Cockroach control in The Hague: which species do you have?
In homes and commercial kitchens it is usually the German cockroach: light brown, about one and a half centimetres long, with two dark stripes on the shield behind its head. It loves warmth and stays close to appliances. In basements, crawl spaces and around drains you may also find the larger, dark Oriental cockroach, which prefers cooler, damp places.
- Cockroaches scattering when you switch on the light at night.
- Small black specks, like ground pepper, in cupboards and drawers.
- Brown, oblong egg cases behind appliances and in cracks.
- A musty, sweetish smell when the infestation is larger.
How cockroaches get in and spread
Cockroaches rarely just wander in. They hitch a ride in cardboard boxes, crates of vegetables, second-hand kitchen appliances or the moving boxes of a previous occupant. In apartment blocks they travel through service shafts, cable ducts and gaps around drainpipes from one kitchen to the next.
Once inside they need very little: some grease behind the cooker, crumbs under the fridge, a dripping tap. During the day they hide in seams, behind skirting boards and in the warm motor compartment of a fridge or dishwasher. If you see them out in daylight, their hiding places are probably overcrowded and the infestation has already grown considerably.
Our cockroach control: targeted and thorough
Spraying the whole kitchen mainly scatters cockroaches. That is why our approach is targeted: after an inspection with a torch and, where needed, monitoring traps, we know exactly where they are. In those spots we apply gel bait in small droplets, deep in cracks and behind appliances. The cockroaches feed on it, carry it back to their shelter and pass it on to others.
Gel bait works best when there is little other food around, so we ask you to keep the kitchen extra clean. After a few weeks we come back to check progress and top up where needed. Severe infestations or commercial premises may require an additional treatment.
What you can do yourself – and what to leave alone
You can contribute a lot. Do not leave washing-up, open packets or pet food out overnight, sweep up crumbs behind the cooker and fridge, and take the rubbish out every evening. Fix dripping taps and leaking traps under the sink; cockroaches survive less time without water than without food. Seal gaps around pipes and along the worktop.
Do not use insect spray or foggers alongside the gel. Spray makes the bait unattractive and drives the insects into other rooms and neighbouring homes. It is also best not to store boxes and crates in the kitchen, as cockroaches love hiding in cardboard.
Cockroaches in restaurants and commercial kitchens
In a restaurant, lunchroom or hotel kitchen you want the problem solved quickly and without fuss. We therefore schedule visits outside busy hours and adapt our approach to how your business runs. Gel is applied where it cannot come into contact with food or crockery. You also receive advice on cleaning routines, unpacking deliveries and sealing gaps behind equipment.
Where cockroaches live, rodents often find food and shelter too; if you also spot mouse droppings, read more about mouse control. To see which other pests we deal with in businesses and homes, visit our page on pest control in The Hague.
