Cockroach
Appearance
Although there are five major species of cockroaches, the most common cockroach in Canada is the Germanic. The body of the Germanic cockroach is oval and flat; light brown with two dark brown lines on the thorax. The cockroach has long, slender antennae and long legs, and two pairs of wings. Cockroaches are 15 mm (3 / 4 inches) in length at adulthood.
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Life Cycle
The female cockroach lays up to 8 pouches each containing 40 eggs. Larvae become adults in 100 days and adult cockroaches can live up to a year. An infestation of cockroaches can number in the thousands.
Habitat and Food
Cockroaches are found wherever they can find food, water and shelter, and eat almost anything: food, cadavers, paper, tissue, feces, blood, sputum, etc. When infested, one can spot a cockroach in any area of the house, but they prefer damp places and come out mostly at night.
Undesirable Effects
All species of cockroaches are pests and leave a stench on contaminated food. Cockroaches can be a health hazard since they can transmit diseases to humans.
Signs of Infestation
A brown smelly substance on food can indicate the presence of cockroaches.
Preparation Steps for a Treatment
- Vacuum all carpets, rugs and upholstery. Discard the vacuum bag immediately afterwards in an airtight bag. Empty all recycling bins and get rid of all stacks of newspapers, cardboard boxes and paper bags.
- Clean all traces of grease on the stove and fridge, including the back and bottom, and all the shelves of the kitchen cabinets, leaving them empty.
- Keep children and pets away during treatment.
- Plan to leave your home for the duration of the treatment and return only after 4 hours. Wherever possible, open windows for 20 minutes upon your return. It is also important to not walk barefoot on treated areas for 48 hours after treatment.