Cockroaches
Cockroaches are one of the most unhygienic and resilient pests in the UK. They spread disease, contaminate food, and thrive in warm, hidden spaces. If you spot one cockroach, chances are there are many more hiding nearby.
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Cockroach Control for Homes & Businesses
At First Pest Control, we provide fast, effective, and discreet cockroach treatments for homes and businesses. Our BPCA-certified technicians use professional-grade insecticides, monitoring, and prevention strategies to eliminate cockroaches and stop them from returning.
German Cockroach
Small, fast-breeding, and commonly found in kitchens and warm areas.
Oriental Cockroach
Large, reddish-brown, thrives in drains, basements, and warm buildings.
American Cockroach
Dark, slow-moving, prefers damp areas like basements and drains.
German Cockroach
Small, prefers warm, dry areas like furniture and electronics.
How we deal with Cockroaches
There’s a phrase that’s often used in pest control called Integrated pest Management (IPM). This becomes quite important when dealing with a cockroach infestation. It means that we simply don’t come in a treat without a thorough inspection first.
We use our knowledge and experience in finding out why the pest is there. Why have they decided on your property? What’s attracting them? What are they feeding on? How humid is the property? Where are the warm areas? With a thorough investigation at the beginning, we can then begin to start the process of removing the pest 100%.
We cannot afford to leave one female cockroach alive to potentially lay her ootheca (egg case) for the issue to start all over again. This is the reason why cockroaches can take a number of visits to gain complete control using a variety of methods and applications.
The two most common cockroaches in the UK are the German Cockroach and the Oriental Cockroach. We also have the American Cockroach and the Brown Banded Cockroach.
The treatment is almost the same for each one, albeit some minor adjustments.
The two most common cockroaches in the UK are the German Cockroach and the Oriental Cockroach. We also have the American Cockroach and the Brown Banded Cockroach.
The treatment is almost the same for each one, albeit some minor adjustments.
Residual Insecticide
Using this product really depends on the level of the infestation. We’ve been to many properties whereby its completely infested with so many cockroaches that when you open kitchen drawers hundreds of cockroaches run in all directions looking to escape. Behind the fridge/freezer is another common place to find them because of the warmth and the security of not being disturbed.
It’s at these types of jobs that residual insecticide would be ideal to reduce numbers very quickly. This would be followed up with other treatments such as gel baits & Ultra Low Volume (ULV).
Ultra Low Volume (ULV)
ULV is a product that has been designed to be emitted using a machine called an Exodus. It’s been used on commercial aircraft for a number of years and some pest control companies also use it in domestic properties & commercial. It can also be used on public transport such as buses and trains.
It works by emitting airborne droplets between 5-30 microns. This enables the insecticide to penetrate inaccessible areas in loft spaces and behind furniture. It’s ideal for cockroaches as part of a combined treatment to compliment other applications such as gel baits and residual insecticide. Unlike the residual insecticide, ULV has no lasting effects. After a few hours it has completely settled into tiny cracks and crevices and done its job killing all insects in meets.
It works by emitting airborne droplets between 5-30 microns. This enables the insecticide to penetrate inaccessible areas in loft spaces and behind furniture. It’s ideal for cockroaches as part of a combined treatment to compliment other applications such as gel baits and residual insecticide. Unlike the residual insecticide, ULV has no lasting effects. After a few hours it has completely settled into tiny cracks and crevices and done its job killing all insects in meets.
Gel Baits
These are a great weapon against the cockroach in the UK, and especially effective if used as part of a combined treatment with ULV and residual insecticide.
They work when the product is ingested into the cockroach. The active ingredient reacts to proteins found within the cockroach and turns this into a neurotoxin causing the cockroach paralysis and death.
It’s also been designed with secondary poisoning in mind. Cockroaches are cannibalistic and will regularly eat their own species. This works in our favour because if one cockroach des from eating the gel bait we use then that will kill the second cockroach that eats it. In fact, from one dead cockroach, we can achieve a further fifty dead cockroaches from that initial cockroach eating the gel bait.
It’s also been designed with secondary poisoning in mind. Cockroaches are cannibalistic and will regularly eat their own species. This works in our favour because if one cockroach des from eating the gel bait we use then that will kill the second cockroach that eats it. In fact, from one dead cockroach, we can achieve a further fifty dead cockroaches from that initial cockroach eating the gel bait.
Diseases Spread by Cockroaches
Having a cockroach infestation is a serious risk to health for humans. They can spread Polio, Gastroenteritis, Dysentery, Salmonella, Staphylococcal Infections, Listeriosis and allergic reactions. They spread these diseases by vomiting on food and crawling on crockery/cutlery.
DIY Cockroach Treatment
If you have a cockroach infestation, then we’d always advise in seeking professional help due to the health risks associated with cockroaches. However, some people will try and remove the issue themselves by buying products online such as sticky traps.
Sticky traps do trap cockroaches, but they’re only good for monitoring numbers and shouldn’t be used as a control method because it won’t be successful.
Cockroaches pose such a risk to our health, but so do insecticides purchased online. Not only are the chemicals used in these products most likely unsuitable, but they pose a risk to the user and the people and animals around them. Please do not use any chemicals in your property. Please call a professional who can deal with your pest problem safely and quickly without risk.
Cockroaches pose such a risk to our health, but so do insecticides purchased online. Not only are the chemicals used in these products most likely unsuitable, but they pose a risk to the user and the people and animals around them. Please do not use any chemicals in your property. Please call a professional who can deal with your pest problem safely and quickly without risk.
