Normal cockroaches crawl in the dark at night but the ones that have hit Mzansi recently, are seen everywhere, anytime and they come out in numbers. CropLife South Africa, a non-profit industry association for manufacturers and suppliers of pesticides, has warned that German cockroaches have increased in recent months, and this was caused by wet and humid weather conditions.

NEAR-PANDEMIC OUTBREAK

According to CropLife SA marketing manager Elriza Theron, the spread is near pandemic level, and the cockroaches are said to pose a health risk as they can contaminate food with diseases. The association said: "Cockroaches are primarily active at night, but the current outbreak is of such magnitude that the insects are running around during the day in most homesteads. Homeowners, the fast-food sector, retail sector and hospitality industry should act quickly to stop the tide of cockroaches in South Africa.' Theron said. The association has warned South Africans to avoid using unregistered pesticide for the sake of their health.  "Do not buy unlabelled pesticides in small containers from social media advertisers or street vendors, as those products are likely to pose a severe hazard and risk to people when applied indoors,' she added.

CLEAN UP

Theron said hygiene should be a priority and households should be always kept clean without any leftovers lying around and dirty dishes. "A dirty kitchen that is littered with left-over food and freely available pet food needs serious intervention to deny these unsavoury critters from invading a home and setting up a colony.' She added that floor surfaces are potential breeding spots and hide-outs in kitchens, pantries and bathrooms. "They must be thoroughly washed and disinfected with a diluted solution of sodium hypochlorite (domestic bleach). Places that attract and harbour cockroaches include electrical appliances such as fridges and washing machines, cupboards under kitchen and bathroom basins, drainpipe cavities in walls, food cupboards, outdoor drains and dark enclosed areas such as garages. The German cockroach could also cause electrical problems and cause appliances such as microwaves, kettles, dishwashers, and ovens to short-circuit, which can result in costly repairs, so control measures are important.  

WHAT ARE GERMAN COCKROACHES?

German cockroaches live and breed indoors and are mostly found around the kitchen or and bathrooms. They are small but hard to get rid of without the help of a professional exterminator. The cockroaches are also known to carry and transmit bacteria that can cause allergic reactions and other illnesses in humans.