Firstly, sight of a cockroach is probably the first signal that your home may have a cockroach infestation. However, because they surface at night for food. Unlike daytime pests like mosquitoes, chances of spotting them may be unsuccessful unless your home has a heavy infestation. 

Secondly, their urine (especially for severe conditions) may exude unpleasant and musty smell that turns the home not a comfortable stay. Thirdly, do see for any black dots and spots that are the droppings and usually around dark and enclosed areas such as cabinets and drawers, or along the wall and back of the appliance. Fourthly, there might be cockroach eggs that can hatch as many as thirty nymphs of German cockroach at one time.

Finally, look for shed skin that they shed during their development process in their life cycle stages. Above all, they may produce appearances of smear marks in high moisture areas and dark, irregular shaped smear marks can be seen along crawl spaces and wall-floor junctions.

Pests are generally harmful to us in various ways, while some are more detrimental and some less fatal, cockroaches are no exception. Firstly, too many homeowners can agree, cockroaches form mental stress or phobia having to face them and worse of all, trying to get rid of them. 

Secondly, they carry bacteria that causes such as Salmonella, Staphylococcus, dysentery, diarrhea and cholera. 

Thirdly, their droppings and saliva contain enzymes that cause allergies and asthma among some people. Finally, it is possible that cockroaches bite you in the event of food competition or heavy cockroach population on the premises. In summary, because they are a pest of poor hygiene, they cause health and safety risks, particularly among the elderly and young kids.

Pest eradication is not a one-off solution and requires a collaborative approach to ensure its efficacy.

Locate and detect cockroach hideout

First on the list is to identify their hiding locations in the home in order to eliminate the root source. Besides identifying their favourite haunt, it is also important to spot their key risk areas that may potentially turn into a pest infestation. Accurate location detection can help deploy treatments in a more targeted manner.

Maintain good housekeeping level

Pests favour food, water and the hideout shelters they can find at home. Keep place clean and free from moisture, while disposing of any trash and garbage immediately and remove clutters and piles that allow cockroaches to hide.

Minimise cockroach entry opportunities

Tiny pests are capable of sneaking in those cracks and crevices, door openings, ventilation holes and through those windows. Make it a point to maintain your home with proper proofing and sealing to prevent any pests from entering into your home.

Sound pest control solution in place

Proper and professional protection of your home with cockroach control treatments can help keep the problem under control. Specialists are trained and licensed to carry out proper services. This includes doing required checks and assessment, before treating and monitoring the infestation. Additional recommendations and advice are also given to value add homeowners better.

As compared to some pests that require complex application methods or the use of sensing technology to detect and control pests, cockroach treatments are more straightforward and affordable. 

Typically, it costs a few hundreds to keep home safe and protected and frequency can be well-managed unless it is a severe condition. Of course, for homes that are generally well maintained with fewer cockroach complaints, owners can either opt for long term protection where pest control specialists will come once a month for maintenance. Alternatively they may choose a one-time-off ad job treatment if there is any sudden pop up of cockroach infestation. Pest control price is also dependent on other factors including:

• How extensive is the treatment coverage and size of the home
• Infestation level that determines the frequency and intensity
• Type of application such as bait gel, trap or residual spraying
• Quality and active ingredient of the pesticides used
• Are there more than just cockroaches infesting the home
• Brand, expertise and credibility of the pest control company

When do we need to call for pest control services?

We visit a doctor when we are unwell or have a need to keep health in check. Likewise for pests, start to seek professional pest specialists to do a home check for the peace of mind and assurance. Your home may be safe from pest invasion but it cannot be guaranteed in the long term as pests occur anytime due to many triggering factors. Adopt proactive pest detection and inspection is key in keeping your home pest-free.

For homes that are experiencing mild pest symptoms, avoid taking the self-help pest remedies or procrastinating to engage pest control services. This is because we may apply solutions at the wrong area. This does not eliminate the root source or worse of all, making the condition worse off. 

Not forgetting the efficacy level and safety aspects of DIY pest treatments, most times re-infestation and spending additional investment will arise. Early pest treatment can minimise the condition escalation while saving some costs in long-term expenses. Finally, there are times where we need to call for pest control companies when we are faced with either pandemic such as COVID-19 or epidemic situations with the rise of dengue cases in Queensland