Cockroach Management (Household Pest Management)

Dear Customer,

In order to help us serve you better, we have provided some basic information on common household pest such as Cockroaches, Ants and Silverfish. We trust this information will be useful to you.

Cockroaches are perhaps the most common household pests. Apart from being a nuisance, they can cause contamination and respiratory illness in humans they also transmit various diseases and damage property by chewing on or soiling bookbinding, fabric and other materials.

Cockroaches commonly found in and around human habitation are:

1. German Cockroach (Blattella Germanic): They are light brown or tan in colour with two parallel black streaks running vertically on the shield which covers the head Adults are 12 - 15mm long, with females being larger than males. Unlike other cockroaches, the female German roach protects her eggs by carrying them around in an egg-case or Ootheco with protrudes from her body until the eggs are ready to hatch. Each oothecha can contain 30-48 eggs that hatch in about 2 weeks. Each female produces between 4-8 egg-cases in her lifetime. Eggs hatch into Nymphs which are about 3mm long. They resemble the adults and are uniformly dark, except for a light brownish area in the middle of the body. They go through 6-7 instars (stages) before becoming adults. Adults usually live up to 3-4 months.

2. American Cockroach (Periplanata Americana) : They are reddish-brown in colour with pale yellow marking above the head. These are large cockroaches and adults are 35-40mm long. American roaches are not regular house dwellers; instead, they prefer dark, moist and warm areas, especially around sewers and storage room. Adults are good fliers and are often encountered flying into your home in the evenings or at night. 14-16 eggs are contained in the ootheca which are deposited by the female in a protected place. Nymphs hatch out after 50-55 days, resemble the adults but are flightless. They moult 9-13 times and are white when freshly moulted. Adults can live for 14-15 months.

3. Brown banded Cockroach (Supella longipalpis) : Generally look similar to the German Roach, pale brown in colour, except for the light coloured bands running horizontally across the wing base and abdomen. Adults are 13-14.5mm long, females are larger and darker than males. The female can produce up to 14 ootheca in her lifetime and carries each for about 1-2 days. Each egg case contains about 18 eggs which hatch after about 50-75 days. Nymphs resemble the adults but are darker. They go through 1-2 instars before becoming adults. Adults can live up to 10 months.

Ants are close relatives of bees and wasps. They are social insects and live in colonies. They are familiar insects that are easily recognized, especially in their common wingless adult’s farms, known as worker. Several species of ants commonly live in lawns and ornamental plantings of trees and shrubs in and around our home, offices, and buildings. Winged ants are frequently confused with swarming termites. However, ants and termites are not related.

Ants feed on sugar, syrups, honey fruit juice, fats and meat which they find in human habitation. Workers out in search of food form long trails which lead back to the nest. Ants are also attracted to sweet, sticky secretions, or honeydew (which is secreted by mealy bugs, sucking pests that can attract household plants.) They can bite with their mandibles (jaws) and certain species such as red ants inflict painful bites. Fire ants have a painful sting that can cause severe allergy. Ants can also cause contamination hazards by their presence on productions floors, raw materials and finished goods store.

Silverfish and Firebrats are often not seen because they are mostly active at night. They make quick movements, stopping at short intervals and then moving on rapidly. They prefer damp, cool and dark places, for example basements.

They are carrot shaped, 8-12 mm long, somewhat flattened, wingless and covered with scales. They have long, slender antennae and three slender appendages at the end of the body, which is why they are also called ‘Bristletails’. Young look similar to adults. They can several months without food.

The common Silverfish (Lepisma sacchaarina) has a silvery sheen, and prefers areas of high humidity such as basement, lofts, damp walls, below sink, wash basins etc. It feeds on human food and prefers materials containing starch, such as paste, glue, bookbinding, fabrics and paper products.

Firebrats (Thermobia domestica), as their name suggests, live and develop in hot but moist places such as around furnaces, in insulation, hot water piping ducts etc. They prefer a dark, moist environment and require a large supply of starchy foods or moulds. Firebrats are known to feed extensively on rayon. They prefer temperatures around 37C.

RPC Cockroach management (Household Pest Management) consists of advanced technology Gel treatment for cockroaches: no mess, no fuss, no inconvenience, combined with odourless spray for ants and silverfish.

An integrated approach is the most effective method of managing household pests in the long run. While PCI’s trained operators do their part, we also require your help to ensure your premises are free of household pests.

Exclusion - Inspect incoming material before storage and use in premises. Seal possible entry points.

Elimination of Water Source – Mend / Seal leaky pipes and taps and do not over water indoor plants.

Elimination of Food Source – Dispose garbage daily. Use garbage bins with tight-fitting lids. Regular cleaning of kitchen appliances, vacuuming and sweeping will all help to keep cockroaches away.

Elimination of Harbourage – Seal cracks, crevices and holes in the kitchen and other areas in your premises. Do not late trash accumulate and regularly clean your loft and other storage areas.

We thank you for RPC, India’s F Largest Pest Control Company with over 10 offices nationwide. Our thoroughly trained and professional staff will be glad to answer any other queries you might have on Cockroach management (Household Pest Management) and also our range of complete paste management solutions.