Dartmoor Pest Control
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Devon Pest control
Devon pest control
Cluster fly control devon & cornwall
Flies: The Cluster Fly
The cluster fly is a nuisance pest for homeowners. It does not bite people, carry diseases, no cause any real damage to a home. Cluster flies are about five-sixteenths of an inch long; they are gray with golden-toned hairs on their thorax. Spotting them is easy because they are usually all clustered together on walls outside, sunning themselves. This is also where their name comes from, because when resting they usually will be clustered near each other. The cluster flies are similar to many other pests as they just want to get inside houses to stay warm. With this in mind, the winter time is when people will most often find cluster flies inside their homes.
Cockroach Control Devon & Cornwall
German Cockroach Removel Devon & Cornwall
German Cockroach (Blattella germanica)
The German cockroach is one of the most common and persistent indoor pests found in homes and businesses across Devon and Cornwall. Fast-breeding and highly adaptable, this species often requires professional treatment for full eradication.
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German Cockroach Life Cycle
The German cockroach has a three-stage life cycle known as incomplete metamorphosis:
1. Egg (Ootheca)
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Females carry a protective egg capsule called an ootheca.
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Each ootheca contains 30–40 eggs.
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Carried until just before hatching—one reason infestations grow rapidly.
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Hatching time: 17–28 days depending on temperature.
2. Nymph
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Small, black-brown, wingless immature cockroaches.
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Go through 6–7 moults as they grow.
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Nymphs hide deep in cracks and warm areas.
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Development time to adult: 6 weeks to 6 months depending on environment.
3. Adult
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Light brown/tan with two dark stripes behind the head.
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Lifespan: 6–12 months.
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Females can produce a new egg case every 3–4 weeks.
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Highly reproductive—one female can lead to thousands of offspring per year.
Clocroach Behind Fridge Eating Bait
How to Identify a German Cockroach
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Light brown/tan body
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Two dark parallel stripes behind the head
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13–16 mm long
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Commonly found in warm, humid areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, boiler rooms, and commercial food premises
Prevention Tips
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Keep kitchen surfaces clean and grease-free
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Store food in sealed containers
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Fix leaks and reduce moisture
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Remove clutter where roaches can hide
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Avoid leaving dirty dishes overnight
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Schedule regular pest inspections—especially in commercial kitchens
Where They’re Found in Devon & Cornwall
German cockroaches thrive in:
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Restaurants, takeaways & cafés
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Rental properties & HMOs
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Hotels & holiday lets
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Food production sites
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Residential kitchens & bathrooms
Both urban centres (Plymouth, Exeter, Truro) and coastal towns (Newquay, Torquay, Falmouth) regularly experience infestations.
Signs of an Infestation
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Small black droppings (pepper-like)
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Musty, unpleasant odour
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Shed skins and egg cases
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Cockroaches seen at night
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Increased activity around heat sources
Why They’re a Problem
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Spread bacteria, allergens and pathogens
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Contaminate food and surfaces
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Trigger asthma and respiratory reactions
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Breed rapidly—females produce up to 40 eggs per capsule
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Hide deep inside appliances, pipework and wall voids
Our German Cockroach Treatment Devon & Cornwall
We provide a specialist service using:
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Targeted gel baiting
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Growth regulators
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Crack-and-crevice treatment
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Follow-up visits
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Long-term prevention advice
All treatments comply with UK pest control regulations and are safe for homes, pets and businesses.
Cockroaches Control devon & cornwall
Q: Are German cockroaches harmful?
Yes. They spread bacteria like E. coli, Salmonella, and allergens.
Q: Why do I see them only at night?
They hide during the day — daytime sightings usually mean a large infestation.
Q: Can I get rid of them myself?
DIY sprays rarely work; they scatter the colony and miss hidden egg cases.
Q: How long does treatment take?
Typically 2–3 visits over 4–6 weeks.
How do I know I have a problem?
If you have a cockroach problem you will see dead & alive cockroaches. Cockroaches are mainly
nocturnal so they are more likely to be seen at night. They require high temperatures, although
will survive and tolerate low temperatures (but will not thrive). Due to this they are most commonly
found in kitchens, laundry rooms, boiler rooms & anywhere? where high temperatures occur. In a
kitchen the favourite places for them to live will be inside fridges (fridge motors constantly give off heat),
cookers, boilers & washing machines.
Why should cockroaches be treated?
Cockroaches are a health hazard. If you are a commercial premises and you have cockroaches, the Environmental Health Dept. may close you down, fine you or both. If left the numbers will increase.
Preparation prior to Treatment
The cleaner the infested areas the better chance of success any treatment will have. Clean under and in cookers, fridges etc. All areas up and down (cockroaches can climb) need to be cleaned and de greased thoroughly. Contact you neighbours or any building connected to yours to see if they have a problem.Treatments of large communal type buildings will only work if the whole building is treated at the same time.
Treatment
The cockroach infestation will have been baited using a bait called ?Maxforce? or treated with one of the following insecticide sprays: Demand CS or Ficam W. If our technician has used a dust formulation, the insecticide is Ficam D powder. We use modern biodegradable insecticides that are odourless, non-tainting, non-corrosive and non-staining. In some instances, such as heavy infestations, infestations spreading from neighbouring properties, or unclean surfaces, more than one spray or bait treatment will be needed for complete control. In some cases it may be necessary to spray or bait on a monthly basis until the infestation is eradicated, especially in shared, communal or multi-occupancy buildings.
What do I do afterwards?
You will see dead cockroaches around for a few weeks after each spraying or baiting. Remove these to the outside bin for disposal.? Try to refrain from washing down treated surfaces (for 2 months after last spraying), as this will wash away some or all of the insecticide or bait. The cleaner the premises are kept the more successful any treatments will be, and any infestations will be kept to a minimum. Insecticides work better on clean surfaces and cockroaches will feed on any sort of food debris, but this means keeping areas clean that are not usually seen (i.e. under ovens, wall floor junctions). Cockroach monitoring traps will be supplied to you to see if there are any cockroaches left or a new infestation has occurred. These are harmless sticky traps with a pheromone bait. They are a monitor only and will not act as a control.
Cockroaches Control devon & cornwall
