It’s always an alarming sight: you turn your kitchen light on late at night and see a big, disgusting cockroach (or worse, more than one) scurrying under the fridge. If you’ve noticed more cockroaches in your Brisbane home lately, you’re not alone. Seeing one or two is bad enough, but the sad fact is that they multiply quickly. Noticing cockroaches in your home, especially in broad daylight or in strange places, is often an early warning sign of an infestation.
There are thousands of cockroach species worldwide, but only a few become household pests. German cockroaches are the type you’re most likely to find in your household. Aside from their unpleasant appearance, cockroaches also have revolting habits. They shed their skins, leave their droppings and give off a musty, unpleasant odour. They can also spread bacterial infections and viruses.
Do cockroaches come in summer? It’s clear that Brisbane’s hot, humid summers are a breeding ground for insect populations, but why does it seem like there are more cockroaches than ever before? So, what is the most effective pest control for cockroaches?
Here’s the Blue Chip Termite & Pest Control guide to why cockroach infestations are a growing problem in Queensland, and the most effective approach to cockroach pest treatment.
Why are Cockroaches More of a Problem Now?
You’re not imagining it: the cockroach population in Australia is growing, and in Australia’s warmer regions, they’re almost inescapable in summer. So why do cockroaches come in summer, and how can you stop them in their tracks?
The reasons why cockroaches are on the rise, particularly in regions like Brisbane, include:
The perfect climate
Brisbane’s sub-tropical climate and high humidity provide the perfect breeding conditions for the kinds of roaches that infest your home. Warm temperatures accelerate cockroaches’ life cycles, leading to earlier hatching and rapid population booms. Climate change has led to even higher heat and humidity, resulting in even more booming cockroach populations.
Urban density
As Australia’s third-largest city, Brisbane is filled with tightly packed buildings and high-rise apartments. This density makes it easier for roaches to spread through shared walls, ventilation systems and pipes.
Pesticide resistance
The widespread use of home pesticides in Australia has led to cockroaches evolving to become more resistant to treatment.
Why Do Cockroaches Come Out in Summer?
Cockroaches can spoil your Christmas holidays, family time and enjoyment of your home in the warmer months. Why do cockroaches come out in summer? The main reasons these pests appear in droves around this time of year include:
Warmer temperatures
As cold-blooded insects, cockroaches experience a boost in their reproductive cycles and level of activity when the weather warms up. German cockroaches are vulnerable to the cold and thrive most in temperatures of between 21°C and 27°C. Temperatures in Brisbane in winter regularly reach as high as the low 30s, giving cockroaches a comfortable environment to multiply in.
More moisture and humidity
Cockroaches flourish in damp conditions, and summer is the wettest time of the year in Brisbane. The increase in moisture and humidity from heavy summer rain creates ideal conditions for cockroaches to breed.
More access to food and water
The summer heat causes us to use more moisture, leading to an increase in puddles and other damp spots around the home and yard. Spills and crumbs from the backyard BBQ and family get-togethers become rich sources of nutrients for these pests to feed on.
Increased access to your home
As the weather warms up, it’s common to leave doors and windows open to allow fresh air to circulate and cool down your home. Unfortunately, this also allows pests like cockroaches to slip into your home and nest in secluded hiding spots.
Signs of a Cockroach Infestation
Cockroaches are sneaky and mostly active at night, so you might not realise you have an infestation at first. Here are the top signs that cockroaches have settled into your home:
Seeing cockroaches
One of the surest signs of a cockroach outbreak is when the proof is right there in front of your eyes. But just because you’ve seen cockroaches in your home doesn’t mean you have an infestation. Sometimes, certain breeds like smoky brown cockroaches, which don’t nest in homes, happen to end up in there accidentally. But if you’ve seen multiple roaches of other breeds, such as German cockroaches, living or dead, that’s an obvious indication.
Cockroaches are naturally nocturnal, so seeing them during the day or in spaces you don’t usually see them, such as the inside of appliances, is a sign of an infestation too.
Seeing droppings
Cockroaches leave small but noticeable droppings, typically in dark places. The more droppings you come across, the worse the infestation you’re dealing with.
Egg casings
Cockroaches also leave casings from their eggs around your home. These cases are typically brown and oval-shaped, and are a sign that cockroaches are reproducing in your home.
Shed skins
Cockroaches shed their skins several times before they reach adulthood, often leaving these skins in various places around your house.
You can smell their presence
Cockroaches release an acid that gives them a distinctive oily or musty smell. If you’ve picked up a strange scent around your home but haven’t identified the source, there’s a strong chance cockroaches are the culprit.
Once you’ve identified the problem, the most pressing question is what is the most effective pest control for cockroaches?
Most Effective Way to Get Rid of Cockroaches
Not only do cockroaches come in summer, but they also stick around unless you take effective action. Cockroaches have the potential to spread disease-causing bacteria like Salmonella, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus. It’s vital that you eliminate them immediately, so what is the most effective pest control for cockroaches?
While there are many home remedies, the most effective cockroach pest treatment is the kind carried out by qualified professionals. Trying to handle the problem yourself risks not eliminating the entire cockroach population and having the infestation roar back at a later date.
Get Rid of a Cockroach Infestation with Blue Chip Termite & Pest Control
Blue Chip Termite & Pest Control can rid your home of roaches for good with our comprehensive cockroach pest treatment. Our state-of-the-art treatments draw cockroaches out of their hiding places to feed on our targeted spray. We only use premium-grade insecticides and other products, and our trucks carry up to 20 products, so we always have the one that’s best suited to your home. We incorporate this spray with other forms of treatment for the most thorough and extensive summer pest control services you’ll find in Brisbane.
A husband-and-wife team based on Brisbane’s northside, Blue Chip Termite & Pest Control sets itself apart by providing what our larger competitors don’t: an honest, reliable, and quality service that keeps our customers coming back year after year. While we may be a small team, we pride ourselves on keeping up with the latest products and emerging technologies on the market so we can offer you the most up-to-date pest control treatments currently available.
For effective cockroach pest treatment that lets you make the most of your summer in peace, call 1300 438 2583 or contact the Blue Chip team online.