Massive cockroach invasion hits Sydney

An “extensive influx” of cockroaches are plaguing the homes of Australia, experts have warned — and could be yet for months to come.

First came the fires, then a pandemic, floods and now, as if the past two years weren’t rough enough, an “extensive influx” of cockroaches are plaguing the homes of Australia — and could be yet for months to come.

Multiple experts urged Aussies to heed their warnings back in December, when it was predicted the months of rain, coupled with bouts of hot weather brought on by the La Nina climate system, had created an environment primed for an insect “explosion”, especially in coastal areas and estuaries.

Now, millions of the critters are swarming homes, particularly in Sydney — which already has an unfortunate reputation for being a crowd-favourite breeding ground for the six-legged insects.

At the moment, owner of ABC Pest Control Sydney Warren Bailey told news.com.au, “there is an extensive influx of cockroaches in Sydney”.

“There is an extensive influx of cockroaches in Sydney”.

“Primarily, this has been due to the excessive rain holding them back, and now the hot weather that is here. In general, Sydneysiders will see cockroaches in the summer anyway — however, with unusual rain patterns, this appears to have made the situation worse,” he explained.

What’s more, “the influx will most likely last as long the weather stays hot, so possibly up until April or May”.

Why are there so many roaches at the moment?

While Australia has about 400 native cockroach species, “less than a handful” can be problematic in houses, Western Sydney University Associate Professor of Entomology, Markus Riegler, told news.com.au, “and all of these have been introduced to Australia because they are so well adapted to humans”.

“Cockroaches are ectotherm animals, and this means that their development depends on the ambient temperature. They develop faster under the warm conditions that we are currently experiencing, and warm-humid (and not too hot) summers provide excellent conditions for cockroaches,” he explained.

“This means also that they can produce offspring quicker, leading to a local build-up of populations if they have access to food, and this is likely to last for the rest of the summer and into the autumn.”

‘The influx will most likely last as long the weather stays hot, so possibly up until April or May.’ Picture: iStock

For those in highly developed areas of Sydney, they could be experiencing “influxes of German cockroaches”, Mr Bailey said.

“These are smaller than the usual standard cockroach, and breed at astronomical rates,” he added.

What attracts cockroaches to your home?

The number one reason cockroaches are drawn to your home, both Professor Riegler and Mr Bailey advised, is their search for food — and pest cockroaches, Prof Riegler said, “are very good in locating any food left in the kitchen, on a table, or in the pantry”.

“This is the main reason — although some other factors may come into play if they’re looking for places to breed,” Mr Bailey said.

As for where they like to breed, “one of their favourite places is under the fridge or dishwasher”.

“In some cases, if breeding has got out of hand and food is more scarce, they can damage wires in these types of appliances,” he warned.

How can you prevent a cockroach infestation?

It’s pretty simple — be vigilant, and keep things clean.

“It’s important to always keep all food in closed containers or the fridge (including food you may usually not have in the fridge in winter, such as sugar or fruit); and to regularly remove any food scraps from the kitchen and the kitchen table,” Prof Riegler advised.

It’s important to keep all food in closed containers.

“Similarly, pots, cooking utensils, dishes and cutlery are best washed straight after preparing and consuming meals, and should not sit in the kitchen sink for long periods of time.

“Food preparation and eating areas should also be cleaned after each meal. Compostable waste should not be kept in the kitchen or anywhere else in the house but placed into green bins or a backyard compost bin, and a similarly good idea is to rinse recyclable food containers before they go into the yellow bin.”

He also recommended investigating “where cockroaches enter a kitchen or room, and to obstruct these access points, if possible”.

“And also look for any hidden breeding spots for cockroaches in a house, [so you can] remove any cockroach oothecae (egg cases produced and dispersed by female cockroaches) if you find them,” he said.

How do you get rid of roaches?

While the “occasional visit of a few cockroaches may be tolerable”, Prof Riegler said, it’s also no way to live if you’ve got droves of them inhabiting your living space.

The best way, Mr Bailey said, to keep the roaches at bay is ‘to have a regular pest service’.

While the key point “is really to not let any food sit around so that cockroaches cannot potentially contaminate it with any germs while feeding on it”, cockroach baits with insecticides and alternative options from the supermarket or hardware store can also lend a hand.

But the best way, Mr Bailey said, to keep the roaches at bay is “to have a regular pest service”.

While most pest control conducted in Sydney is “emergency pest control”, “more and more” customers of his own business are moving toward a service that offers three checks a year.

“These types of plans have been common in the USA for some time,” he explained.

“So if the pests come back, so do they.”