Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
An electronic pest control device to help deal with the cockroach population.
Vincent Hanley sets the scene, describing how cockroaches can infest kitchens that appear, at first glance, to be spotless.
They love warm, damp, humid conditions.
Cockroaches have existed for millions of years and are likely to outlast us all.
A new device aims to tackle this pest problem. Des Schweppe is marketing an electronic cockroach killer in Ireland. He outlines how the device would work in a busy hotel kitchen, where a combination of heat, moisture and readily available food creates the perfect environment for cockroaches to breed.
Scientists at the University of Southampton have synthesised a substance that mimics a pheromone secreted by cockroaches. This is placed within the machine to attract the insects into the device, where they become trapped. Inside, the cockroaches step onto an electric grid. Every twenty seconds, a 250-volt charge passes through the grid, stunning them before they fall into a sticky compartment below, from which they cannot escape.
There are more than 3,000 species of cockroach worldwide. In Ireland, three are commonly found, including the American cockroach, the German cockroach, and the Oriental cockroach, each differing in size and colour.
This episode of 'Summerhouse' was broadcast on 8 July 1981.
The presenter is Vincent Hanley.
'Summerhouse' was a summer magazine programme with a very wide brief, from arts and entertainment to investigative reports. The first series was presented by Áine O'Connor and Liam Nolan. Vincent Hanley replaced Nolan as O'Connor's co-presenter for the second and third series. It was first broadcast on 13 June 1979 and ran for three series in the summer, until 19 August 1981
An electronic pest control device to help deal with the cockroach population.
Vincent Hanley sets the scene, describing how cockroaches can infest kitchens that appear, at first glance, to be spotless.
They love warm, damp, humid conditions.
Cockroaches have existed for millions of years and are likely to outlast us all.
A new device aims to tackle this pest problem. Des Schweppe is marketing an electronic cockroach killer in Ireland. He outlines how the device would work in a busy hotel kitchen, where a combination of heat, moisture and readily available food creates the perfect environment for cockroaches to breed.
Scientists at the University of Southampton have synthesised a substance that mimics a pheromone secreted by cockroaches. This is placed within the machine to attract the insects into the device, where they become trapped. Inside, the cockroaches step onto an electric grid. Every twenty seconds, a 250-volt charge passes through the grid, stunning them before they fall into a sticky compartment below, from which they cannot escape.
There are more than 3,000 species of cockroach worldwide. In Ireland, three are commonly found, including the American cockroach, the German cockroach, and the Oriental cockroach, each differing in size and colour.
This episode of 'Summerhouse' was broadcast on 8 July 1981.
The presenter is Vincent Hanley.
'Summerhouse' was a summer magazine programme with a very wide brief, from arts and entertainment to investigative reports. The first series was presented by Áine O'Connor and Liam Nolan. Vincent Hanley replaced Nolan as O'Connor's co-presenter for the second and third series. It was first broadcast on 13 June 1979 and ran for three series in the summer, until 19 August 1981
