Cockroaches are most commonly found in commercial premises where food is produced/handled however they are not uncommon in domestic situations and tend to live in kitchens and drains. Their control is difficult due to their preference of hiding place, usually in the hardest to access cracks and crevices.

Did you know cockroaches squeeze into spaces as small as a 10 pence piece?

It is programmed into their DNA as they are thigmotropic, meaning they prefer to be constricted (held tightly). In the wild this sensation comes from squeezing into tight spaces. Despite all this, our specialists can seek out all cockroaches, using specialist thermographic equipment. Once the species of cockroach has been established, we use the most appropriate treatment to eliminate the problem safely and effectively.

Cockroaches are nocturnal creatures and eat practically anything from human food to wallpaper and even other cockroaches. Although it is true that they can survive without their head – due to their brain being spread throughout their body rather than just their head – they will still die within 10 days as they lack the mouth parts for drinking.

They also do not have blood vessels, meaning their blood flows freely in their body and their heart is a simple tube that pumps blood to both anterior and posterior parts of their body.

Cockroaches are filthy. They carry food poisoning germs and are responsible for the spread of dysentery and gastroenteritis, as well as various rare diseases.

Because they prefer warm, moist conditions typical of kitchens, large scale infection usually occurs shortly after they infest a commercial kitchen.

• Of 4600 different species of cockroach, only 30 live where there are humans and of that only 4 species are actually considered pests!
• Some species of cockroach can go 6 weeks without a meal!
• Cockroaches can live for weeks without their head! Yes it is true! This is due to the fact that they get their vitamins from bacteria that live on their bodies, their brain is a mass that is spread throughout their bodies, and their circulatory system is basically non existent as their blood, like their brain, just floats around their bodies.
• Cockroaches can be easily trained like Pavlov’s dog! Pavlov trained his dogs to drool at the sound of a bell by training them to expect their dinner at the sound of a bell. Cockroaches can be trained to do similar things with sugary treats. So if you’ve got cockroaches and you’re not ready to say goodbye to them yet, try training them to come when called! It would make our job a lot easier!