Cockroach control in Amersfoort: which species is it?
In homes and commercial kitchens it is usually the German cockroach: light brown, just over a centimetre long, with two dark stripes behind the head. It loves warmth and moisture and is mostly active at night. The Oriental cockroach is larger and darker and prefers damp cellars, crawl spaces and the area around drains. Signs that cockroaches are in the house:
- tiny black droppings, like ground pepper or smears, in cupboards and drawers
- brown egg cases or empty skins behind appliances
- a musty, sweetish smell when the infestation is large
- insects scurrying away as soon as the light goes on
How cockroaches get in and spread
Cockroaches often arrive with goods: cardboard boxes from a supplier, a second-hand fridge or microwave, or a bag from an infested home. Once inside, they creep into the warm spaces behind the fridge, under the dishwasher, into the motor housing of appliances and into cracks along the worktop. In apartment buildings they travel through service shafts and pipe openings from one kitchen to the next.
Because a single female can produce many offspring, a small infestation quickly becomes a big problem. Cockroaches can spread bacteria over food and kitchen utensils, which is not something you want in any kitchen.
Our cockroach control: gel, bait boxes and checks
Spraying mostly scatters cockroaches. That is why we work with gel: small drops of bait wherever they hide and run. They eat it and carry it back to their hiding place, where others come into contact with it too. Where needed, we use bait boxes and sticky traps to show where the activity is.
Some time later we come back for a check. Young cockroaches that crawl out of an egg case later on still need to reach the bait. We only wrap up once the traps stay empty.
What you can do – and what not
Hygiene alone will not end a cockroach problem, but it does help the treatment. Don't leave dirty dishes, leftovers or open pet food out overnight, and keep the bin closed. Sweep up crumbs from behind the cooker and under the fridge, and dry the worktop and sink, because cockroaches need water too.
After our treatment, don't use cleaning products or sprays on the spots with gel, or they will stop eating the bait. Get rid of cardboard boxes quickly. Finding rodent droppings in the pantry as well as cockroaches? Take a look at mouse control.
Cockroaches in restaurants and commercial kitchens
For a restaurant, café, lunchroom or staff canteen, a cockroach in the kitchen is more than a nuisance. We prefer to come when the kitchen is closed, so you can keep trading. We check behind and under equipment, in the scullery, the storeroom and the staff area, and discuss with you and your team how to prevent new introductions, for example by unpacking deliveries outside the kitchen. Checking sticky traps regularly yourself helps you notice a new infestation early. For mice, rats and other pests, you can count on our pest control in Amersfoort.
