Top 12 Cockroach Hiding Places
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To successfully get rid of cockroaches, you need to know where cockroaches are hiding!
To get rid of a cockroach problem it is important to identify and treat all cockroach hiding places. Why is this so important? “For every cockroach you see, there are at hundred more you don’t!”
This may not be exactly true but the fact is that cockroaches are noctural and like to hide away in cracks and crevices. This is even more so for the smaller cockroach species, like German cockroaches. Only the adults venture out from their hiding places to feed, the young stay in the harbourage feeding on food scraps and faeces of other cockroaches! If you only kill the adults you see out in the open, you will never eliminate the infestation.
Typically, the larger species of cockroach such as the American and Australian cockroaches live outside, and come inside by accident. It is the smaller species of cockroach such as the German and Brown-banded cockroaches that like to live inside and if they become established they can be very difficult to remove.
Normally you won’t see cockroaches during the day as they are nocturnal. However, if you do see a cockroach during the day, it probably means their harborage is over-crowded…. so you have a major infestation on your hands!
Not sure where to look? Here are our top 12 cockroach hiding places….
Where do cockroaches live in the home?
- Cupboards – look in corners and hinges of cupboards. Also underneath and behind any kick-boards.
- Oven / Grill – under and behind the oven / grill.
- Fridge / Freezer – underneath and behind the fridge (in the warm electric motor)
- Microwave – Under and in the back of the microwave
- Dishwasher – underneath, inside the door and door hinges and inside the electrics
- Toaster – inside the toaster
- TV – Inside the TV – yes, inside the TV!
- Sinks – Under the sink or wherever there is moisture / leaks
- Cardboard boxes – this is a favourite hiding place. Cockroaches and their egg cases are often brought into the house this way
German cockroach nymphs (babies) are very small – only 3mm long! A large number of cockroaches can squeeze into a very small space. So you need to be very thorough with your inspection!
Where do cockroaches live outside:
- Drains and sewers
- Rubbish bins
- Garden beds
Actually there are two more locations where cockroaches live to hide, especially the large cockroaches such as the American and Australian cockroaches – in the sub-floor (if you have one) and in the roof cavity / wall voids. Sub-floor are perfect for cockroaches as they tend to be dark and damp. Roof cavities can be hot and dry and so you wouldn’t think it would be a place for cockroaches to hide, but they love hiding in insulation, getting moisture from water tanks, leaks and guttering.
Once you’ve identified all the hiding placed, it is necessary to carry out a thorough treatment. Often to get control of cockroaches you will need a range of products; sprays, baits and dusts. For the low-down on which products to use, where, check out our page on how to get rid of cockroaches.
PestXpert Products for control of cockroaches
All PestXpert products are available in Bunnings. Non-aerosol products are also available to buy online in the PestXpert shop.
Author:
Gordon Reidy has over 30 years experience in Pest Control Product Development and Product Safety. As the lead formulator at PestXpert, he has helped develop some of Australia’s most trusted household pest solutions. With a PhD in Toxicology, Gordon is passionate about delivering effective, science-backed products that are safe for families and the environment.
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