Cockroaches and Karoo heat: getting on top of them in Dysseldorp

Cockroaches in Dysseldorp are best dealt with by gel bait placed exactly where they hide, backed up by a residual spray in the cracks and drains they travel through. That gets the nests, not just the ones running across the floor at night. We do it without you leaving the house or emptying the kitchen, and the treatment is covered by our 3-month guarantee.

Why the heat matters

Dysseldorp sits in the Klein Karoo east of Oudtshoorn, and its summers are long, hot and dry. Cockroaches develop faster in warm conditions, so a few in a kitchen in spring can become a lot by the middle of summer. When it's very dry outside, they also move towards water: sinks, geysers, bathroom drains, leaking taps and the cool spaces under a house.

Farming adds another layer. Storerooms, feed sheds, workers' kitchens and outbuildings give cockroaches food, shelter and warmth, often a short walk from the main house.

Two very different cockroaches

It's worth knowing which one you have, because they live in different places.

• The German cockroach is small and light brown, with two dark stripes behind its head. It lives indoors, close to food and warmth: behind fridges and stoves, inside kettle bases and microwaves, in cupboard hinges. This is the one that turns into a serious infestation.
• The American cockroach is much bigger and reddish-brown. It lives in drains, sewers, manholes and outbuildings, and comes indoors at night through drains and gaps under doors. It can fly short distances, which is usually when people notice it.

If you're unsure, our identification guide has more detail.

Signs you have more than a few

Seeing a cockroach in daylight is a bad sign. They prefer the dark, so one out in the open often means the hiding places are full. Look also for droppings like black pepper in drawer corners, small brown egg cases behind appliances, and a musty, oily smell in a cupboard that's been closed. In outbuildings, check under pallets, around feed bags and in the corners of storerooms.

What we do in Dysseldorp

1. Inspect. We look at the kitchen, bathrooms, drains and any outbuildings, and we'll ask where you're seeing them and when. The pattern tells us which species and where the nests are.
2. Bait. Gel bait goes in small dots into hinges, cracks, the backs of appliances and other harbourage. Cockroaches eat it and carry it back, and the ones that feed on them are affected too.
3. Spray where it counts. An odourless, non-staining residual spray is applied into drains, along skirtings, behind units and at entry points, plus a barrier treatment outside.
4. Advise. We'll point out the leaks, gaps and food sources keeping them going.

Treated areas are safe for children and pets once dry. Gel bait is placed in cracks and corners, out of reach.

A dry-climate prevention tip

In a town where water is precious, cockroaches will find every drip. Fix leaking taps and geyser overflows, don't leave a bucket of water standing in the kitchen overnight, and keep plugs in sink and shower drains when they're not in use. That last one is especially useful against American cockroaches, which come up from the pipes. Cover floor drains in outbuildings with a fine grid.

Also keep animal feed in sealed bins rather than open bags. Spilled feed in a shed is a reliable food supply for cockroaches and rodents alike.

What people get wrong

Using a bait and a spray from the shop in the same spot. Sprays repel cockroaches, so if you spray where you've put bait, they avoid the bait altogether. It's one of the main reasons DIY attempts don't work, and why we're careful about where each product goes.

Cost: what goes into the quote

The quote depends on the size of the property, which species you have, how established the infestation is and how many buildings need treating. A house with a few American cockroaches coming up from the drains is a smaller job than a German cockroach infestation through a kitchen, which may need a follow-up visit to deal with the next generation hatching from egg cases. Outbuildings and farm kitchens add time. Because Dysseldorp is outside George, travel is part of the planning, and we'll be clear about it in the quote. If you only see the odd big cockroach coming up a drain, keeping the plug in and the drain clean might be all it takes.

For other pests in town, see our page on pest control in Dysseldorp. If you're nearer town, there's cockroach control in Oudtshoorn, and our main cockroach control page explains more.

We're SAPCA registered with more than 25 years in the Garden Route and Klein Karoo. Call us on 044 012 5011 to arrange a visit.