Cockroach Control in Gillieston Heights, Maitland

The call-out

A customer contacted us worried about cockroaches at their Gillieston Heights home, in the Maitland area. On arrival I spoke with the customer about when they first started seeing them. They had recently moved in and had dealt with cockroaches at their previous property, so they naturally feared they had brought German cockroaches with them.

Inspection findings

I began with the wet areas, where a cockroach nymph appeared. On close inspection it was not a German cockroach. It was a nymph of a native species, which does not usually live indoors. These cockroaches need high moisture and normally live under tree bark or in garden mulch. They move inside only when their natural habitat is disturbed or food becomes scarce.

The customer also showed me a photo taken days earlier at the outdoor BBQ area. The narrow body and dark markings near the eyes resemble a German cockroach at first glance, but this was again a native species.

Treatment

The customer was relieved it was not a German infestation, but did not want unwanted guests indoors. I recommended an outdoor barrier treatment, which included:

• Dusting of weep holes
• Perimeter barrier spray
• Dusting of the roof void

Recommendations

The customer was provided with a service report recommending the following:

• Seal the gap at the front door to reduce entry points.
• Install breathable weep hole covers to keep pests out while allowing airflow.
• Maintain sanitation indoors and around the BBQ area.