Cockroaches Control

Our Advantages...

• Service since 1947
• ISO 9001 Certified in Pest Control Services
• Roach Bait Station & Roach Bait Gel to avoid unnecessary contact of pesticides and contaminations
• Green Pesticide- Dustmitex® (Borate-based) Spray. Extremely safe to humans, pets and non-target insects
• Satisfaction guaranteed. Caring your family is our top priority, we provide 30 days satisfaction guaranteed after initial treatment
• Green Pest Management- Apply non-chemical method i.e. Brundle® Hot Steaming Machine to kill cockroaches and eliminate breeding sources

Caring for your family, home and the environment is our business

(Australian Cockroach-Photo captured by William Hung of Johnson Group)

Common types of cockroaches in Hong Kong include Periplaneta americana (American cockroach), Periplaneta australiasiae (Australian cockroach) and Blattella germanica (German cockroach).  Of these three species, the one that has the greatest potential for becoming persistent and troublesome is the German cockroach, which prefers indoor locations. Cockroaches are medium-sized to large insects in the order Dictyoptera (formerly Orthoptera). They are broad, flattened insects with long antennae and a prominent, shield-shaped section behind the head called a pronotum. Adult cockroaches have membranous wings. Immature cockroaches (nymphs) look like adults, but are smaller and do not have wings.

Life Cycle

An adult female cockroach produces an egg capsule, called an ootheca, which it carries around protruding from the tip of the abdomen. Young or immature cockroaches undergo gradual metamorphosis, which means they resemble adults and have similar feeding habits, but they do not have fully developed wings and are not reproductively active. Immediately after molting, cockroaches are white, but their outer covering darkens as it hardens, usually within hours. Cockroaches are nocturnal. They hide in dark, warm areas, especially narrow spaces where surfaces touch them on both sides. Adult German cockroaches can hide in a crack 1/16 inch or 1.6 mm wide. Immature cockroaches tend to stay in even smaller cracks where they are well protected. Cockroaches tend to congregate in corners and generally travel along the edges of walls or other surfaces.

Identifying Features of Indoor Cockroaches

German Cockroach

Egg Tube: About 8 sections . The length is twice the size of the width.
Adult: 0.5 inch; light brown, two dark stripes on pronotum
Preferred location: kitchens, bathrooms, food preparation and storage areas

The German cockroach, Blattella germanica, is the most common indoor species, especially in multiple-family dwellings. They prefer food preparation areas, kitchens, and bathrooms because they favor warm (21 to 24℃), humid areas that are close to food and water. This species reproduces the fastest of the common pest cockroaches: a single female and her offspring can produce over 30,000 individuals in a year, but many succumb to cannibalism and other population pressures. Egg laying occurs more frequently during warm weather. The female carries around a light tan egg case (about 1/4 inch long) until 1 to 2 days before it hatches, when she drops it. Sometimes the egg case hatches while it is still being carried by the female. Each egg case contains about 30 young, and a female may produce a new egg case every few weeks.

American Cockroach

American adult

Egg Tube: Under the central back structure (carina). There are 8-9 rising spots
Adult: 2 inches; reddish brown; large body, edges of pronotum are light colored
Preferred location: sewers, water meter boxes, storm drains, steam tunnels, animal-rearing facilities

The American cockroach, Periplaneta americana, prefers warm and humid environments, usually with temperatures in excess of 27℃. Under the right conditions, they readily live outdoors and are common pests in zoos and animal-rearing facilities. They are also common in sewers, steam tunnels, and masonry storm drains. Occasionally they forage from sewers and other areas into the ground floor of buildings. Adult females carry the egg cases around for about 6 days and then cement them to a protected surface where they incubate for about 2 months or longer. The egg cases, which are about 3/8 inch long, are brown when laid but turn black in 1 to 2 days. Each egg capsule contains about 12 young; a female and her offspring can produce over 800 cockroaches in one year.

Australian Cockroach

Egg Tube: Under the central back structure (carina) There are 2-13 rising spots
Adult: body length about 3 cm; distinct light yellow streaks on the sides at the base of the wings, Periplaneta americana does not have similar yellow markings on the wings.
Preferred location: drier areas like cupboards, storerooms

The Australian cockroach, P. australasiae is very similar in appearance to P. americana except for a lateral pale yellow stripe on the each of the forewings which is about a third of the length of the wings and of course the yellow margin around the pronotum. They are also slightly smaller, 27 - 33 mm long. They prefer temperatures which are warm, 30℃. The female lays an ootheca about 10 - 11 mm long which contains about 22 - 24 eggs in two rows of 11 or 12 which take about 40 days to hatch, but only 60 percent of this number usually hatch. Once hatched (see above) the nymphs moult 6 - 12 times depending on food, temperature and humidity. Females produce ootheca 20 days after maturation; produces 20-30 ootheca at 10 day intervals.

More cockroaches

Opisthoplatia orientalis	Surinam cockroach

Management

There is no better defense against cockroaches than a tailor-made treatment plan from Johnson Group

Cockroaches are tropical and most like warm hiding places with access to water. Some locations may be difficult to get to. Reduction of food and water sources and hiding places is essential. If cockroaches have access to food, baits (which are a primary control tool) have limited effect. Sprays alone will not eliminate cockroaches. An GPM approach that integrates several strategies is usually required.

Sanitation Practices

• Reduce food and water sources
• Store food in insect-proof containers such as glass jars or resealable plastic containers
• Keep garbage and trash in containers with tight-fitting lids and use liners. Keep trash cans away from doorways. Remove trash, newspapers, magazines, piles of paper bags, rags, boxes, and other items that provide hiding places and harborage
• Eliminate plumbing leaks and correct other sources of free moisture. Increase ventilation where condensation is a problem
• Vacuum cracks and crevices to remove food and debris. Be sure surfaces where food or beverages have been spilled are cleaned up immediately. Vacuuming also removes cockroaches, shed skins, and egg capsules. Removing cockroaches reduces their numbers and slows development. Vacuumed cockroaches and debris should be destroyed. Because bits of cuticle and droppings may cause allergies, it is recommended that the vacuum cleaner have a HEPA (high efficiency particulate absorber) filter or triple filters

Exclusion and Removal of Hiding Places

During the day cockroaches hide around water heaters, in cupboard cracks, stoves, crawl spaces, outdoor vegetation, and many other dark locations. They invade kitchens and other areas at night. Limiting hiding areas or avenues of access to living areas is an essential part of an effective management strategy. False-bottom cupboards, hollow walls, and similar areas are common cockroach refuges. Prevent access to the inside of buildings through cracks, conduits, under doors, or through other structural flaws.

Ask for help from our Pest Management Professionals

Insecticides are most effective in controlling cockroaches when combined with sanitation and exclusion practices that limit the cockroachs ability to establish or reinvade; chemical control alone will not solve the problem. Bait products are the primary pesticides used to treat cockroach infestations. They can be packaged as pastes, gels, granules, or dusts. Most insecticides used in baits are slow acting. Consequently an effective bait program does not give immediate results, but may take 7 days or longer. Baits can be quite effective for long-term control of cockroaches unless the cockroaches have other food sources available to them.

Bait Stations are small plastic units that contain an attractive food base along with an insecticide. The advantage of bait stations is that insecticides can be confined to a small area rather than being dispersed, and they are relatively child resistant. Baits in plastic containers also remain effective for many months.

Gel Bait can very effective for crack and crevice treatments, Apply gel using a bait gun or syringe in small dabs in cracks and crevices where cockroaches will find it. While they are fresh, bait gels are very effective when placed in locations where they will be found by cockroaches. To remain effective, however, the gels need to be reapplied frequently.

Inovative Devices

Brundle® Hot Steam Machine

(Hot Steam Treatment is another alternative that can be employed effectively as a non-chemical control option)

Brundle® (Swiss made) Hot Steam Machine is another alternative that can be employed effectively as a no-chemical control option. The unit reaches temperatures around 100℃ and is more than sufficient to kill bed bugs upon contact. Besides, the use of steam unit is commonly adopted to remove breeding sources.

(Portable Steam Machine is more than sufficient to kill mites, bugs and bacteria upon contact) 

Green Products

In keeping our words "No traditional pesticide at your bedding". Our Pest Management Professionals have hand-selected plant-based and inorganic-based solutions for you to choose from.

Bug DeFence™ 100% Natural Insect Repellent Solution (Geraniol)

Bug DeFence™ is the industries first proprietary, university validated, FIFRA (25b) exempt repellent that creates a natural barrier between you and bed bugs.

Exclusively available only from Johnson Group. The Bug DeFence™ solution is an all-natural, concentrated formulation of essential oils blended with complementary surfactants, and oil-specific synergists. Its gentle lemon scent provides a long-lasting deterrent to flying and biting insects.

Features and Benefits of Bug DeFence™ Natural Repellent

NOT an Insecticide

Non Phytotoxic

Rapidly repels flying and biting insects

Skin Contact: Little to no effect, may irritate with long exposure

Skin Absorption: May be slight

Eye Contact: May irritate; will not cause permanent damage

Inhalation: Little to no effect

Ingestion: Little to no effect

Health Hazards (Acute & Chronic): None

Carcinogenicity: None

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Dustmitex® (Green Pesticide)

As a borate-based pesticide,  Dustmitex® has a very low mammalian toxicity and targets specific pests. This reduces the impact on people, pets and non-target insects beneficial to the environment (such as butterflies and honeybees). Also, Dustmitex® is applied only where needed, further reducing any unnecessary impact to the rest of the environment. And since it is long-lasting, less product is required for a successful and effective Green Pest Management program.

Dustmitex®'s (EPA Reg. no. 67419-1) effect on target pests (dust mites, fleas, bed bugs, termites, cockroaches and ants) comes from the way the boron molecules in its active ingredient interfere with a pest’s metabolism. Because pests cannot excrete excess boron as humans can, the boron builds up in their systems and ultimately interrupts the normal chemical process of transforming food into energy. So, by ingesting Dustmitex®, the insect is unable to extract nutrition from its food and effectively starves to death. Humans, pets and other living things don’t share the risk because they are able to excrete excess boron from their bodies.

Features and Benefits of Dustmitex®

• Proven to have low toxicity
• Reviewed by the California EPA, it will not have significant exposure risk to humans, and is safe to pets as well
• Ecology-based solution to the problems of controlling dust mites, bed bugs, fleas, cockroaches, ants and termites
• remarkable result of Dustmitex® is the long term effectiveness in the lowering bed bugs population

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SafePro™ Roach Glue Trap

Roach glue trap is a non-poisonous trap that captures and monitors insects and cockroaches. We can use it to accurately determine the location, species and severity of insect infestations. Roach glur trap can be widely applied to household and sensitive areas without the concern of chemical poison through direct contact.

Safe-Pro-Lok Insect and cockroach Trap

The relatively big dimensions (43*25 cm) of Safe-Pro-Lok Insect Trap allow us to cut the trap into different shapes and sizes. The trap detects bed bugs in anywhere like home, hotels, transit and schools etc. The glue trap attracts both adult bed bugs and instar nymphs. Both our technicians and users can easily check to see if bed bugs have been detected and trapped. It is a cost effective product to provide long-term monitoring program. If a bedbug shows up, we can then arrange immediate action to eliminate the infestation.

Roach Bait Gel

Roach bait gel attracts and kills both finicky and normal roaches. The Bait Gel provides long residual and fast control of even large roaches. It's labeled for both indoor and outdoor use, including kitchens.

Roach Bait Gel cab be used in inspected meat and poultry plants. We use this even in residential food processing areas without covering food preparation surfaces during treatment. It's also fine to use in occupied rooms of hospitals, nursing homes and extended care facilities.