Roach Facts American Roaches Brownbanded Roaches
German Roaches Oriental Roaches Smokey Brown Roaches
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 | Cockroaches feed mainly at night. |
| The German Cockroach is the most troublesome
cockroach in the U.S. |
| Early fossil remains show that cockroaches
that lived over 300 million years ago would have looked very similar to present-day
species. |
| Many humans are allergic to the dust created
by cast-off cockroach skins, dead bodies, and droppings. |
| Studies have shown that Asthma in children
was worse in areas that had a heavy infestation of cockroaches. |
| Cockroaches can literally make you sick by
contaminating food and transmitting diseases such as gastroenteritis, food poisoning, and
diarrhea. |
| Cockroaches prefer pressure on three sides of
their body, which keeps them in cracks and crevices where they spend 75% of their lives. |
| Some products not normally considered food --
such as starch-based paints, wallpaper paste, envelope glue, and bar soaps -- contain
carbohydrates, and hence are food for cockroaches. |
| Cockroaches do not bite. The spines on
their legs may cause a minor irritation if handled. Contrary to popular belief,
except in the most filthy conditions, cockroaches do not transmit human diseases. In
fact, there is evidence that they secrete bactericidal substances from their tarsal pads
which prevent the etransmission of pathogens. |
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 Click on picture for larger
image -- (500 x 298 -- 54 k)
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(Periplaneta
Americana)
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Appearance:
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The largest house infesting species, about 1-1/2 inches long,
reddish brown wings with light markings on the thorax.
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Habits:
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Very aggressive; prefer warm, damp areas; more likely to be
seen in daytime and outdoors than other species.
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Diet:
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Scavengers; eat almost anything; commonly found in food
preparation areas.
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Reproduction:
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Female only needs to mate once to produce many egg capsules;
each capsule contains an average of 13 eggs; nymphs molt 13 times, in about 600 days,
before reaching maturity; can live up to 15 months.
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Other Info:
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Also known as waterbugs, Palmetto Bugs, Tree Roaches, etc.
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Click on picture for larger image -- (500 x
344 -- 47 k)
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(Supella Longipalpa)
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Appearance:
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About 5/8 inch ling; wings have two brownish-yellow bands.
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Habits:
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Nocturnal; can fly; maybe found throughout any structure, but
prefer dry, warm areas, high locations, and inside furniture.
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Diet:
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Scavengers, eat almost anything.
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Reproduction:
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Female carries egg capsule for 24 to 36 hours, then attaches it
underneath or on the side of a protected surface; capsules contain an average of 18 eggs;
nymphs reach maturity in an average of 161 days; adults live up to 10 months.
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Other Info:
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Sometimes confused with the German cockroach; often hide egg
capsules in furniture; not as dependent on moisture as other species.
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Click on
picture for larger image -- (500 x 299 -- 43 k)
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(Blattella Germanica)
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Appearance:
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About 5/8 inch long; light to medium brown, with two dark
longitudinal streaks on the thorax.
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Habits:
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Nocturnal; primarily infest areas close to food; moisture and
warmth; most common cockroach found in and around apartments, houses, supermarkets and
restaurants.
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Diet:
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Scavengers, eat almost anything.
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Reproduction:
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Females can produce one egg capsule every 20 - 25 days; each
capsule contains from 18 to 48 eggs; newly born become adults in as little as 36 days;
adults can live up to one year.
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Other Info:
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Extremely heavy infestations are not uncommon; often found
aboard ships; widest distribution of all cockroaches in the U.S. Adhesive pads on
this insect's last tarsal segment enable it to crawl on vertical surfaces as smooth as
glass. It leaves an offensive odor on packages and their contents if it gets inside.
It's common name "Croton Bug" derives from the fact that the insect first
became a household pest in 1890, when water from the Croton Reservoir began augmenting New
York City's municipal supply.
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Click on
picture for larger image -- (500 x 304 -- 33 k)
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(Blatta Orientalis)
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Appearance:
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Dark brown; about 1 inch long.
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Habits:
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Common outdoors; often enter buildings through sewer pipes;
tend to live near the ground and in warm damp areas.
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Diet:
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Will eat almost anything, but found often feeding on garbage,
sewage, and decaying organic matter; seem to prefer starches if available.
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Reproduction:
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Egg capsules contain about 16 eggs; female will produce an
average of eight capsules; nymphs go through seven molts before becoming an adult, in
about a year; adults can live up to about 180 days.
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Other Info:
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Also known as waterbugs or black beetles; more sluggish than
other species; give off distinctive unpleasant odor.
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(Periplaneta Fuliginosa)
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Appearance:
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Dark brown, up to 1-1/2 inches long.
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Habits:
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Prefers to live outdoors; populations are relatively immobile
compared to other species.
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Diet:
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Scavengers; eat almost anything; normally feed on plant
material.
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Reproduction:
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Egg capsules hatch in about 24 to 70 days; each capsule
contains an average of 20 eggs; female reaches maturity in 320 days and produce an average
of seven capsules; adults can live up to 200 days.
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Other Info:
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Particularly numerous in southeastern U.S.; fly towards lights
at night.
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