Cockroaches are common pest that are usually found in homes, restaurants, hospitals, warehouses, offices and virtually any structure that has food preparation or storage areas.

About 4,000 species of cockroaches have been identified, but only 1% of them are considered as pests. They are predominantly found on the floor of tropical forests, feeding on decaying leaf matters. Most cockroach species that we know are domiciliary pest in food outlets.

There are four common types of cockroaches – American cockroaches (Periplaneta Americana), German cockroaches (Blattela germanica), brown-banded cockroaches (Supella longipalpa) and Oriental (Neostylopyga rhombifolia).

Cockroaches usually explore and wander around more often when they are deprived of food and water. They prefer to move along the side of walls rather than move across open space. Young nymphs can hide inside a crack which can be as small as 1mm. Gravid female German cockroaches tend to stop feeding and drinking during the last week before their egg cases or ootheca hatch. During this period, they hide most of the time.

Cockroaches usually have a clumped distribution pattern and are often reluctant to venture far from their hiding places to look for food and water. They will not feed on food which is mouldy.

Why cockroaches are considered pest? Cockroaches in the home environment are a health hazard not only because of the risks posed by cockroach antigens to asthma sufferers, but also because they can carry disease-causing germs and because some of the methods traditionally used to eliminate them cause additional health hazards.

They may contaminate food products and utensils with their droppings, moulted skin, and dead bodies.
Certain people who are entomophobia are annoyed or scared by the sight of cockroaches. Many people are allergic to cockroaches. An unpleasant odour may develop when infestation is established.

Any premises can have cockroaches. However, there are certain steps you can take to prevent cockroaches from becoming a problem in your place. You can also identify the extent of and solutions to any potential cockroach problem, and reduce or eliminate cockroach problems.

General maintenance and cleaning are important as they remove the food, water, and shelter which cockroaches depend on.

• Wipe off counters, tables, and stovetops after all meals, snacks, and food preparations.
• Keep food confined to specific areas of the house and clean any spills immediately.
• Keep all food and garbage in tightly-sealed containers.
• Do not leave dirty dishes in the sink, on the counter, or in the dishwasher overnight.
• Remove items such as boxes, cardboard, newspapers from both inside and around your premises.
• Fix leaky pipes, faucets, toilets, and other plumbing problems.
• Use a bathroom fan that vents to the outside after all baths and showers to reduce humidity.
• Repair all cracks and crevices throughout your premises around systems such as plumbing and electrical as well as in places like cupboards and walls.

Generally, determining whether your premises have a cockroach problem and the extent of the infestation involves the use of glue traps, which can be purchased at most hardware or grocery stores. The traps are laid out in target areas, where they are left for at least one night. Upon filling the trap with cockroaches or after a predetermined length of time, the number of cockroaches caught on the glue trap is counted to provide an estimate of the extent of the cockroach problem in your environment.

If an apartment building is to be sampled, it is best to test more than one unit. If only one unit is tested, the landlord may claim that only that unit is infested and put the blame for the problem solely on that tenant.

The ultimate goal is to keep cockroaches out of your premises and when necessary, to eliminate those that are there, while keeping residents and customers safe. Reaching this goal can be difficult, especially in multi-unit housing that is heavily infested. Owners of apartment buildings must take a building-wide approach to control cockroaches. Normally, it will take a coordinated effort from the landlords and tenants to eliminate cockroaches. Getting their support takes compelling evidence, such as a trap full of cockroaches coupled with a count of the number of cockroaches.

The initial actions you can take are regular cleaning and maintenance to remove the food, water, and shelter for the cockroaches. Not only will this help to prevent a cockroach problem, it is also crucial to controlling an existing infestation and maintaining a cockroach-free environment.

If a cockroach problem requires remedial action, there are numerous paths of control and products available. Once a cockroach problem has been identified, you should call a pest control professional to conduct a formal inspection.

Whether you are a homeowner, a tenant or a business owner, the most effective option these days is the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach.

IPM uses a combination of common-sense practices, information on the lifecycle of cockroaches and their interaction with the environment, and available pest control methods.

It is not only effective and economical but more importantly, it is environmentally sensitive and presents the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment.

IPM employs physical, mechanical, cultural, chemical, biological and educational programmes to keep cockroach populations low enough to prevent intolerable damage or annoyance.

When required, chemicals should not necessarily be the first choice for solving any cockroach problem. The target should be specific and low-impact chemicals and applications should be employed.

Pesticidal treatments need not necessarily be carried according to a pre-determined schedule. They are made only when and where monitoring has indicated that the problem will cause unacceptable economic damage and follow-up.

On your part, there are a number of things that you can do to minimise cockroach infestation.

Cover dustbins and dispose all leftover foods on the same night. If not, the leftover food is the best food source for pests such as cockroaches.

Clear all food debris from your gas cooker and metal cabinets everyday. Wash all crockery and utensils before retiring for the day.

For operators of food outlets, it is a good practice to inspect all incoming food packages for cockroaches being transported into your premises. Broken floor tiles should be replaced, and all cracks and crevices must be sealed with sealant.

By adopting these good sanitation practices and with the help of your pest control professional, you will eventually have a cockroach-free environment.

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