The summer cockroach explosion
Cockroaches are cold-blooded, which means their metabolism and breeding rate accelerate with temperature. A German cockroach population that might take months to build in winter can explode in weeks during a Newcastle summer. A single female and her offspring can produce thousands of cockroaches in a year — and in summer, that timeline compresses dramatically.
The three species most common in the Hunter region are the German cockroach (small, light brown, indoor kitchens), the Australian cockroach (medium, dark brown, often in subfloors and gardens) and the American cockroach (large, reddish-brown, sewers and drains). Each requires a different treatment approach.
Reducing cockroach attractants
- 1Clean kitchen benches, stovetops and sinks every night — cockroaches are nocturnal feeders
- 2Fix dripping taps and reduce moisture — cockroaches need water more than food
- 3Empty and clean the dishwasher filter regularly
- 4Seal gaps around pipes under the sink where cockroaches travel
- 5Don't leave pet food out overnight
- 6Take rubbish out daily in summer and keep bins sealed
- 7Check behind the fridge and under the oven for grease build-up
Fly control in summer
Flies are more than a nuisance — they spread bacteria including E. coli, Salmonella and Staphylococcus. In summer, fly populations explode because the warm weather accelerates the life cycle from egg to adult to as little as 7–10 days.
- Install and maintain flyscreens on all windows and doors
- Use a fly zapper or trap in outdoor entertaining areas
- Keep wheelie bins closed and clean — fly-blown rubbish breeds thousands of flies
- Clean up pet waste from the yard daily
- Cover food at barbecues and outdoor meals
- Consider a fly treatment as part of your general pest control — external surfaces can be treated to reduce fly landing and breeding
When to call a professional
If you're seeing cockroaches during the day — not just at night — you have a significant infestation. German cockroaches seen in daylight means the harbourage is overcrowded and the population has outgrown its hiding spots. A general pest treatment from $165 targets cockroaches, flies and other summer pests with a combination of gel baits, residual sprays and dust treatments in key harbourage areas.