Pest guide · Cockroaches

Cockroach Pest Control on the Central Coast

If you've seen one big cockroach run through the laundry, don't panic.

That doesn't automatically mean the house is crawling with them.

If you're turning the kitchen light on at night and a heap of little cockroaches disappear under the fridge, cupboards and dishwasher though, that's a different story.

The first thing with cockroach pest control is working out what you're actually dealing with.

Big Cockroaches vs German Cockroaches

The larger cockroaches you see around the Central Coast will often come in from outside.

They're common around garages, laundries, drains, bathrooms and outdoor areas.

They're not exactly welcome, but finding one big cockroach doesn't always mean there's a breeding problem inside the house.

German cockroaches are a different story.

They're much smaller and like living and breeding indoors, especially around kitchens and bathrooms.

Common hiding spots include:

• around the fridge and dishwasher
• inside or around cupboards
• near plumbing
• behind appliances
• around warm electrical equipment
• small cracks and gaps

One way to recognise them is the two dark stripes behind their head.

If you're seeing tiny cockroaches as well as adults, there's a good chance they're breeding somewhere nearby.

Why They're Such a Problem on the Central Coast

Cockroaches like warmth, moisture and somewhere protected to hide.

There's plenty of that around the Coast.

Older homes around Gosford, Woy Woy, Wyong and Long Jetty can have gaps around cupboards, floors and plumbing that give cockroaches plenty of places to disappear into.

Units and apartments can be even more frustrating.

Cockroaches don't care where one unit finishes and the next one starts.

They can move through gaps around pipes, walls and shared areas of the building.

So even a very clean home can still end up with them.

Why Supermarket Sprays Often Don't Fix It

This is where people usually get stuck.

You see a cockroach.

You spray it.

Next night, another one runs across the bench.

So you spray that one too.

Then a couple of bombs go off on the weekend and everyone hopes that's the end of it.

Sometimes that knocks the numbers down for a bit.

The problem with German cockroaches is the main population can still be hiding behind cupboards, inside cracks and around appliances.

You're killing the ones you can see.

The rest can still be sitting there breeding.

Heavy spraying can also push cockroaches further into hiding, which can make the problem harder to get on top of.

What Proper Cockroach Treatment Does Differently

A proper treatment is about targeting where the cockroaches are actually living and travelling.

Depending on the job, this can include gel baits, monitoring and an insect growth regulator.

An insect growth regulator basically interrupts their life cycle so the younger cockroaches don't just grow up and replace the adults being killed.

That's a big part of getting on top of a German cockroach infestation.

The idea isn't to cover the whole kitchen in chemical.

It's to put the right treatment in the places that actually matter.

Do You Need to Empty Your Cupboards?

No need to empty your cupboards.

That's one of the first things customers normally worry about.

There's no need to spend half the day pulling every plate, saucepan and packet of food out of the kitchen unless there's a specific reason.

If anything needs to be moved before treatment, you'll be told beforehand.

Otherwise, leave it where it is.

What About Kids and Pets?

If there are children or pets in the home, mention it before treatment.

The chemicals used are low toxic, and chosen to be pet and family friendly. The ones used for cockroaches are also safe in food preparation areas, which is the other half of why the cupboards can stay as they are.

Put pet food and water bowls away before James arrives, and tell him on the day if there's anywhere you'd rather wasn't treated.

How Long Until the Cockroaches Are Gone?

German cockroaches can take a bit of time.

If there's a decent infestation, don't expect every cockroach to disappear overnight.

There can be adults, young cockroaches and eggs all at different stages.

You may still see some activity after treatment.

What matters is that the numbers start dropping and the breeding cycle is being broken.

That's the difference between fixing the actual problem and spraying whatever happens to run across the kitchen bench.

Things That Actually Help

You don't need to turn the whole house upside down.

A few simple things can make a difference:

• fix dripping taps and leaking plumbing
• clean grease and food from behind appliances
• don't leave pet food sitting out overnight
• get rid of old cardboard boxes
• seal obvious gaps around plumbing where practical

And don't assume having cockroaches means the place is dirty.

Very clean homes can still get them.

Sometimes they come in with cardboard boxes or appliances.

Sometimes they're travelling from another unit.

Sometimes they've simply found a warm, protected spot and settled in.

What If You're Renting?

If you're renting, take a couple of photos and let the property manager know early.

Who needs to organise or pay for treatment can depend on when the problem started and what's causing it.

If several units in the same building have cockroaches, there may be a bigger issue than what's happening in one kitchen.

Document it and raise it before the problem gets worse.

Sick of Chasing Them Around the Kitchen?

If you're seeing small cockroaches night after night and the supermarket spray isn't fixing it, you're probably dealing with more than the few you can see.

That's when it's worth treating the actual population.

Ultra Pest & Termites services homes across Gosford, Erina, Woy Woy, Tuggerah, The Entrance and the wider Central Coast.

James runs the business himself, so the person you book with is the person who turns up and does the treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do cockroaches keep coming back?

Usually because the cockroaches you can see are only part of the problem. The breeding population can still be hiding around cupboards, appliances and wall gaps.

Are German cockroaches different from normal cockroaches?

Yes. They’re smaller, live and breed indoors and generally need a more targeted treatment.

How long does it take to get rid of German cockroaches?

It depends on how established the infestation is. A proper German cockroach problem can take time because different stages of the life cycle can be present at once.

Can cockroaches come from another apartment?

Yes. They can move through plumbing gaps, walls and shared areas of a building.

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