5/18/2023 7:52:00 AM

The cockroach invasion of South Africa

Cockroaches can enter any building in many different ways to find warm surroundings to live in; the... 


Cockroaches can enter any building in many different ways to find warm surroundings to live in; they prefer the interiors of homes and other warm and humid buildings rather than the exteriors, such as gardens; these pests thrive in warm, humid summer environments as these conditions spur them to feed more and reproduce much faster. A German cockroach infestation can grow quickly because of the average amount of time it takes for them to reach reproductive maturity, which is only around 50 to 60 days. Alternatively, larger roach species, like the American roach, may take 6-12 months to reach adulthood. Due to the German cockroach's rapid reproduction rate, a single egg case can escalate into an extreme infestation if not treated in time and effectively.

How do cockroach infestations start?

Other than through reproducing in your home, a cockroach infestation can start in any of the following ways:

  • Coming in through walls and cracks in the building.
  • Coming in through bags, backpacks, suitcases, and other containers.
  • Coming through structural openings such as doors and windows, or
  • By moving from one apartment to another through pipes and other holes in shared walls.

These are normal circumstances for cockroach infestations to start because these pests are naturally attracted to cluttered, dirty, or unhygienic environments with accessible water and food. Another ideal condition for cockroaches is trashcans with food. However, recent news reports indicate we are not currently facing normal times; thus, pest control treatments and methods must be escalated.

There has been a recent outbreak of German cockroaches in South Africa. CropLife South Africa, a non-profit industry association, has identified the humidity of the past summer as the cause of this outbreak. Besides the climatological conditions, CropLife has also suggested that this invasion may be due to unhygienic conditions that prevail in many parts of the country.

How does the South African climate help cockroaches?

Cockroaches are highly resilient and can also survive at average room temperatures and humidities. However, the past summer's average temperatures in South Africa ranged from 15 degrees Celsius to 36 degrees Celsius. Since cockroaches prefer a temperature of 29 degrees Celsius to 35 degrees Celsius, the past summer conditions provided these pests with the ideal feeding and reproducing climate and humidity.

Do lack of hygiene facilities promote cockroach infestation?

Many people in South Africa lack access to sanitation facilities, such as toilets and hand-washing facilities. This leads to poor hygiene practices and increases the risk of contracting diseases. Moreover, according to the CropLife article, it has become another factor that promoted the current German cockroach infestation.

These climatological and hygiene conditions have put a strain on standard pest control procedures and have opened the door to the use of street pesticides that are not registered for indoor use.

For pesticides to be deemed legal, they must be registered under Act 36 of 1947, which intends to provide for the registration of fertilizers, farm feeds, sterilizing plants and other remedies.

Examples of illegal pesticides:

  • DDT
  • Chlordane
  • Heptachlor
  • Aldrin
  • Dieldrin
  • Endrin

Unlawful or unregulated use of pesticides will have a detrimental effect on the environment. When uncontrolled, pesticides can contaminate soil, water, grass, and other vegetation. They may effectively eradicate cockroaches in your home or at your workplace; however, this does not outweigh the fact that they can also be toxic to numerous other organisms in the environment and to yourself.

Risks of uncontrolled pesticide use

  1. Immediate health effects from pesticide exposure include nose, throat, and skin irritation that causes burning, stinging and itching, rashes, and blisters.
  2. Chronic health effects include cancer; brain and nervous system damage; congenital disabilities; infertility and other reproductive problems; and damage to the liver, kidneys, lungs and other body organs.
  3. Surface water contamination, pesticides can reach surface water through runoff from treated plants and soil. Pollution transported by surface water degrades the quality of drinking water and damages fisheries and habitats of plants and animals that depend on clean water for survival.
  4. Groundwater contamination results in poor drinking water quality, loss of water supply, degraded surface water systems, high clean-up costs, high costs for alternative water supplies, and potential health problems.
  5. Soil contamination can leak toxic chemicals into ground or surface waters, where plants and animals can consume these materials.

Due to these risks, it is crucial to practice diligence when dealing with pesticides, regardless of the unpleasantness of the situation. The current cockroach invasion may be an extreme situation, but it does not override our responsibilities to the environment.

In addition to providing sustainable and affordable portable sanitation service and professional hygiene management solutions, Sanitech is committed to helping South Africans control the current German cockroach invasion in an environmentally friendly manner.

The Sanitech integrated pest management and treatment service offers businesses a comprehensive solution to all pest infestations; this includes termites, wood borers, rodents, flying insects, ants and cockroaches.

Sanitech integrated pest management and treatment service

Our pest management and treatment service includes the following:

  1. Gelling
    • Less messy than any other type of product for cockroaches, such as sprays
    • Gel baits are safer to use around kids and pets
    • More effective than any other product because of its stability over time
    • Non-toxic and washable
  2. Fumigation
    • Fumigation gets into places other pest methods can't reach.
    • Fumigation is faster than many other pest methods.
    • Fumigation kills all stages of life.
    • In some cases, it is required by law that there be zero tolerance for a pest.
  3. Spraying
    • Users can measure pesticide mixture dosage depending on the pest type.
    • Emits pesticide solution in fine spray form.
    • Nozzles break up the pesticide into tiny droplets and away from the user.
    • There are various types of sprays for treating complex targets.

These are all reliable methods of pest control; however, in the wrong hands and with unregulated pesticides, they can still be hazardous to the environment, the user and others. Illegal or street pesticides are lethal. Thus, it is essential to enlist the services of experienced professionals with regulated pesticides to help you with your pest control needs.

Why use a professional pest control service?

The benefits of using professional pest control services are:

  1. They help you Identify pests - correct identification of problems makes controlling them more accessible and effective.
  2. They ensure safe treatment – have the knowledge and awareness to protect non-pest species from direct exposure to pesticides and contamination due to drift, runoff, or residues.
  3. They can offer preventative Measures – pest control services can provide you with methods to prevent an infestation before it begins.

Pests can cause damage to property as well as pose health risks and sanitation concerns. Frequently controlling, minimizing or removing undesirable insects or pests is necessary for any workplace or home. Sanitech offers a range of treatments to help you get rid of the German cockroach and other infestations effectively before they can become a pandemic outbreak.

References