Scientists have made a terrifying discovery. The common German cockroach is now almost impossible to kill, and some cockroaches even increase in numbers when treated with insecticide. It appears that cockroaches are developing a cross-resistance to some of the most powerful insecticides used by pest controllers and exterminators. This is a problem, because German cockroaches are found all around the world, including Australia. The creepy little critters seem determined to take over the world and outlive all of humanity.
Researchers from Purdue University studied three apartment buildings infested with German cockroaches in Indiana and Illinois in the USA over a six month period. In the first building the cockroaches were treated with a rotation of three different classes of insecticide. In the second building cockroaches were treated with two different insecticides, and the third building the researchers used only one insecticide – one they believed cockroaches would be particularly vulnerable to. And the results are scary.
The scientists found that in the building where three insecticides were rotated, the cockroach numbers didn’t grow – but didn’t reduce either. The building that was treated with two insecticides had cockroaches numbers increase, while the building treated with only one strong insecticide almost eliminated one cockroach population, while the other in the building continued to grow, despite being treated with the same insecticide.
It appears that some cockroaches are now resistant to pesticides, and pass their immunity on to their offspring. In fact, the researchers hypothesise that resistance to insecticides could increase four or six-fold in just one generation of cockroaches. And those blighters breed quickly.
How to avoid a cockroach infestation:
Rentokil Australia writes that cockroaches can gain access to your house via cracks, crevices, vents, sewers, pipe drains, open windows and doors, and are attracted to heat, moisture and food. So, the best way to prevent cockroaches is by limiting access to your home and denying them food or source of shelter.
- Never leave food, crumbs or standing liquids out in the open.
- Store all food in air-tight containers.
- Empty your bin everyday.
- Make sure there are now constantly damp spots in your home.
- Don’t leave pet food out.
- Clean all surfaces and vacuum regularly.
- Remove all excess clutter or rarely-used mess that could be a new home for cockroaches.
- Seal up all cracks, crevices and other holes or gaps that cockroaches could enter through.
You might also like:
The best way to get rid of cockroaches
Why the Australian cockroach population has exploded
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