Roaches

Advanced Pest Control Pest Library

Roaches

American Roach

Is the largest of the common peridomestic cockroaches measuring on average 4 cm in length. It occurs in buildings, especially in commercial buildings.

American cockroaches are found in moist shady areas such as hollow trees, wood piles, and mulch. They are occasionally found under roof shingles and in attics. The cockroaches dwell outside, but will wander indoors to search for food and water or to avoid extreme weather conditions.

They migrate into houses and apartments from sewers via the plumbing, and from trees and shrubs located alongside buildings or with branches overhanging roofs. During the day the American cockroach, which responds negatively to light, rests in harborages close to water pipes, sinks, baths, and toilets where the microclimate is suitable for survival.

The females on average produce one egg case a month for ten months, laying 16 eggs per egg case.

The adult American cockroach is reddish brown with a pale brown or yellow band around the edge of the pronotum. The males are longer than the females because their wings extend 4 to 8 mm beyond the tip of the abdomen.

The American cockroach is an omnivorous and opportunistic feeder. It consumes decaying organic matter but is a scavenger and will eat almost anything. It prefers sweets, but has also been observed eating paper, boots, hair, bread, fruit, book bindings, fish, peanuts, old rice, putrid sake, the soft part on the inside of animal hides, cloth and dead insects

Asian Roach

Asian cockroaches are almost identical to German Roach

Asian cockroach adults have longer and narrower wings than those of German cockroaches. Adult females produce their first egg capsule 13 days after eclosion, and can produce another 20 days later. Adults are abundant February through May and again August through September. Nymphs predominate May through August.

The primary habitat of the Asian cockroach is outdoors in shaded mulched or composted areas, such as landscaping and gardens, where fresh plant litter accumulates. They may invade structures but indoor infestations are rare occurrences. They become active at sundown and are attracted to light-colored surfaces and brightly lit areas. Adults will take flight during the day if disturbed.

Brown Banded Roach

Adult male brown banded cockroaches are about 1/2 inch long and light brown, with fully developed wings. The adult females are shorter and stouter than the males and their wings do not cover the entire abdomen.

Brown banded cockroaches prefer warm and dry locations, such as near refrigerator motor housings, on the upper walls of cabinets, and inside pantries, closets, dressers, and furniture in general. They can also be found behind picture frames and beneath tables and chairs, and inside clocks, radios, light switch plates, door frames, and dressers. It is common to find them hiding nearer the ceiling than the floor and away from water sources

A female adult has a life span of 13 to 45 weeks; each female produces about 600 descendants per year

The brown banded cockroach feeds on a wide variety of materials. Like members of other cockroach species, it may consume materials like glue or paste (especially from animal-based materials), starch, and certain color dyes. As a result, items like stamps, envelopes, bindings of older books, draperies, and occasionally wallpapers may show signs of feeding.

This species has also been known to chew on nonfood materials, such as nylon stockings, presumably for the residues of body oils and skin flakes. Also, bacteria and protozoa that cause diseases (such as different forms of gastroenteritis and diarrhea) can be carried on the legs and bodies of cockroaches and deposited on food, utensils, etc.

The Majority of these Cockroaches travels through boxes, grocery bags, suitcases, etc.

German Roach

The adult is 10 to 15 mm long, brown to dark brown in color with two distinct parallel bands running the length of the pronotum.

physically transport and often harbor pathogenic organisms, may cause severe allergic responses, and in extremely heavy infestations have been reported to bite humans and feed on food residues on the faces of sleeping humans. females lay an egg case filled with 30-40 eggs.

They are attracted particularly to meats, starches, sugars, and fatty foods. Where a shortage of foodstuffs exists, they may eat household items such as soap, glue, and toothpaste. In famine conditions, they turn cannibalistic, chewing at each other’s wings and legs.

In one year over 10,000 descendants can be produced.

Cockroach excrement and cast skins also contain a number of allergens to which many people exhibit allergic responses, such as skin rashes, watery eyes and sneezing, congestion of nasal passages, and asthma.

German roaches do not fly.