Cockroaches and the Council

[Bograt]

Hello all, a bit of advice please.

Having had the fun of finding cockroaches scooting in and out of the septic tank, and scuttling about in the home, I have decided to try to control them as best as I can. Am I right in thinking that the Municipality would come out and spray the drains, or is that no longer the case? When I looked in the tank, there certainly were plenty of roaches. I don't mind them too much, but of course would prefer not to have them as house guests.

I'm in the UK right now, so can't see if they are still around. I have read that roaches are more of a problem in the summer, so am I best to leave the spraying (if indeed I can get it done) until next year? If the Municipality don't do it, I know that there are firms who will.

Lastly, if I get the drains sprayed, does it mess up all the good bacteria that keep the septic tank working correctly? I also don't want to kill other insect life if I can help it - there are lots of little praying mantis in the garden, which I rather like.

I know about keeping the floors clean, putting away food, and spraying Biokill on areas where they may go. If anybody has any further advice for me, I would be most grateful.

I read online about somebody that had a tarantula living under the sink, which did a marvellous job of eating the roaches apparently

[WHL]

We pour some chemical down all the drains/toilets in the house , twice a year, and never see a single cockroach, we buy it fro the coop store that supplies chemicals to farmers, you must have one in Paphos.

[Bograt]

We pour some chemical down all the drains/toilets in the house , twice a year, and never see a single cockroach, we buy it fro the coop store that supplies chemicals to farmers, you must have one in Paphos.

Sounds good, I'll see if I can find it. I believe E&S is the Cyprus equivalent of Co-op, I think there may be one in Paphos.

[Uncle D]

Unless they have re-opened, E&S closed down some years ago

[WHL]

We pour some chemical down all the drains/toilets in the house , twice a year, and never see a single cockroach, we buy it fro the coop store that supplies chemicals to farmers, you must have one in Paphos.

Sounds good, I'll see if I can find it. I believe E&S is the Cyprus equivalent of Co-op, I think there may be one in Paphos.

Brilliant stuff, you put a cup full down every toilet/ sink in the house leave for an hour then flush .....the coop im talking about only supply chemical, seeds etc for farmers but sell to the general public also

[Bograt]

We pour some chemical down all the drains/toilets in the house , twice a year, and never see a single cockroach, we buy it fro the coop store that supplies chemicals to farmers, you must have one in Paphos.

Sounds good, I'll see if I can find it. I believe E&S is the Cyprus equivalent of Co-op, I think there may be one in Paphos.

Brilliant stuff, you put a cup full down every toilet/ sink in the house leave for an hour then flush .....the coop im talking about only supply chemical, seeds etc for farmers but sell to the general public also

Thank you. Please could you tell me which Co-op this is from? Hopefully it will not upset the septic tank good bacteria, I can check with the retailer no doubt.

[J B]

Thank you. Please could you tell me which Co-op this is from? Hopefully it will not upset the septic tank good bacteria, I can check with the retailer no doubt.

and , maybe, the name of the product would be good.

[WHL]

Sorry I dont live in Pathos, so I dont now where your Coop shop is, just ask any Cypriot for the coop farmers shop ( they are affiliated to coop banks so some one in the Bank will point you in the right direction) , when your there just ask for a chemical for cockroaches/katsarithes.

[Polemi Dave]

No one here lives in Pathos either.

The few that live in Paphos will be sad to tell you that the CO-OP chemical stores affiliated to the banks closed long since. Try one of the other DIY shops, unfortunately more expensive. I would love to see our village secretary's face is I asked her to come round to kill the cockroaches. Not something I have ever seen in Polemi.

[bromerzz]

Foizin is the stuff that is the favourite in these parts.

[galexinda]

Friends use Panic Pest Control to come to their property to deal with the outside drains and say it is very effective.
Website: http://panicpestcontroller.com/

[WHL]

No one here lives in Pathos either.

The few that live in Paphos will be sad to tell you that the CO-OP chemical stores affiliated to the banks closed long since. Try one of the other DIY shops, unfortunately more expensive. I would love to see our village secretary's face is I asked her to come round to kill the cockroaches. Not something I have ever seen in Polemi.

Not in Larnaca or the East, they havent closed

[Bograt]

No one here lives in Pathos either.

The few that live in Paphos will be sad to tell you that the CO-OP chemical stores affiliated to the banks closed long since. Try one of the other DIY shops, unfortunately more expensive. I would love to see our village secretary's face is I asked her to come round to kill the cockroaches. Not something I have ever seen in Polemi.

Ha, that really did make me LOL! the village secretary asked to come and kill cockroaches

I'll have a chat with LA Diy or Philippos, now I know this stuff exists.

[Bograt]

Thank you for the advice. I love the names of the pest control people - Panic and Atom. How very reassuring

I may well go for a mixture of things - get some Foizin like Bromerzz said, seal the top of the septic tank covers with mastik, pour washing up liquid down the drains to stop the damn things breathing (the roaches, not the drains) and shove a tarantula under the sink. If this fails, I will get some petrol and dose the drains with that. Cockroaches blown sky high, the house following after, but at least the problem will be solved. I wonder what the landlady would say.....

Thanks again. Oh, and the petrol bit is a joke

[Anarita John]

Go and see the lady in Chloraka. She will sell you two chemicals which you mix together and put down every plug hole and toilet. We do this twice a year and have not had any roaches in our house since.
About five years ago had a slight problem with roaches in the house. They were coming up the plug holes, due to lack of ubends. When we leave our property now, all plugs are in place and we seal the overflows with masking tape.
Coming from Paphos, she is on the left in an orange coloured building which looks like a small house.

Other people, such as Flossie, can give more detailed directions.
She is a fully qualified agricultural scientist and a lovely,very knowledgeable lady.

[STELIOSBWFC]

Block all plug holes drop diesel down drain run like hell.

[DavidatLWH]

Go and see the lady in Chloraka. She will sell you two chemicals which you mix together and put down every plug hole and toilet. We do this twice a year and have not had any roaches in our house since.
About five years ago had a slight problem with roaches in the house. They were coming up the plug holes, due to lack of ubends. When we leave our property now, all plugs are in place and we seal the overflows with masking tape.
Coming from Paphos, she is on the left in an orange coloured building which looks like a small house.

Other people, such as Flossie, can give more detailed directions.
She is a fully qualified agricultural scientist and a lovely,very knowledgeable lady.

Going from Paphos to Chlorakas on the "upper road" (i.e. towards Jim Pecks & Paps), you pass a big tyre place on the right (about half a mile past the Eko garage) and then a trendy coffee shop. She's a little way past, on the left. The orange colour has been toned down a shade in the last year!

Yes, she is so nice, helpful and knowledgeable.

[WHL]

Block all plug holes drop diesel down drain run like hell.

Never a good idea to pour inflammable liquid down drains.

[Bograt]

Thank you very much Anarita John and DavidatLWH for the detailed directions. Don't worry WHL, I will be keeping any diesel in the diesel tank!

What with LWH, WHL and BWFC, I am struggling to keep all these initials in the correct order.

[Dominic]

Threads like this should be required reading for anybody thinking of emigrating on the strength of a holiday visit or two. It isn't all sun and souvlaki!