Cockroaches in the UK

Cockroaches UK – The Ultimate Guide

Cockroaches are only a problem in tropical countries and are extremely rare in the UK, right? WRONG! Cockroach species cause a whole host of pest problems in the UK and are much more common than most people realise!

Whilst most people associate cockroaches with hot humid climates and tropical holidays, there are a couple of species of cockroaches in particular that are actually native to the UK and do cause a whole host of pest control problems.

There are over 4000 different tyres of cockroach in the world with around 30 species of cockroaches associated with human activity and classed as ‘pests’. Fortunately, only a couple of these cause frequent issues in the UK, with most cockroaches preferring more humid environments.

However, despite being less common than some other pests, cockroaches UK are also one of the prolific disease spreading pest species in the world, contaminating surfaces with their filth covered mouths and feet and creating a highly unsanitary and unsafe environment for nearby humans.

Cockroach species in the UK

The two species of cockroach most commonly found in the UK are the German cockroach and the Oriental cockroach, with infestations involving other species such as the brown banded cockroach extremely rare, but not unheard of.

German cockroaches (Blattella germanica)

German cockroaches are the most common cockroach species in the UK measuring around 10mm-15mm in size with long antennae and a two dark stripes across the thorax.

The German cockroach is love warm and damp areas such as heating system and the motors of appliances such as fridges and freezers. They are most commonly found in kitchens, bathrooms, and other high moisture environments.

Due to its size and ability to fly, swim, and climb surfaces of all kinds, German cockroaches can access and hide in all sorts of inaccessible places.

Oriental cockroaches (Blatta orientalis)

Slightly darker and larger than the German cockroach, the oriental cockroach is around 20-30mm in length and black or very dark brown in colour.

The life span on a adult female oriental cockroach is just 5-20 weeks, but they can produce around 200 young in this time.

For this reason, oriental cockroach infestations grow rapidly and it is important to take rapid action if you have spotted one in or around your property.

Like most cockroaches, the Oriental cockroach loves humid environments and have a preference for rubbish and decaying organic matter, attracting them to rubbish bins, tips, and leaf debris in outdoor environments.

American cockroaches (Periplaneta Americana)

Rare in the UK, but not unheard of, the American cockroach one of the largest cockroaches to cause pest issues.

Reddish-brown in colour and measuring up to 30mm in length, American cockroaches prefer to live on trees, but have been known to invade dark, humid, and quiet spaces such as basements and attics.

Brown banded cockroaches (Supella longipalpa)

The final species of cockroaches UK to cause at least semi-regular pest issues in this country is the brown banded cockroach. One of the smaller cockroach species at just 10-15mm they get their name from the yellowy-brown stripes (bands) crossing their abdomen.

Even by cockroach standards, brown banded cockroaches tend to stick to very warm climates, and are highly unlikely to be found outside in this country.

Where are cockroaches found in the UK?

In general, cockroaches are not best suited to the UK climate, preferring the warmer climates of other areas of the globe.

For this reason, it is rare to find cockroaches UK outside, although oriental cockroaches can be found around bin areas, especially during the warmer summer months.

German cockroaches tend to seek the warmth and damp of heating ducts, boiler rooms and the tiny gaps, cracks and crevices behind appliances such as fridges and ovens. It is not even uncommon to find them within the appliance motors themselves.

Dangers of a Cockroach infestation

Cockroaches might be rarer than rodents and other insect pests, but they more than make up for this in the threat that they pose.

They are one of the most dangerous pest species in terms of the health risks they present and should be tackled immediately to protect the safety of those nearby.

Food poisoning

One of the biggest dangers of a cockroach infestation is the contamination of food stuffs and surfaces. Cockroaches will happily gorge themselves on pretty much any kind of human food, but they are just as happy to feed on decaying waste, rubbish, and even faeces.

The bacteria they pick up from the filthy environments in which they inhabit can easily be transferred to humans via food poisoning leading to nasty diseases such as E.Coli, salmonella, cholera, dysentery, and many more.

It is estimated that cockroaches can spread well over 30 different kinds of bacteria and several tyres of parasitic worm, so you can see why they are considered as such a big threat.

Reputation damage

Cockroaches are widely viewed as one of the most disgusting and unhygienic pests and a single sighting can be disastrous for the reputation of any business.

News of a cockroach infestation will spread like wildfire in the local community so it is of the utmost importance that hospitality businesses in particular take precautions to prevent cockroaches from targeting them in the first place by arranging a commercial pest control contract with a local pest control firm.

Asthma

Did you know that over half of all people with asthma may be sensitive to cockroach allergens?

As they move around, cockroaches can leave behind hair, saliva, dead skin, and droppings containing these allergens and it is not unusual for an increase in asthma symptoms to occur before the infestation has been identified.

How to prevent a cockroach infestation

If you already have a cockroach infestation, the only sensible thing to do is to call your local professional pest control company. These pests breed very fast and sticky traps or other DIY cockroach control methods are a bit like putting a plaster on a broken leg.

However, if you have just gotten rid of cockroaches and want to make sure they don’t come back, or want to guard against them invading your property in the first place, there are some easy actions you can take to do just that.

Keep your property clean and rubbish stored securely in bins with sealed lids.
Clean dirty dishes prompt and keep your sink clean of debris.
Store human and pet food in sealed containers when not in use to avoid contamination.
Seal gaps and cracks in your walls and floors to prevent cockroaches and other insects from gaining easy access.
Regularly clean the floors and carpets of your home to remove crumbs and other food remnants.

Get rid of Cockroaches Now

If you do spot evidence of cockroach activity in or around your property, you need to act immediately to protect human health and call a professional pest control company as a matter of urgency.

If you live in Scotland or the North of England, Pest Solutions can help you get rid of cockroaches using tried and tested control methods such as bait boxes and responsible insecticide application.

It is said that cockroaches UK can survive almost anything (even a nuclear bomb!) but they are no match for a the pest controllers at Pest Solutions, who have a fantastic reputation for eliminating entire cockroach infestations at the very first attempt.

To arrange a visit from a qualified BPCA accredited pest control technician or to learn more about cockroaches UK, get in touch with Pest Solutions now on 0800 027 2555.