Westminster Pest Control News:
Cockroaches in Westminster by paulg on 16/03/2012 |
Cockroaches in Westminster. Do you know what they look like? Would you know what to look for? Surprisingly many people wouldn’t. Because they are primarily a nocturnal insect, most people are asleep when they are out scavenging and breeding. Truth is, when we turn the lights out, the cockroaches start to party. There are two main types of cockroach that pester Westminster and other parts of London, the German cockroach and the Oriental cockroach. There is also an American cockroach but this isn’t as prominent yet. The German cockroach is light tan to brown in colour with two dark stripes just behind the head. They are between 1 and 2cm in length and just 5-10mm wide. They have 6 legs and 2 large antennae. They are probably the most successful cockroach on the planet populating all continents and most countries. The most favourable places for them to dwell in urban towns and cities like Westminster are in food establishments, hotels and other premises with kitchens, which unfortunately mean our homes as well. Blocks of flats often find themselves with cockroach problems because of the ability to travel from flat to flat with ease. They are an omnivorous insect eating almost anything including other insects, grease and any food waste they can find. They leave what is known as spotting in areas of habitat. This is their excrement and is usually found in the corners of kitchen units and cupboards and around the motor housings of fridges and freezers. Oriental cockroaches have a different look about them. They are larger than the German cockroach, with an average size of about 2.5cm at adulthood. They are dark brown to black in colour with a rounder flatter body. Around 1-1.5cm in width they are also wider. Their preferred habitat is cooler, darker and damper sites like basements and cellars. Just like the German cockroach they are also omnivorous eating almost anything. The spotting that the German cockroach leaves is also left by the Oriental cockroach, but because of their living environment, it is a lot harder to find and see. In both cases, hygiene plays an important role as to whether you might get an infestation or not. As with all animals and insects they need food and water. If an environment is kept clean and tidy, there should be no invite for cockroaches to bother you. But if your neighbours or an establishment near you is not kept as clean as it possibly should, then there could be a problem in the making. If you have a problem that you’re finding to hard to deal with, call a pest control company that will help you. |