• Cockroaches have been around since the time of dinosaurs!

• A cockroach can live almost a month without food.

• A cockroach can live about two weeks without water.

• Some female cockroaches only mate once and stay pregnant for life!

• A cockroach can live for up to one week without its head!

• Cockroaches can hold their breath for up to 40 minutes!

• Cockroaches can run up to 3 miles an hour.

Cockroaches have been around for millions of years, evolving into some of the most adaptable pests on Earth. There are approximately 4,000 living species of cockroaches in the world. About 70 of these species are found in the United States.

Cockroaches are commonly found in buildings and homes because they prefer warm environments close to food and water. Unfortunately, cockroaches can cause allergies and trigger asthma attacks, especially in children. They can also spread nearly 33 different kinds of bacteria.

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American Cockroaches

 

The American cockroach is the largest cockroach found in houses. Despite its name, the American cockroach is not native to North America, but was likely introduced via ships from Africa in the 1600s.  Females can hatch up to 150 offspring per year. Cockroaches don’t get their wings until the become adults.  

 

The American cockroach is the largest of the domestic species in the US.  Adults may be 1to 1-1/2 inches long.  They are brown to reddish brown ad have wings covering their entire abdomen.  Males are strong fliers.

 

A female will drop an egg capsule a day after they are formed and may attach them to a surface with a secretion from her mouth.  She may produce 9-10 capsules in a lifetime at a rate of one per week.  Each capsule usually contains 14-16 eggs.  At ideal temperatures, nymphs will hatch from eggs in 50 -55 days.

 

American cockroaches prefer warm, damp, dark areas.  They congregate in open spaces and cracks and crevices.  Look for American Cockroaches in and near storm sewers, floor drains, grease traps, steam pipes, damp pipe tunnels, moist areas around furnaces or other similar places.  Their preferred food is decaying organic matter.  They will also feed on book bindings, Clothing, syrup and other sweets.  Adults can survive 2-3 without food but only a month without water.  Large infestations are associated with garbage.

 

• Size: 2"

• Shape: Oval

• Color: Reddish-brown, with a yellowish figure 8 pattern on the back of the head

• Legs: 6

• Wings: Yes

• Antenna: Yes

• Common Name: American cockroach

• Kingdom: Animalia

• Phylum: Arthropoda

• Class: Insecta

• Order: Dictyoptera

• Family: Blattidae

• Species: Periplaneta americana

Diet:

American cockroaches will eat just about anything, including plants and other insects.

Habitat:

American cockroaches prefer to live in warm, dark, wet areas, like sewers and basements. They often enter structures through drains and pipes. 

Although American cockroaches can be found in homes, they are also common in larger commercial buildings, such as restaurants, grocery stores and hospitals.

Impact:

Cockroaches crawl through dirty areas and then walk around our homes tracking in lots of bacteria and germs. They can contaminate food by shedding their skins. Their cast off skin and waste byproducts are allergens that can trigger allergic reactions, asthma and other illnesses, especially in children.

Prevention:

• Keep cooking, eating and food storage areas clean and dry.

• If you see cockroaches, it is best to call a pest management professional due to the illnesses they can spread.

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Brown-banded Cockroaches

 

The male’s wings are larger than the female’s wings.  Brownbanded cockroaches often hide their eggs in or under furniture. They usually live 5-6 ½ months.  This roach is named for the pale brown bands, which laterally cross the wings of the adult and the abdomen of the nymphs.  Another color characteristic is that the wings are darker at the base then at the tips.  It is easy to mistake the brown banded for the German they are similar in size and shape.  The females do not fly, but the males fly quite well and are attracted to lights. 

 

The female carries an egg capsule for up to 24-36 hours before she attaches it to an object.  She Prefers use the side or underside f something in her range such as furniture or shelves.  Each female can produce up to 14 capsules in her lifetime each containing up to 18 eggs.  Hatching occurs in 50 -75 days depending upon the temp.  Development from egg to adult takes more than 6 months therefore they do not increase in numbers as quickly as the German cockroach. 

 

Look for brownbanded roaches scattered through the structures of ceilings, behind picture frames, wall moldings, inside appliance motors, toaster TV’s and computers and in closets and furniture.  They avoid light and are not normally found in the daytime making after dark inspections important and daytime sighting an indication of a heavy infestation. 

 

• Size: 1/2"

• Shape: Oval

• Color: Brown, with light bands of color across wings

• Legs: 6

• Wings: Yes

• Antenna: Yes

• Common Name: Brown-banded cockroach

• Kingdom: Animalia

• Phylum: Arthropoda

• Class: Insecta

• Order: Dictyoptera

• Family: Blattellidae

• Species: Supella longipalpa

Diet:

Brownbanded cockroaches prefer to eat starchy foods, such as wallpaper paste and book bindings. Sometimes they’ll eat non-organic things, like nylon stockings!

Habitat:

Brownbanded cockroaches prefer warmer, drier, and higher locations than most cockroaches. While most cockroaches prefer to live in kitchens and pantries, Brownbanded cockroaches will live in any room in the house. They do not need much moisture and avoid light whenever the can.

Impact:

Cockroaches crawl through dirty areas and then walk around our homes tracking in lots of bacteria and germs. They can contaminate food by shedding their skins. Their cast off skin and waste byproducts are allergens that can trigger allergic reactions, asthma and other illnesses, especially in children.

Prevention:

• Keep cooking, eating and food storage areas clean and dry.

• If you see cockroaches, it is best to call a pest management professional due to the illnesses they can spread.

   

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German Cockroaches

 

German cockroaches can be found all over the world. They are the most common cockroach in the United States. Each German cockroach can live about 100-200 days.  The German cockroach is the most important pest insect in the urban environment.  Adults are ½ inch to 5/8 long and though they have wings that cover their entire abdomen, they do not fly.  They are tan to brown with two dark stripes that run length on the thorax just behind the head. 

 

Egg capsules are purse shaped, light brown and from ¼ -3/8 of an inch long.  They contain 30 -48 eggs each.  The female carries the capsule partially within her abdomen until the eggs are 1-2 days from hatching.  She then deposits them in a protected spot.  As nymphs they stay within a few inches of birthplace and feed on their mothers feces.  As they grow they begin to forage.

 

The German cockroach is most commonly found where food is handled and stored and will eat almost any food consumed by humans.  They will be concentrated is areas of high moisture because they need a steady source of water.  They are most active at night, but on any night only 1/3 of the harborage will forage. 

 

Common harborages include cracks and crevices, under countertops, cardboard boxes and stored papers, behind and under appliances.

 

• Size: 1/2" to 5/8"

• Shape: Oval

• Color: Brown to dark brown

• Legs: 6

• Wings: Yes

• Antenna: Yes

• Common Name: German cockroach

• Kingdom: Animalia

• Phylum: Arthropoda

• Class: Insecta

• Order: Blattodea

• Family: Blattellidae

• Species: Blattella germanica

Diet:

Cockroaches are attracted to sweet and floury foods. They also eat non-organic items such as toothpaste and books!

Habitat:

German cockroaches live in warm and damp places, like kitchens, bathrooms, and places where people eat and drink.

Impact:

Cockroaches crawl through dirty areas and then walk around our homes tracking in lots of bacteria and germs. They can contaminate food by shedding their skins. Their cast off skin and waste byproducts are allergens that can trigger allergic reactions, asthma and other illnesses, especially in children.

Prevention:

• Keep cooking, eating and food storage areas clean and dry.

• If you see cockroaches, it is best to call a pest management professional due to the illnesses they can spread.

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Oriental Cockroaches

 

Oriental Cockroaches probably get their names from trade ships but they are actually from Africa. They are large and very dark compared to other cockroaches. They usually travel through sewer pipes and drains. They prefer dirty places and cooler temperatures than other cockroaches. An Oriental cockroach creates a strong smell and is considered one of the dirtiest of all the cockroaches.  

 

The oriental cockroach is shiny black or very dark brown.  Adult males are about 1 inch long, while the female reach 1 ¼ inches long.  The female has small wings while the male’s wings are longer covering 50-75% the abdomen.  Oriental roaches do not fly.

 

Females drop egg capsules after carrying them for 30 hours.  However, the female may attach the capsule to a protected surface near food.  They produce on average 8 capsules with approximately 16 eggs each.  The eggs will hatch in about 60 days at room temp. 

 

Oriental cockroaches prefer moist areas like the American cockroach but are often found in cooler environments.  They usually live in sewers and enter buildings through drains.  They may also be found under leave and in floor drains, crawl spaces, garbage containers. Refuse compactors and damp basements.  Although they rarely move above the first floor, they can move to upper floors by climbing water pipe.

 

• Size: 1"

• Shape: Oval

• Color: Dark brown, almost black

• Legs: 6

• Wings: No

• Antenna: Yes

• Common Name: Oriental cockroach

• Kingdom: Animalia

• Phylum: Arthropoda

• Class: Insecta

• Order: Dictyoptera

• Family: Blattadae

• Species: Blatta orientalis

Diet:

Oriental cockroaches feed on all types of garbage and other organic material.

Habitat:

Oriental cockroaches also live in sewers and wet, decaying areas, such as basements and crawlspaces, firewood and piles of leaves.

Impact:

Cockroaches crawl through dirty areas and then walk around our homes tracking in lots of bacteria and germs. They can contaminate food by shedding their skins. Their cast off skin and waste byproducts are allergens that can trigger allergic reactions, asthma and other illnesses, especially in children.

Prevention:

• Keep your home clean and dry.

• Vacuum often and seal cracks in and around your house.

• If you see cockroaches, it is best to call a pest management professional due to the illnesses they can spread.