The cockroaches guide
Identification, behaviour, risks and prevention: answers to the most common questions about cockroaches.
German and Oriental cockroaches: the common species in France
The German cockroach (Blattella germanica), light brown and 1 to 1.5 cm long, is the most common species found indoors — it thrives in the warmth and humidity of kitchens and bathrooms. The Oriental cockroach (Blatta orientalis), larger and dark brown-black, is more often found in basements and pipework. Identifying the species is the first step of our cockroach treatment.
A formidable rate of reproduction
A single female German cockroach can produce 300 to 400 offspring over her lifetime, carrying egg capsules (oothecae) until they hatch. This rapid reproduction, combined with nocturnal activity and the ability to squeeze into the smallest cracks, is why a visible infestation often hides a much larger population — which is why a professional diagnosis is worth getting early.
A risk to hygiene and health
Cockroaches contaminate any surface or food they cross, and the droppings and shed skins they leave behind are recognised allergens that can worsen asthma, particularly in children. Their presence in a public-facing business (restaurant, shop) is also a breach of hygiene standards, which our cockroach treatment resolves quickly.
Reducing the risk of infestation
Keeping food in sealed containers, not leaving dishes or food waste out overnight, and sealing cracks around pipework significantly cut the risk. Once an infestation takes hold, only a professional targeted gel treatment from a Certibiocide-certified technician, applied under official biocide product regulations, can reach the individuals hiding in inaccessible spots. In food service, cockroaches are also a point of attention during health inspections — see our article cockroaches in a restaurant: what a health inspection checks.
How much does treatment cost?
Cockroach treatment starts at €310 including tax for an area up to 50 sqm, with all 3 visits included. Learn more about our cockroach treatment or see the full breakdown on our pricing page.
Frequently asked questions
Cockroaches: the full FAQ
An oval, flattened body, brownish to black depending on the species, 1 to 3cm long, two long thread-like antennae and a fast scuttling run are the most recognisable traits.
Cockroaches mainly seek warmth, moisture and access to water — even a clean kitchen or bathroom can attract them if these conditions are present, often via pipework.
They can carry bacteria and worsen allergies and asthma, particularly in children, by contaminating surfaces and food as they pass.
Most species found in homes don't fly, or only rarely — they mainly move by running, often at night.
Some species can survive several weeks without food and nearly a week without water, which makes complete elimination difficult without professional treatment.
Very fast: a single female can be the source of dozens, even hundreds, of offspring within a few months depending on the species.
Behind appliances, under sinks, in pipework, skirting board cracks and dark, warm spaces near water sources.
Cockroaches visible in daylight, droppings (small black specks) and a persistent unpleasant smell are signs of an already well-established infestation.
They may reduce numbers temporarily, but rarely eliminate an entire colony hidden in walls or pipework — a targeted professional treatment remains the most reliable option.
Not leaving food or dirty dishes out, fixing water leaks and sealing cracks greatly reduce the risk of a new infestation.