Cockroaches Control
Cockroaches are unpleasant insects despised by many people worldwide. Generally, they are detritivores, feeding on decaying or spoiled organic matter. This means they consume leftover food, such as scraps left on dirty dishes in the sink. Cockroaches are also notorious for eating their own feces, regurgitating, and feeding on the carcasses of other cockroaches.
Cockroaches as a Pest
Pest Insects
Cockroaches are known as filthy insects, and areas with cockroach infestations often carry a distinct odor.
Food Contamination
Cockroaches thrive in dirty environments like sewage pipes, septic tanks, under sinks, and garbage bins. They also defecate while eating, leaving behind feces that contain various pathogens, including Bacillus cereus, which can cause diarrhea.
Allergen Source
Cockroaches regularly shed their skin, which becomes a source of allergens that can trigger asthma. Their feces and carcasses can also cause skin allergies in some individuals.
Shortening Food Shelf Life
Cockroach legs can carry fungi, spreading contamination as they walk. Their feeding process produces moisture, which can lead to spoilage and mold growth on food before its expiration date.
Business Losses
The Malaysian Ministry of Health takes cleanliness in food establishments seriously. The presence of cockroaches in a business can result in fines and a two-week closure notice under Section 11 of the Food Act 1983.
Methods of Cockroaches Control
Residual Treatment (Ochre’s Action)
Spraying insecticide creates a chemical barrier that kills cockroaches as they pass through. This treatment will be applied in areas where cockroach activity is detected.
Sanitation (Customer’s Action)
Poor sanitation provides alternative food sources for cockroaches and ants, enabling them to breed uncontrollably. Cockroach feces and carcasses attract other cockroaches to gather and reproduce, further contaminating food. Ochre Pest Control Advice: ❖ Do not leave dirty dishes overnight. Use tightly sealed garbage bins and ensure the lid is secure. ❖ Keep kitchen floors clean; avoid leaving food, grease, or water on the floor. ❖ Remove cockroach feces and carcasses immediately when found.
Seal Breeding Sites and Maintenance (Customer’s Action)
❖ Avoid storing materials like old newspapers, cardboard boxes, and egg cartons in storage rooms, as these encourage cockroach breeding. ❖ Seal any holes or cracks in walls to eliminate hiding spots for cockroaches. ❖ Fix leaking pipes to remove the moisture cockroaches need to survive in your home. ❖ Store items in transparent containers to prevent cockroach hiding spots.
Gel Baiting (Ochre’s Action)
Gel baiting targets cockroaches at their source which is the nest thus effectively reducing their population. Cockroach nymphs rarely forage far from their hiding spots, relying on adult droppings for nourishment as they grow. A thorough inspection to locate cockroach hideouts, followed by deploying gel bait, ensures effective control. When cockroaches consume the bait, undigested insecticide remains in their droppings. Other cockroaches feeding on these droppings also ingest the insecticide and are eliminated. This method is both effective and safe for food preparation areas, making it ideal for sensitive locations where residual spraying is not feasible. However, baiting must be complemented by maintaining proper sanitation. Poor hygiene reduces the effectiveness of baiting by providing alternative food sources for cockroaches, decreasing their likelihood of encountering the bait.