Which cockroach have you got?
| German cockroach | American cockroach | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 12 to 15 mm when grown | 35 to 40 mm, the largest common pest cockroach |
| Colour | Amber, with two dark stripes running lengthways | Reddish brown, with a pale yellow border on the thorax |
| Where you see it | Kitchens, under sinks, inside cupboards, drawers and appliances | Roof, wall and subfloor spaces, drains, grease traps and rubbish |
| What it tells you | They're breeding inside your home | They're living in the building's voids or drains and visiting |
Why German cockroaches are Sydney's problem
Named as Sydney's worst
The Australian Museum calls the German cockroach the hardest pest cockroach to get rid of, and says it's the most troublesome one in Sydney.
They multiply fast
A female carries an egg case holding 30 to 48 eggs at the end of her body, and one female can produce up to 20,000 young a year. A handful can become a kitchen full within months.
They arrive by box
German cockroaches usually reach new places as stowaways in cardboard boxes or crates of food and drink, which suits a city of apartments, deliveries and frequent moves.
Strata buildings need notice
If cockroach work is arranged for the common areas of a NSW residential complex, residents must get a pesticide use notice at least 5 working days before, and that includes work arranged by the strata managing agent.
Renters
NSW Government advice is that tenants are generally responsible for pests their own rubbish attracts, such as cockroaches, while landlords handle pests that were there when the tenancy began.
Signs worth acting on
Look for tiny dark droppings and smears in cupboard corners and hinges, shed skins and empty egg cases. Victoria's Department of Health says cockroaches out in the daytime often point to a large infestation, because they've run out of hiding spots.
Cockroaches can trigger strong allergic reactions in some people, which is reason enough not to let a German cockroach problem drift.
Before the technician arrives
- Empty the cupboard under the sink and the shelves near the stove, fridge and dishwasher so they can reach the corners.
- Write down where and when you've seen them, day or night.
- Cover or move fish tanks and bird cages, as the NSW EPA advises.
- Ask for the full name of every product, and when the kitchen can be used again.
- Ask whether a second visit is planned for the young that hatch from egg cases later.
Our take on cockroach control in Sydney
One big cockroach that wandered in from the garden on a warm night isn't worth a treatment. Small amber ones in the kitchen, especially in daylight, are: tap Cockroaches and say where you're seeing them.
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.
