Communities across the country, but mostly Gauteng, have seen a surge in German cockroaches and many are uncertain about how to deal with them.

According to CropLife SA, that describes it as a ‘near-pandemic outbreak’, multiple factors have contributed to this outbreak including unhygienic living conditions coupled with a hot and humid climate.

“Cockroach control starts with a serious effort to sanitise human habitation of refuse and left-over foodstuffs,” says marketing and communications manager Elriza Theron.

“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.”

Theron gives the following tips:

• Secure refuse bags in wheelie bins or drums.
• Thoroughly wash and disinfect floor surfaces, hidey holes in kitchens, pantries and bathrooms with a diluted solution of sodium hypochlorite (domestic bleach).
• Call in the help of a registered exterminator.

“Cockroaches enjoy the heat and humidity of these places and use them to breed.”

Homeowners, the fast-food and retail sectors and hospitality industry are the most affected by this outbreak and should act quickly if they want to avoid an escalation of the disaster.

CropLife SA warns against using pesticides as they can have a disastrous effect on the environment if handled incorrectly.

The organisation urges all South Africans to adhere to the statutes of the country and only use registered pesticides strictly according to their label instructions to avoid health impacts on themselves, their families or their clients.

“Do not buy unlabeled 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,” says Theron.

“A fumigant in the form of an aerosol canister or fumigation tablet can provide a rapid knockout of most adults and juvenile cockroaches.

“However, consumers must follow safety instructions by wearing a facial cover and evacuating the premises of all inhabitants for the duration of the fumigation as stated on the labels.”

CropLife SA asks residents to carefully read the label on the pesticide to ensure it is safe to use indoors.

Residents can also make use of baits to get rid of the cockroaches.

“Cockroach baits are highly effective and pose a very low risk to people and pets,” explains Theron.

“Registered baits are available in ready-to-use bait stations or easy-to-apply syringes.

“Baits should be applied (or bait stations placed out) where cockroaches are most likely to forage at night, such as inside pantries or in the corners of kitchen counter tops,” she advises.

“It is important to place bait stations out of view of children and pets.”