Cockroach

We all know about formidable cockroach, whether it is the one that running out from under the dishwasher and your heart skipping a beat, the big one that flies in the front door and your heart goes from 0 – 100 in 1 second flat… or god forbid when one lands on you.. flat line. These pest are the most common household pest that are frightening and causing panic in Australia today. The cockroach is a primitive and highly successful group of animals whos origins extend back at least 300 million years. While there are about 3500 species of cockroach worldwide, only about 10 species have seriously exploited the dwellings of humans. Some species have become very successful scavengers that cohabit with humans in many, indeed, most of the human communities around the world. These pest can harbor all kinds of diseases and are not the pest most people want in their home.

Although there are 3500 different species the most common varieties in Australia include the German, American and Oriental cockroaches. American cockroaches are large and black. German cockroaches are smaller and brown. Oriental cockroaches are medium sized and dark brown to black in colour. Due to a cockroaches diet, it is believed that they spread a number of diseases to humans including salmonella and gastroenteritis. Recent studies have indicated cockroaches can also cause allergies also.

A female cockroach lays between 10 and 40 eggs at a time. On average, the female can lay around 30 batches of eggs in her lifetime. Depending on the conditions and type, a cockroach can live for up to 12 months. These insects are cold-blooded and thrive in warm, humid conditions.