Battling Cockroach Infestation in Bedfordview
No one likes to encounter a cockroach in their home, office, supermarket, shop, warehouse, hospital or restaurant. These are typical locations in which these pests may be found, because they offer shelter, food and otherwise ideal conditions for cockroaches. The Johannesburg suburb of Bedfordview features an abundance of all of these types of buildings and businesses and despite being considered an affluent area, is just as likely to have resident roaches, as is any other place.
A Bit About Bedfordview
Today’s suburb of Bedfordview was once part of a farm known as Elandsfontein. After the discovery of gold on the Witwatersrand and the gold rush that ensued, the farm was purchased for its mineral rights. Somewhat later, the area was subdivided into smallholdings and smaller farms. Sir George Farrar owned one of these farms, which he named “Bedford” in memory of the town of the same name in which he lived while in England, before coming to South Africa. Somewhat later again, in 1926, a naming competition was held, which was won by a young girl. She was of the opinion that the view from Bedford Farm was pleasing, so she offered the name “Bedford View” in her entry to the competition. Her winning entry was later condensed into a single word, the name Bedfordview.
Although Bedfordview evolved into a village by 1932, it was to remain a largely agricultural area for many years thereafter. As such, there is little doubt that the area must have had its fair share of pests all along, especially cockroaches, flies, mosquitos, ants, termites, rats and mice. Farms and smallholdings were gradually sold, eventually becoming residential properties in a lush, leafy green suburb – today’s Bedfordview, which is now part of the East Rand and the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Council.
Returning to Roaches
In South Africa, three species of cockroach occur most frequently in homes and places that house foodstuffs or produce waste – two types of locations that are ideal roach habitat and sources of their food. Although there are in excess of 3 600 species that have been identified globally, we refer to the German cockroach, the Oriental and the American varieties in South Africa. They are all hardy creatures that love warm and humid conditions and hide in dark places during the day.
At night, when all is quiet, they come out to eat, spreading disease organisms wherever they pass. Although they will eat virtually anything edible, they prefer to feast on decaying matter, including faeces, hence their age-old reputation of being indicative of prevailing dirty conditions.
Disease and Bacterial Risks:
- Gastroenteritis;
- Dysentery;
- Poliomyelitis;
- Typhoid;
- E. Coli;
- Salmonella;
- Can trigger asthma attacks;
- Cockroaches carry contaminants and harmful bacteria on their bodies and legs that they picked up from their decaying food sources. These are passed onto or into everything they touch.
- They constantly defecate and urinate.
- Roaches regurgitate their digestive fluids when eating.
Because cockroaches hide and only come out when no people are about, it is not always apparent if you have an infestation and they are notoriously difficult to eradicate on a DIY basis. As soon as you detect their presence and if you live in Bedfordview, contact Bugman Pest Control’s Johannesburg East team to ensure that you rid your premises of these hazardous pests, as a matter of urgency. |
