 | Brown Banded Cockroach (Supella longipalpa) are becoming very prolific in the Cairns area. Commonly mistaken for German Cockroach because of their small size and reasonably similar appearance, they can occasionally be challenging to eradicate due to their characteristics and somewhat difficult to find harbourages. Unlike the German Cockroach which will nearly always be close to a more humid environment like the kitchen, bathrooms and laundries, the Brown Banded Cockroach can be living in any room in the house and can often be seen on the upper walls of your house. Primarily active at night, they can also sometimes be seen wandering for food during the day. |
| Varying in size from 11 - 15 mm these colourful Cockroaches got their name from the light brown bands that run horizontally across the wings of the adult or the body of the young/nymphs. Brown Banded Cockroach are opportunistic feeders like other cockroaches. However, when there is a choice they will generally feed on materials with a higher starch content, such as book bindings, wall paper glue and stamps. Brown Banded Cockroaches prefer dry and warm areas and can be located inside cabinets, pantries, under furniture and behind wall hangings. |  |
 | They are also found in electrical appliances or around fridge or dishwasher motor housings. They also tend to be found closer to the ceilings than water sources like many other cockroach species. This Cockroach has been found to carry and spread bacteria and protozoa which can lead to gastroenteritis and diarrhea. More commonly though, cockroaches indoors will often be found to trigger asthma and allergies. The first thing to do in any cockroach issue is to identify the species correctly. The methods used to treat one species of Cockroach may prove to be completely useless in treating another species. For this reason, we recommend contacting a professional pest management team if you suspect an infestation. |
If you'd like some tips and info on how to help prevent cockroach infestations click on the below link.