If Cockroaches Are a Problem, Pick Up the Phone and Call Us

ValleyPest’s effective management of pest cockroaches in and around buildings relies on:

• a comprehensive inspection/survey of the building(s)
• a high standard of sanitation and hygiene, which will reduce the food, water and shelter that facilitate population growth
• the application of insecticides in a manner that makes likely their contact with the target insects
• follow—up inspections and monitoring.

Why cockroaches are considered pests:

Cockroach species that have established some type of cohabitation with humans are widely regarded as pests. While their role in the transmission of diseases to humans is usually the main concern, there are various reasons for pest status.

Contamination

Cockroaches may contaminate food products, utensils and various areas With droppings, cast skins, empty egg cases, dead cockroaches and vomit marks on surfaces.

Annoyance or fear reaction

Many people are annoyed or scared by the sight of cockroaches. This may be related to their fast, unpredictable movements and perhaps very spiky legs. Many find their presence abhorrent.

Odour

Where a substantial cockroach infestation exists, an unpleasant odour may develop, owing to secretions from the mouth and cuticle.

Allergic reactions

Some people are allergic to cockroaches. Extracts of cockroaches can bring about positive skin reactions in sensitive people and may cause an asthma attack in asthmatics. The allergen may be ingested where foods are contaminated with faeces, or inhaled when dried faeces’becomes a part of house dust.

Bites

Cockroaches have been known to bite people, although such incidences are rare. In ships where the cockroach population was exceedingly high, sailors have suffered bites and gnawing of the fingernails, toenails, calloused parts and occasionally softer skin.

Disease transmission

Although cockroaches have never been irrefutably proved to have transmitted pathogenic diseases to humans, several factors point to the likelihood that they play an important role in such disease transmission:

• Cockroaches often dwell in environments that support the growth of organisms causing diseases harmful to humans (e.g. sewers, grease traps, other sources of polluted water).
• The same cockroaches may contact various surfaces (including food) in kitchens and food processing or handling facilities.
• Cockroaches are known to carry, on their cuticle and in their gut and faeces, disease organisms that affect humans. Each cockroach may typically carry several million disease—type or pathogenic bacteria on and inside its body. A variety of disease organisms may be carried, including Salmonella (a genus of bacterial organisms that cause diseases, including food poisoning conditions, in humans and other animals), and other organisms causing gastroenteritis, dysentery, tuberculosis, hepatitis, typhoid fever and many other human disorders. Organisms that have been found naturally contaminating cockroaches include:

» 40 species of bacteria pathogenic to humans

» the eggs of seven species of worms parasitic to humans

» a variety of viruses potentially harmful to humans

» several pathogenic protozoa.

The health threat posed by cockroach populations that closely cohabit With humans is considered by most

to be very serious. It is likely that cockroaches are responsible for much transmission of human diseases — perhaps most commonly intestinal—type diseases (e.g. Salmonella food poisoning). This reason by itself justifies, indeed, some would say necessitates, the control of cockroaches in premises. Let’s face it, they’re guilty!

Click on the ID Chart button below to find out which cockroaches you may be dealing with.