Cockroaches are one of the most common pests, infesting indoor and outdoor areas. If you're a homeowner or business owner in Melbourne, chances are you've seen these unwelcome visitors at some point. Controlling pest cockroaches involves a thorough inspection, reducing food, water and shelter sources, pesticides or baits, and ongoing maintenance. In this blog post, we'll discuss the main species of cockroaches that are common in Victoria and how to identify them so you can take the proper steps to control them.
German Cockroach (Blatella germanica)
The German cockroach is light brown in colour with two dark stripes running down its back. They prefer warm climates and damp places such as behind refrigerators and under sinks. They feed on almost anything, including pet food and garbage.
The best way to control German cockroaches is to eliminate their source of food and water by keeping kitchen surfaces clean and storing food securely. However, sanitation alone may not be enough; pesticides or baits may be necessary for complete control.
Australian Cockroach (Periplaneta australasiae)
The Australian cockroach has a dark brown body with yellowish markings on its thorax region and wings that reach up to 4 inches long when fully grown. Its habitat includes warm, humid places like bathrooms, kitchens, gardens, and sheds. Still, it will invade homes seeking food sources like organic materials and sugar-based items like sweets or alcoholic beverages left out in the open air.
To control Australian cockroaches, it is essential to make sure all potential entry points are sealed off properly while removing any excess moisture around the home environment, along with eliminating potential sources of food such as pet foods left out overnight or uncovered garbage cans among others things that might attract this type of pest inside your property.
American Cockroach (Periplaneta Americana)
The American cockroach is one of the largest species, reaching up to three inches long when fully grown. It has a reddish-brown colour with yellowish markings near the head region. They prefer warmer climates but can also survive colder temperatures if they can access plenty of moisture. They typically live in drains, sewers, or other moist areas. Still, they can also enter buildings from outside through cracks or vents, looking for food sources like organic matter or starchy materials such as book bindings or glue from cardboard boxes.
The best way to control American cockroaches is to reduce their access to entry points and eliminate their food and water sources through effective sanitation measures. Pesticides or baits may also be necessary for complete control.
There are several species of common cockroaches in Victoria throughout both indoor and outdoor areas alike which require different methods of inspection and control based on their individual characteristics. Knowing how to identify different types of cockroaches will help you decide the best approach for dealing with an infestation problem. Preventive measures such as sanitising your home environment and sealing off potential entry points should always come first before considering using any pesticide product.
If all else fails, it's best to contact a professional exterminator who can provide you with an accurate diagnosis followed by a targeted treatment plan tailored specifically to your needs. JMC Pest Control offers affordable, fast solutions for dealing with roach infestation anywhere throughout Melbourne, so feel free to contact us anytime if you need assistance with pest control!