Disgusting, annoying and horrible are all very good ways to describe this invasive pest. They are omnivorous scavengers and eat meat, fatty foods, sugars and starch, they can even go as far as eating toothpaste and soap! These cockroaches are primarily nocturnal but can be seen during the day time if population levels are large.

Unfortunately these cockroaches become quite problematic if left unchecked, they can spread disease, leave grease smears and leave droppings everywhere. In New Zealand they are typically located in kitchens, bathrooms, laundries as they enjoy hot and humid locations. If you do think you have these cockroaches you may have recieved them in a secondhand appliance or inherited them upon moving into a new property. To remove these pests completely you will need to involve a qualified technician but there are a few environmental changes you can make like deep cleaning the kitchen, pay special attention to appliances like the oven, fridge and dishwasher.