Why Cockroaches Take Over Melbourne Kitchens Every Summer
Warm nights, a good water source and one hidden egg case are all it takes. Here is what actually drives a summer cockroach problem — and the three things that stop it.
Read articleWhy autumn is the spike
As Melbourne nights cool, rodents that have spent summer breeding in gardens, drains, compost and vacant blocks start looking for somewhere warm and dry with a food source. Your roof void, subfloor and garage tick every box. Add nearby construction or drainage work, which displaces established populations, and activity climbs quickly.
The early signs
- Droppings — dark, rice grain sized for mice, larger and capsule shaped for rats. Look under the sink, behind the fridge, in the pantry corners and along roof void beams.
- Gnaw marks on food packaging, timber trims, plastic conduit or the corners of cardboard boxes in the garage.
- Greasy smudge marks along skirting boards, pipes and beams where rodents run the same route each night.
- A pet that suddenly fixates on one wall, cupboard or spot on the ceiling.
- A musty ammonia smell in an enclosed space such as a pantry, cupboard or roof void.
Check these entry points
A mouse gets through a gap the width of a pencil, a rat through one about the size of a 50 cent piece. Walk the outside of the house and look at weep holes, the junction of the roof and gutter, gaps in fascia and eaves, damaged air vents and subfloor vents, gaps under doors, and any pipe or cable penetration through an external wall. Cut back branches that touch the roof — they are a bridge.
Why DIY baiting often goes wrong
Supermarket baits placed loose in a roof void or garage carry two risks: the bait is accessible to pets, children and native wildlife, and a rodent that dies inside a wall cavity creates an odour problem that lasts a fortnight. Professional programs use lockable, tamper resistant stations secured in position on rodent runways, mostly external and in the roof void, combined with trapping in sensitive areas.
The part people skip
Baiting removes the current population. Proofing is what stops the next one. If the entry points are still open, you are committing to baiting your house every autumn forever — so fix the gaps while the problem is fresh in your mind.
Need this dealt with rather than done yourself? Call Pest Control Unit on 0415 589 338 for a free, no obligation quote anywhere in metropolitan Melbourne.