Cockroach Control

Cockroaches are common pests that are widely distributed around the world and have a close association with man and his activities. There are six main pest species; the German Cockroach, American Cockroach, Australian Cockroach, Oriental cockroach, Smoky Brown cockroach and the brown-banded.

Being shy and primarily nocturnal, cockroaches are rarely seen in large numbers during the day; if this does occur this is usually a feature of a large infestation.

Cockroaches also exhibit a behavioural tendency called thigmotaxis; which basically means they feel most comfortable in cracks and crevices (another reason why they are seldom seen, unless specifically searched for) and will spend 75% of their time resting in these areas (which are generally referred to as ‘harbourages’). Sometimes there will be great numbers of cockroaches found in these harbourages (one of the reasons why the term ‘nest’ is sometimes wrongly used).

Cockroaches are scavengers, with chewing mouthparts, and so are able to feed on a range of different food types. The fact that they readily move from one food source to another is a reason why they are mechanical vectors of disease; they can pick up pathogens from one contaminated source and transmit it, by contact, to another.  (The large American cockroaches which are commonly seen around the urban areas of Australia have probably come from an underground drain or sewer before entering a dwelling!). Cockroaches have been shown to be capable of transmitting viruses and bacteria (eg. Salmonella and Staphylococcus) as well as the protozoa which cause amoebic dysentery.

As prolific breeders the number of cockroaches in a given localised infestation can increase quickly and rapidly and control measures are essential.

Bayer Environmental Science are market leaders in cockroach control solutions, with a range of Maxforce bait products, various residual surface sprays and insecticide dusts which include:

• Maxforce Cockroach Gel
• Maxforce Gold Gel Insecticide
• Premise Cockroach Gel
• Maxforce Granular Insect Bait
• Cislin Residual Insecticide
• Crackdown Residual Insecticide
• Tempo Residual Insecticide
• Starycide Insect Growth Regulator
• Ficam W Insecticide
• Coopex Insecticidal Dusting Powder