There are over 3,000 species of cockroach across the globe but thankfully, only a few species are found in the UK. Although some are considered by scientists and ecologists to be important to the balance of our eco-system, cockroaches in your home or your business premises is a threat to human health.
If you see or suspect you have cockroaches, you MUST call The Pest Technician NOW on 077 11 99 22 16.
German cockroach
| Appearance | Found in… |
|---|---|
| Easily identifiable by the two dark stripes across their thorax (middle body section). Around 12 to 15mm in length they are notorious around the world for large infestations. | Wet, humid places such as the bathroom and kitchen |
Oriental cockroach
| Appearance | Found in… |
|---|---|
| A uniform dark brown in colour and larger than its German cockroach cousin at 20 to 30mm. | Adaptable to a range of environments, they prefer cool, damp places such as basements, drains and beneath porches. They are also found feeding on garbage and are common at rubbish tips. |
American cockroach
| Appearance | Found in… |
|---|---|
| Red brown in colour, these cockroaches can reach 30mm in length. | Natural habitats are trees as they prefer dark, humid, undisturbed places. In the home, they favour the kitchen, bathroom and basement. |
Brown banded cockroach
| Appearance | Found in… |
|---|---|
| One of the smallest cockroaches that cause a nuisance growing no larger than 15mm. It has yellow-brown stripes across its abdomen. | Usually stay on the ground but have been known to fly in hot climates. They prefer warm, humid environments and have been found in ceilings, attics, inside and around appliances that give off heat. They are opportunistic feeders, enjoying high starch materials such as paper. |
Why are cockroaches a hazard to human health?
Cockroaches defecate across any surface they come across and also spread salmonella. Cockroach infestations are rarely ‘minor’ ones as they can multiply rapidly and become a significant health issue.
Why call The Pest Technician?
As well as treating cockroach infestations, we also look at how future potential problems could be prevented.
Although cockroaches are not a sign of poor hygiene, they may be a sign of poor refuse management as well as poor property maintenance too. Some of these issues are historic but in order for cockroaches to not invest a property, remedial action does need to be taken.
