Cockroaches on the Gold Coast
Warm and wet suits the big ones
The Gold Coast shares South East Queensland's subtropical climate, with most rain in summer and autumn. Victoria's Health department says Australian cockroaches are most common in warm subtropical to tropical places, and American cockroaches live outdoors in warm regions, getting into roofs, walls and subfloors.
Flying in on a warm night
Smokybrown cockroaches, about 30 mm and shiny dark brown to black, can fly short distances in warm weather. That's often the one that turns up at a lit window or an open sliding door.
Drains, bins and grease traps
American cockroaches gather around sewers, grease traps and rubbish, so bin areas, drains and grease traps are the places to look first.
German cockroach or outdoor cockroach?
| German cockroach | American or Australian cockroach | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 12 to 15 mm when grown | About 35 to 40 mm (American) or 35 mm (Australian) |
| Colour | Amber, with two dark stripes lengthways | Reddish brown with a pale yellow border (American), dark brown with yellow edges (Australian) |
| Lives | Kitchens, under sinks, cupboards, appliances | Garden, roof void, wall cavities, subfloor, drains |
| Arrives | In cardboard boxes and crates of food or drink | From outside, through gaps and drains |
| The job | An indoor program with follow up visits | Treating outside, entry points and roof or subfloor |
Why German cockroaches need more work
The Australian Museum calls the German cockroach the hardest pest cockroach to get rid of. One female can produce up to 20,000 young a year, and she carries each egg case, holding 30 to 48 eggs, at the end of her abdomen. They hide in cupboards, drawers and appliances, and gather near warm spots like the hot water system.
Victoria's Health department says seeing cockroaches active in daylight often points to a large infestation. Droppings, smears, cast skins and empty egg cases in the back of a cupboard tell the same story.
What helps, and what's their job
You can
- Wipe benches and the stovetop at night and keep food sealed.
- Fix dripping taps and dry the sink before bed.
- Flatten delivery boxes and get them out of the house the same day.
- Fill gaps around the pipes under the sink and behind the dishwasher.
Leave to a pest business
- A German cockroach program, which usually takes more than one visit.
- Roof void, subfloor and outside treatments for the big species.
- Unit blocks, where cockroaches move between neighbours.
Questions for the technician
- Which cockroach do you think this is, and what makes you say so?
- What will you use, and where? Can I have the product names in writing?
- Do I need to empty the kitchen cupboards first?
- How many visits does this usually take, and is the follow up included?
- What should I do about the fish tank, the pet bowls and the kids' things on the day?
If it were our kitchen on the Gold Coast
One big cockroach after a storm isn't a reason to book; find and fill the gap it came through. Small amber ones in the cupboards are, because they breed indoors: tap Cockroaches and say which kind you're seeing.
Want someone to look at it?
Tell us what you've seen and your postcode, and a local pest business that handles exactly that calls you to talk it through.
