, the German cockroach is the most common species worldwide, ranging from more than 1cm to 1.5cm. The cockroach is likely to occupy warm and humid environments where they can access food and water.
Marketing and communications manager of CropLife, Elriza Theron, said that the company's emergency line saw a"massive upsurge" in calls about German cockroaches in South Africa following wet and humid summer weather. Seelig said that South Africans had experienced an increase in household waste after the Covid-19 pandemic, as more people are working from home, contributing to the current infestation. He said there had been a notable increase in German cockroaches in households and restaurants."It is important to monitor and control cockroaches," said Seelig.
"Unfortunately, we have seen people pick up spray bottles and buy some chemicals while unlicensed. They end up using non-food-safe products with food that can have negative consequences," said Seelig.