Australian Cockroach (Large Cockroaches)

Characteristics

Size: Up to 35-40mm length.
Colour: Reddish brown with yellow markings on the back half of its body.

This large cockroach closely resembles the American cockroach. The key characteristics are the yellow stripes on the outer edge of the front wings just behind the “shield.”

Behavior

This cockroach is a ready flier and travels easily from trees onto houses. It is commonly attracted to homes to feed on improperly maintained garbage containers and pet food on patios and decks.

Habitat

The Australian cockroach usually invades roof voids, where it finds conditions similar to that found within a tree hole (its natural habitat). Once populations grow large inside these sites, the cockroaches regularly venture down into the home. The occasional cockroach may wander into a home from harborage outside, but chronic infestations are most always associated with roof void or cavity wall infestations.

Treatment Method:

Involves treating roof void with Permethrin powder, applying a low toxic, low odour residual insecticide to the entire internal perimeter of the building where accessible, applying a stronger residual insecticide to the external perimeter and eaves of the building, fence-lines, garages, garden beds and driveways.

Treatment Time – Approximately 45 min to 1 hour.

  1. Occupants must leave the property for approximately 2 hours after treatment.
  2. Weather conditions must be favorable for treatment to be carried out.
  3. No washing must be left on the line.
  4. All pets must be removed from the property.
  5. All fish tanks must be properly covered.

German Cockroaches (Small Cockroaches)

Characteristics

Size: About 12 – 15mm length.
Colour: Brown.

It is recognized by the two dark, longitudinal stripes on the “shield” at the front of the body under which the head is located.

Behavior

The German cockroach is the most prolific breeder among all cockroaches. Each egg capsule can contain up to 40 eggs and development from egg to adult can occur in as little as 45 days. Like all cockroaches, it is omnivorous and will eat virtually anything people will and many things we won’t.

Habitat

In homes, this pest will first locate itself in bathrooms and the kitchen, as close as possible to food and moisture sources. It spends about 80 percent of its time resting in cracks and voids.

Treatment Method:

  1. Crack And Crevice Treatment – involves emptying all contents within kitchen cupboards and cleaning cupboards prior to treatment. Applying permethrin powder to all cracks and crevices within the kitchen area including fridge motor, microwave and dishwasher. Also treating bathroom cupboards with similar method. Then applying low toxic residual insecticide spray to internal cupboard surfaces.

    Occupants must leave the property for approximately 1 hour after treatment.

  2. Cockroach Gel Treatment – involves applying 1-2mm dots of gel to kitchen cupboard hinges and to rear of cupboards, fridge motors, microwaves and dishwasher. This method is considered non-toxic because of the remote chance of exposure to the product itself and as such is the preferred method for people who are sensitive to chemicals and/or have small children or pets residing on the property.

    Occupants Do Not need to leave the property whilst treatment is being carried out.

Treatment time – approximately 45 min to 1 hour.
Warranty period – 6 months.

Huntsman Spider

This common name covers around 100 different species. Most live outside under bark and hunt prey at night. They often enter houses but are usually timid and placid.

Redback spiders

The Red-back is Australia’s best known spider. They can live almost anywhere but do especially well in the man-made, disturbed environments. Red-backs are prodigious breeders. Each female makes several egg sacs in a year and produces up to a thousand eggs. In warm conditions when there’s plenty of food Red-back numbers can explode. Untidy webs may contain white pea-size sac. Hundreds of Red-back spider bites are reported each year, but less than 20 per cent require anti-venom treatment. Only female Red-back spiders bite people. Male spiders are only a tenth the size of females.

Golden Orb Weaving Spider

This Golden Orb spider gets her name from the fantastic golden web that she makes. The webs are so strong they can even entangle small birds, but the spider only eats small insects.