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Cockroaches: What You Need to Know about These Nasty Pests

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If you suspect that you have an issue with cockroaches in your home, you may be looking for more information. What are they, why are they in your home and what can you do about it?

What Are They?

Cockroaches are widespread across Australia. Even the cleanest home can become party central for these insects. All they need to survive and thrive are tiny deposits of sugar, grease or other food, which could have found its way into cracks or crevices around the kitchen.

They will eat any type of organic matter and once they are established within the home, they will actively seek out additional sources, usually during the dead of night. The pet food that you put down for your cat or dog is an ideal source for them, for example.

How Do You Know If You Have A Cockroach Infestation?

The tell-tale signs are normally minute specks that appear to look like grains of pepper. This is the faeces of a cockroach and is normally laid down in order to mark a nearby nest. You may never see a cockroach unless you happen to get up in the middle of the night and disturb them. Usually, when you switch on the light, the cockroach will scurry for the nearest dark area. Note that if you see them in the daytime, it probably indicates that you have widespread infestation.

How To Conduct An Inspection

Before calling out the professionals to help you, it's a good idea to conduct a thorough inspection. In the kitchen, move the refrigerator, dishwasher and stove away from their normal positions to see if you can find any indication of their faeces. You may come across some dead insects as you do so. Underneath the sink is another area to check, as they do like warm, dark and damp areas too. You may like to get a few sticky glue traps and position these next to areas that are likely to be attractive to cockroaches. In particular, if you do disturb any cockroaches in the middle of the night, make sure you watch to see where they go. This is an area where you can place glue traps.

Identify – And Call In The Experts

If you can, try and identify the species of cockroach in question by referencing photographs online. There are four primary species, the German, American, Oriental or Australian. This will help a pest control company like Ranger Pest Control to come up with a plan of action to help rid you of your problem.


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