Cockroach control in Tilburg: how to recognise them
In homes and commercial kitchens it is usually the German cockroach: light brown, about one and a half centimetres long and with two dark stripes on the shield behind its head. It is mostly active at night and loves warmth and moisture. The Oriental cockroach is larger and darker and prefers cool, damp places such as cellars and drains.
- live cockroaches scattering the moment the light goes on
- tiny black specks, like ground pepper, in cupboard hinges and drawers
- brown egg cases behind appliances or in cracks
- a musty, sweetish smell when the infestation is larger
How cockroaches get in and spread
Cockroaches rarely walk in from outside. They hitch a ride in cardboard boxes, suppliers' crates, second-hand kitchen appliances and occasionally luggage. In a block of flats they move from one home to the next through service shafts, cable ducts and gaps around pipes.
Once inside, they seek out the warmest spots: behind the fridge, under the dishwasher, inside the casing of a coffee machine or near the boiler. A female German cockroach carries her egg case with her until the young are almost ready to hatch, which is why a small group quickly grows into a sizeable colony.
Our method: bait instead of spraying
At the inspection we set monitoring traps to see where the cockroaches are and how many there are. With a torch we check the seams of cupboards, the backs of appliances, skirting boards and pipe entries.
We then apply gel bait in small drops where they hide. The cockroaches feed on it and carry it back to their hiding place, where others come into contact with it too. Because egg cases hatch later, we return for a check and a second round if needed. As in all our pest control in Tilburg, we combine this with advice on cleaning and sealing cracks, because a colony with nowhere to hide has a much harder time.
Do's and don'ts
Do not use a supermarket spray. It only kills the cockroaches you hit, drives the rest into other rooms or next door and makes the gel bait less attractive. What does help:
- do not leave dishes, pans or leftovers out overnight
- clean the grease from behind the cooker, fridge and dishwasher
- fix dripping taps and wipe the worktop dry
- throw out cardboard boxes promptly and keep supplies in sealed containers
Spotting droppings that point to mice as well? Then read about mouse control, because where one pest finds food, the other is often not far away.
Cockroaches in restaurants and cafés
For a restaurant, snack bar or commercial kitchen, an infestation is especially unwelcome. German cockroaches like to hide under stainless-steel worktables, in the seals of cold rooms, behind the dishwasher and inside the casings of equipment that stays warm all day.
We plan the work so the kitchen can keep running as far as possible, for example before or after service. Gel bait and monitoring traps are discreet and barely interfere with day-to-day work. Your team gets practical pointers on cleaning and storage from us, because in a busy kitchen that matters as much as the treatment itself.
