Cockroaches

Stumbling upon a cockroach in your kitchen or elsewhere is never a pleasant experience. These pervasive pests, part of approximately 4,000 species globally with around 450 in Australia, are often more than just a nuisance. However, despite the large number of species, only a few pose a concerning threat as pests.

At EPC – Enviro Pest Control, we specialise in commercial pest control and prevention across Melbourne. Over the years, we have serviced government buildings, aged care facilities, schools, hospitality venues and more. Whether you find a cockroach in your office or at home, our expert cockroach extermination and removal specialists are here to help.

Why choose EPC – Enviro Pest Control?

EPC – Enviro Pest Control is a reliable, affordable, and trusted family-owned company. We only use chemicals for the correct application, which promotes safety, effectiveness, and environmental responsibility.

Our commitment to cockroach control goes beyond simple treatment – we provide an Integrated Pest Management plan to ensure your building remains free of cockroaches long after we’re gone. We understand how important it is for a business’s pest control services to be completed thoroughly and discreetly

If you need professional cockroach removal service, speak to a professional at EPC – Enviro Pest Control about cockroach treatment options. You can contact us by completing our online booking form or calling (03) 9988 5066 now.

Signs of Cockroach Infestation

Aside from the obvious shock of spotting a cockroach running across the ground or benchtop, it is possible to tell that cockroaches are present by locating droppings, cast skins or egg cases. In more severe occurrences, they can even create a foul smell. 

Physical signs are often found under refrigerators, behind sinks, around dishwashers and bins, in cupboards and in cracks or crevices, as well as in bathrooms.

Often if you have a cockroach infestation, you will find live cockroaches. They are nocturnal and thus are most likely to be seen at night when you turn on the lights in your kitchen, bathroom, or other areas.

Cockroach Breeding and Life Cycle

Like most pests, cockroaches will turn from a minor issue into a large problem very quickly. Cockroaches undergo three distinct life phases: egg, nymph, and adult. Females lay egg cases, which contain around twenty to forty eggs. After thirty to forty days these eggs hatch. 

A female lays up to thirty egg cases in her lifetime, and cockroaches can live for up to eight months. Breaking this life cycle at every stage of growth is how EPC – Enviro Pest Control effectively treats cockroaches.

Cockroach Disease and Contamination

Cockroaches are not just unpleasant to the eye. They are also well-known for carrying germs and spreading disease – most commonly Salmonella. Cockroaches have caused many cases of food poisoning from the salmonella bacterium they carry and are the cause of a number of other diseases, including typhoid fever, cholera, gastroenteritis, dysentery, and more. 

Cockroaches can carry worms and are also known to trigger allergy reactions and asthma symptoms in humans. Given the wide range of health issues caused by cockroaches, it’s easy to see why a cockroach exterminator is necessary the moment you suspect an infestation.

Cockroaches in Commercial Kitchens and Restaurants

In commercial kitchens across Melbourne, German cockroaches are the most common species found. They are versatile breeders and prefer to live in dishwashers, fridges and among stoves and rotisseries as well as the tiniest holes and cracks.

If you are responsible for the cleanliness of a commercial kitchen and have cockroaches, then you must take care of it quickly. EPC – Enviro Pest Control operates in compliance with HACCP guidelines and follows the AEPMA Code of Conduct guidelines and their Code of Practice for ‘Pest Control in the Food Industry’.

It is a requirement for all commercial food preparation areas, food storage and food retail outlets to have an effective commercial pest management plan (also known as an Integrated Pest Management plan – IPM), in place. This can be provided by a professional pest control company such as EPC – Enviro Pest Control, so get in contact with our team today.

Types of Cockroaches

Cockroaches have adapted to live in a similar environment to humans, which is why they are so common. Humans provide them with both food and shelter. Most commonly, they are found in the kitchen. If you find them elsewhere, there’s a chance you could have a big infestation and will need residential or commercial exterminators to get rid of them.

German Cockroach (Blatella germanica)

The German cockroach is most commonly found within buildings such as restaurants, nursing homes, hospitals and food processing facilities. They require warmth, moisture and food, meaning they are not often found in the wild.

• Light tan to medium brown
• 12–15mm long
• 2 dark stripes on the back of head
• Has wings but does not fly

American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana)

The American cockroach is one of the largest pest cockroaches to invade homes and commercial properties. It prefers warm, moist and dark areas – especially roofs, walls, and sub-floor areas.

• Shiny red-brown or dark brown
• 35–40mm long, the largest of any cockroach
• One of the fastest running insects, able to dart out of sight quickly
• Can fly short distances

Australian Cockroach (Periplaneta australasiae)

Despite its name, the Australian cockroach is an introduced species in Australia. It can look similar to the American cockroach, although adults are smaller.

• Darkish brown
• Yellow markings on the upper part of the thorax and the margins of the forewings
• 30–35mm long
• Prevalent in the areas where winters are mild

Oriental Cockroach (Blatta orientalis)

The oriental cockroach prefers cool, damp areas and is commonly found outdoors, in rubbish tips and leaf litter, and in unheated buildings. 

• Dark brown or black
• 20–25mm long
• Has wings but does not fly

Smokybrown Cockroach (Periplaneta fuliginosa)

The smokybrown cockroach usually lives in tree hollows, under bark or under floors, and only enters buildings at night. In Australia, it is usually found in warmer cities like Sydney or Brisbane.

• Shiny dark brown
• 30–35 mm long
• Has wings and can fly in warm temperatures

Brown-Banded Cockroach (Supella longipalpa)

The Brown Banded Cockroach is one of the smallest pest cockroaches in Australia. Unlike the German cockroach, which requires lots of moisture, this species can become widely distributed throughout the home.

• Tan to light brown with yellow-brown stripes across the abdomen
• 15–20mm long
• Prefers warmer temperatures and avoids light
• Males and females have wings, but only males can fly