Some species of cockroaches have adapted themselves to human habitation and are growing in distribution. Their flat bodies allow them to hide in narrow cracks and fissures while seeking food. In Israel there are eight different kinds of cockroaches, but only four of them live within a human environment.
Cockroaches are an omnivore’s species that excrete feces on our food. They can eat book-binding glue, cardboard, wallpaper and much more. Some species have adapted to life in the sewage system and live on a regular diet of feces.
These insects are active at night and are to be found everywhere, from homes and restaurants to ships and aircraft. They can follow the water pipes and electrical lines through walls from one room to another and even from one apartment to another. They are perfect hitchhikers, for example, we have learned that the German cockroach has been transported from place to place when furniture and other items were placed into cardboard boxes and shipped to different destinations. Other species, such as the American cockroach, invade our homes from the outside or through the sewage system.
American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana)
Despite its name, this is a common species of cockroaches that originated in Africa. It is commonly seen on ships, stores containing food items, kitchens and sewage systems. The American cockroach causes a lot of damage to food products and its excrement pollutes the environment.
German Cockroach (Blattella germanica)
The origin of this species is also from Africa. This species is able to fly but does so rarely. German cockroaches like warm places, so they are very common in kitchens and in kitchen appliances. This specie is difficult to eradicate due to its resistance to pesticides and its extremely rapid life cycle. Therefore the German cockroach is exterminated by using special materials that have an unusually high capacity to eradicate them.
Brown Striped Cockroach (Phyllodromica quadrivittata)
This species is easily recognized by its horizontal brown stripes. This cockroach lives on cardboard, glue, paper and books, allowing them to exist in any home environment. Correctly labeled as “shy” they are hardly noticeable but its presence is definitely felt when the whole house becomes infested.
Black Cockroach (Blatta orientalis)
This species is most commonly seen in bakeries, stores containing food items and kitchens and in Israel they are more commonly found inland (Jerusalem area) than in the coastal area. These cockroaches are colored dark brown or black, and generally feed on starchy materials. They prefer to live outside houses in warm, moist areas that are close to the ground.
COCKROACHES CONTROL STRATEGIES:
PEST CONTROL OPERATIONS ARE COMPLEMENTARY TREATMENTS TO PREVENT THE DEVELOPMENT OF COCKROACHES.
PREVENTIVE MEASURES THAT ARE RECOMMENDED:
- Actions to prevent the penetration of cockroaches include sealing off water pipes, electrical connections, and installation of networks.
- Be sure to cover food items and water basins.
- Do not leave food and food scraps without covering them, especially during the summer.
- Maintaining proper sanitation, removing all left-over food, removing and repairing any exposed manholes help to streamline the process of pest control and prevent further accumulation of cockroaches for a substantial amount of time.
- Also it is important to identify the type of cockroach so that we know exactly which treatment will be most effective. The importance of species identification is critical to successful pest control. American cockroaches need a lot of water and so often they are found in moist, wet areas while the German cockroach does not need high levels of humidity and therefore usually hides in warm dry places.
- Insecticide operations against cockroaches are used as complementary to preventative care. Pest control is carried out through various advanced pesticides treatments throughout the building with a focus on potential penetration points such as kitchens, toilets, sinks, manholes, etc.).
- After spraying, depending on the species of the cockroach, a special gel is injected which is intended to deal with those cockroaches that have a high level of resistance.
- Upon completion of the pesticide treatment glue traps are placed for the purpose of monitoring and follow-up.