gardens, bushes or firewood stored close to your home you may have wood cockroaches wandering around!

Wood Cockroach Control - HELPFUL HINTS

• Do not stack firewood under or against your home.
• Avoid using bark in your gardens.
• Do not panic when you see a wood cockroach in your home!