Cockroaches

Cockroach presents a range of health risks

Cockroaches like warm, dark and moist environments. They hide in cracks and crevices and are active at night. They feed on almost anything with nutritive value including all food humans consume; and other stuff such as soap, glue, toothpaste, paper, leather and excrement. Depending on species, they can be small or large in size.

Cockroaches are living in a group at various stages. They are mainly nocturnal (active at night) and have a tendency to scatter when exposed to light. During the day, they prefer to hide and rest in dark and secluded areas such as wall voids, other cracks and crevices, etc. They exhibit thigmotropism behaviour, in which they prefer their bodies to touch solid surface both above and below.

They like to move along the side of the walls instead of open spaces. They are highly mobile, moving freely from building to building or from drains, sewers, and latrines to human habitations. They tend to wander and forage more frequent for resources when they deprived of food and water. Their habits of repeatedly regurgitate digestive fluids and defecate while feeding are common.

Cockroaches are important pests as they spread filth. They play a supplementary role in the spread of some diseases such as diarrhoea, dysentery, cholera, plague, typhoid fever, etc. They may also cause allergic reactions such as dermatitis, itching, and swelling of the eyelids for those who are highly sensitive to their droppings, skins, and saliva.