COCKROACHES









There are mainly two species of cockroach in Britain .......



	Oriental - black in colour and up to 30mm in length
		This cockroach lays eggs in cases average 16 eggs per case at intervals in their harborages which take 6-12 weeks to hatch. The Nymphs (young cockroaches take from 6 to 18 months to maturity. The adults live for approximately 6 months
		This makes control difficult because the eggs can be hatching after the parent have been removed.
		The Oriental cockroach likes a warm environment such as commercial kitchens, restaurants, laundries, hotels hospitals and houses etc.
		The cockroach is known to carry bacteria and is considered to be a health hazard






	German - brown in colour and up to 15mm in length
		This cockroach carries 30 eggs in a case until just before hatching. The nymphs reach maturity in approximately 3 months and the adults live for about six months.
		The German cockroach likes a warm humid environment, close to food and access to water. It will feed on just about anything - waste, decaying materials and stagnant water before walking on human food stuffs and cutlery.
		This type of cockroach is known to carry disease organisms.
		It is easier to eradicate than the Oriental cockroach.






Both types are nocturnal and occupiers of premises may not realise the extent of the problem until they may enter the premises at night and switch the light on and see the cockroaches scurrying away to their harborages.
All occupiers of commercial premises must bear in mind that The Environmental Health Officer will take a very dim view of a cockroach infestation.