How To Deal With The Serious Problem Of Cockroaches

 

cochroachpic.gifCockroach control is an important aspect of pest management for anyone in sectors that produce, store or serve food. Cockroaches are high-risk pests as not only do they pose widespread health hazards, but an infestation could prove detrimental to your reputation.
In order to prevent an infestation, common sense suggests that hygiene levels should remain exceptional at all times, however cockroaches can be tricky pests, due to their nocturnal feeding habits. They will feed on almost anything including faecal matter and food for human consumption. Contamination can occur when the insect comes into contact with food or work surfaces or through faecal contamination of foodstuffs. Cockroaches are known to carry bacteria and viruses on their legs and bodies, which can cause food poisoning and gastroenteritis.
It is important to remain vigilant at all times, as the sighting of even a single cockroach can have serious consequences regardless of the environment. Not only can these pests cause physical damage, cockroaches may cause alarm amongst customers and employees, resulting in loss of trust in your ability to provide a service, which subsequently leads to a severe loss of reputation. The cost of treating an infestation can be significant and in severe cases, temporary closure may be necessary.
If you are concerned about a cockroach problem, there are a number of key warning signs you can look out for to help you identify the problem before it escalates.
  • Visibility - The most obvious sign will be the visibility of live adults or nymphs
  • Faecal marks - Black/dark brown in colour and cylindrical in shape resembling a smudged pin head
  • Egg cases or cast skins - Egg cases are the first stage of the cockroach life cycle and can contain up to 50 eggs. Once hatched, the nymphs mature into adults and shed their skin
  • Scent - You'll notice a distinct musty smell
If you think that you may be at risk of cockroaches, it is worth considering some preventative actions to keep them at bay. Prevention is better than cure when controlling cockroaches.
·         Remove any food sources from the immediate environment
·         Do not wait until the population grows – the longer they are on your premises, the harder they will be to combat
·         If cockroaches have become a problem, a site survey from a specialist pest control company, like Rentokil, can help you treat the problem and help prevent further infestations
Even with good precautions and awareness, cockroaches may sometimes get into your premises. In this situation it is recommended to call in the professionals. Although there are a range of DIY treatments available, cockroaches are resilient and are becoming increasingly pesticide-resistant. Savvas Othon, Technical Director for Rentokil explains: "Cockroaches are complex, so it is important to have an exceptional knowledge of the biology of each species."
coachroach2.gifThere are a number of professional pest control techniques which will eliminate cockroaches quickly, efficiently and with minimal disruption. Some of the most commonly employed methods include insecticides, which have been specifically developed to treat cockroaches. These treatments are available in dusts, sprays, lacquers, smokes, fogs and baits. An alternative treatment is a desiccant, which is a dust that aims to dry out the cockroach. This is non-toxic and can be used both indoors and outdoors.
Pest control experts are in the best position to advise on the most effective way to avoid damage and possible public health risks.
If tackling a severe problem, you must ensure you contact the experts and do not attempt to solve the problem alone. It’s essential that you’re seen to be taking all possible measures to combat the problem, by safeguarding people and their surroundings.
For further advice on cockroach control or to arrange a Rentokil Technician visit www.rentokil.co.uk or call 0800 917 1984.
2011-05-11 13:55:56

     
   
 
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