Cockroach control in Groningen: which species do you have?
In homes and commercial kitchens it is almost always the German cockroach. It is small and light brown, with two dark stripes on the shield behind its head. It loves warmth and moisture and is mainly active at night. The oriental cockroach is larger, dark brown to black, and prefers cool, damp places such as cellars and crawl spaces. Besides the insects themselves, you will often find:
- black specks resembling ground pepper or coffee grounds in corners and drawers;
- brown, oblong egg cases behind appliances or in cupboards;
- shed skins in cracks;
- a musty, sweetish smell in the kitchen with a larger infestation.
How cockroaches get in and spread
Cockroaches rarely just walk in. They arrive in cardboard boxes, with shopping or deliveries, inside a second-hand fridge or microwave, or in luggage after a trip. A female carries her egg case with her, so a single stowaway can be enough to start a new colony.
Once inside, they pick the warmest spots: behind the fridge motor, under the dishwasher, inside the microwave or behind loose tiles. In flats and terraced buildings they travel from one home to the next through service shafts and gaps around pipes. That is why it helps to know whether the neighbours are affected too.
Our cockroach control: gel bait and sealing
Using a torch, we find the hiding places and, where needed, set monitoring traps to see where activity is highest. We then apply small dots of professional gel in cracks, joints and behind appliances. The cockroaches feed on it and retreat to their hiding place, where others also come into contact with the product. The kitchen does not need emptying and there is no spraying in open areas.
Because eggs are protected inside their case, we come back to check and top up where necessary. We seal joints and pipe openings as far as possible. That is how all our pest control in Groningen works: understand first, then act precisely.
Your part – and why sprays work against you
Cockroaches need food, water and hiding places. Take away as much of that as you can and you help the treatment along. Wash up every evening, empty the bin daily, wipe grease and crumbs from behind the cooker and fix any dripping tap or leaking trap under the sink.
Do not use aerosol sprays or foggers. They drive cockroaches deeper into the walls or next door, and gel that comes into contact with spray becomes less attractive. Do not wipe away the gel dots either. Finding small droppings and gnawed packaging as well as cockroaches? Something else may be going on, so read about mouse control too.
After treatment: stay alert
Once the infestation has gone, you want to stop cockroaches coming back. A few habits make the biggest difference:
- Unpack deliveries and boxes outside or in the hallway if you can, and get rid of the cardboard quickly.
- Check second-hand kitchen appliances before they go into the kitchen.
- Seal gaps around pipes under the sink and behind the fridge.
- Leave a few monitoring traps where you saw cockroaches before.
- If you spot one again, do not wait – call straight away.
