Entering Summer and typhoon season, it is that time when cockroaches are most active and most frequent in breeding. As a kind of tropical insects, cockroaches especially love being in places where it is warm and humid. that is why they are often found hiding around our households.
There are so many harmful microorganism in cockroaches’ body. As they often spend their time in sewers and garbage chambers, they will carry the causative agent pathogens with them. Their excrement will make food turn bad, and cause diseases to human such as food poisoning, vomiting and diarrhea etc. The excrement or shells left over by cockroaches carry allergens which could lead to allergic reactions such as sneezing and watery eyes. If they are not controlled properly, it could bring huge harm on us.
Learn More About Cockroaches
Cockroaches prefer to hang out at dark and warm places, the most common hiding spots in our household for them are behind the fridge, cupboards, under the microwaves, kitchen range hoods or the back of the stove etc. Cockroaches are a kind of omnivorous insect. but they love food with starch, therefore kitchen is most prone to attracting cockroaches, and all the places with food smell and oil stains are the ‘black spots’ for cockroaches. If there are cockroaches present nearby, they usually enter our household through the drainage or crevices such as the crack of doors.
Good Hygiene Is the Best Way to Prevent Cockroaches
Cockroaches are tropical insects and they prefer to live in warm and hidden places with access to food and water. Therefore, removal of potential food sources and standing water is essential in getting rid of cockroaches.
To reduce the presence of cockroaches, we need to pay attention to these tips:
- Always clean the stove thoroughly, removing oil stains or food remainings.
- Used tablewares should not be left over night in the sink, need to be cleaned and stored properly
- If there are cockroaches around the drainage, we can use low-toxicity bait, or set up blockage at the entrances.
- Do not store too many newspapers, magazines or cardboard
- All food should be covered or sealed
The Most Common Types of Cockroaches in Hong Kong
The German Cockroach
also called Blattella germanica L., are often 1-1.5 cm in length when they became adults. The German Cockroaches love humid and warm places (around 21 to 24 °C), such as sewers, stoves, kitchens, car interior etc. Reseachers from Perdue University released a report on journal Scientific Reports in 2019, stating that the German Cockroaches are rapidly developing a resistance against chemical insecticide commonly used by human. Their offspring are even capable of cross-resistance where they are gaining resistance to insecticides even if they had not been exposed to them and not had prior resistance.
The American cockroach
Also called Periplaneta americana, prefers warm and humid environments, usually with temperatures in excess of 27°C. Under the right conditions, they readily live outdoors and are common pests in zoos and animal-rearing facilities. Usually the are 3-5 cm in length which is the largest in cockroaches commonly found in households, with a reddish brown large body, edges of pronotum are light colored.
They are also common in sewers, masonry storm drains, corridors, or crevices on doors or the floor. As they love being in warm and humid places where is around 29°C but cannot stand any cold places. Kitchen, restaurants, basements or crevices are the most common place for them to inhabit, of course drainage and garbage dump are popular for them as well.
Best Weapon for Killing Cockroaches
If the cockroach infection remain severe after taken the measure mentioned above, it could be tough to deal with, as they might have been make themselves at home already. The survivability and fertility of cockroaches can be very tenacious, therefore we need to take the initiative in order to eliminate them.
We usually use insecticide spray to kill cockroaches once we found them. The most common active ingredients for such products is compounds of Pyrethroid. The chemical only consist of a low level of toxicity towards human or pets. However it is still harmful when exposed in long-term. To be able to complete the necessary chemical synthesis to make insecticide, VOC (volatile organic compounds) are often used in the products, such as dichloromethane and toluene. Inhaling these compounds could lead to irritation on our respiratory tracts, eyes, nasal mucosa etc, and long-term exposure will increase the risk of cancer significantly.
To deal with cockroaches once and for all safely, SafePRO® Cockroach Bait Gel can help.
Why Choose SafePRO® Cockroach Bait Gel?
It is always safer to use baiting over pesticide because traditional water-based insecticides tend to leave chemical residues in the environment, which may cause skin irritation or airway allergy. Some pest exterminators may suggest you to have a “fumigation” service to kill cockroaches, but the fact is, this so called “fumigation” not only fails to eliminate cockroaches thoroughly but also creates pesticide overdose. Not to mention certain pesticides even contain ingredients that may have a fatal effect on pets.
SafePRO® Cockroach Bait Gel contains a slow-acting insecticide. It is a safe and odourless product which only requires simple application in cracks and crevices where cockroaches nest or forage, perfect for sensitive areas. The entire cockroach population will eventually die in their harborage, leaving no contamination at your home.
Eliminate the Entire Cockroach Harborage
SafePRO® Cockroach Bait Gel contains Fipronil, which kills roaches by ingestion and contact. When foraging roaches either eat or contact the bait, they return to the harborage and contaminate other roaches. It provides a long residual and fast control of even large roaches.
Cockroaches and Pest Control Services
There is no better defense against cockroaches than a tailor-made treatment plan from Johnson Group. Successful cockroach control requires many special skills, including a working knowledge of building construction. An understanding of ant biology and identification can help a homeowner detect problems and understand methods of control. Our Pest Management Professionals will prepare a written treatment programs after the inspection.