Pest control - commercial customers

There are commonly three types of cockroaches in the UK.  The more common German Cockroach (Blatella germanica) the Oriental Cockroach (Blatella orientalis linneaus) and the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana).  The two most commonly found are the German and Oriental Cockroach with the latter being the bigger by some way.

Biology

The German cockroach pictured above in all its stages both male and female with juveniles of various ages along with its ootheca (egg case). In contrast to the oriental cockroach the German cockroach carries her ootheca attached to her abdomen and this is a good way of telling the two apart along with their different sizes and colour. The young of the German take roughly up to 7 months to become sexually mature adults in which they go through several different moulting stages to get there. 

The adult German cockroach can grow up to 15mm long is yellowish brown living on average six months and is winged but cannot fly. They can climb smooth surfaces and they gain access to upper floors this way.

Behaviour and habit

The German cockroach pictured above in all its stages both male and female with juveniles of various ages along with its ootheca (egg case). In contrast to the oriental cockroach the German cockroach carries her ootheca attached to her abdomen and this is a good way of telling the two apart along with their different sizes and colour. The young of the German take roughly up to 7 months to become sexually mature adults in which they go through several different moulting stages to get there. 

The adult German cockroach can grow up to 15mm long is yellowish brown living on average six months and is winged but cannot fly. They can climb smooth surfaces and they gain access to upper floors this way.

Signs you could have an infestation

The most common signs of infestations are actually seeing cockroaches themselves, other signs are droppings, urine and their actual smell, which is quite noticeable in heavy infestations.  You may well see egg cases left after the female has deposited them.

Reasons for control

The cockroach is considered to be a pest due to its effect upon humans. One of these reasons is its ability to transmit disease to humans with its ability for economical damage to foodstuff being another. Many people find the mere sight of cockroaches revolting this alone can be a reason for control.

Cockroaches carry a number of diseases in and on them that can be harmful to people. They are passed to humans through its habit of walking over and feeding on putrefying waste materials and drinking at unclean water courses.  After it has fed the cockroach then freely walks over food preparation areas, surfaces, cutlery and crockery along with foodstuff itself this enables it to spread disease.

Food loss is another reason for control with severe losses financially being taken every year in the food industry due to cockroaches. In this cockroaches are responsible for the contamination of products that can result in foodstuffs being a total loss. Clearly with this a factor there is a need for control.