The Common Cockroach
The common cockroach is one of mans oldest known pest because of its ability to adapt to different environments. There are more than 4000 known species of cockroaches. Many of them are know to cause cockroach allergy because their allergen is very potent. Twenty of them are known for human habitation. Four of the more common species are:
Oriental Cockroach
Size: Grows to a length of 1 to 1-1/4 inch long This common cockroach is slower than the other species. They have wings but are not able to fly. The wings are non-functional. They don’t mind living outdoors and they can move indoors in large numbers when the weather begins to turn cold. Even still, they are more tolerant of cooler temperatures than other species of cockroaches. Times of drought can also drive a colony indoors. Once they do move inside, they prefer damp basements, areas around leaking pipes, under refrigerators and sinks, and crawl spaces. They are more dependent on water than other species and will die within two weeks without water. However, they can live for up to a month without food. The Oriental cockroach tends to look for food only on the first floor of a building. They are seldom found on walls or in upper floors of buildings. As a result, they prefer single family houses over apartments. They are unable to climb smooth, vertical surfaces and you sometimes find them stuck in your bathtub. They are not picky eaters. They live on garbage, sewage, and just about anything organic. They are considered one of the dirtiest and filthiest species of cockroaches. They are known to produce a strong odor.
American Cockroach
Size: Grows to a length of 1-1/2 inch long This common cockroach is one of the largest and fastest running roach species. Despite their large size, they can still fit through the smallest of cracks. The American cockroach has wings and can fly. They fly short distances but don't do so very often. During times of nice weather, they will live outdoors eating a wide range of plants and animal material. The American cockroach is not cold tolerant and do move indoors to find warmth. They prefer dark, humid areas such as boiler rooms, sewers, storm drains and floor drains. It is normal for them to grow in large numbers in the sewers and then come into the home through the drains. These pests are very hardy and can go a couple of months without food and even up to a month without water. When the food and water source gets scarce, they move indoors. Their population numbers are second only to the German cockroach.
German Cockroach
Size: Grows to a length of ½ inch long The German cockroach is the most common cockroach because they like to stay close to their food and water source. They are nocturnal animals and spend their time at night looking for food; however, they have been known to live up to a month without it. They require free standing water but have lived for a few days without it. They feed on almost anything including toothpaste, soap, and cooking grease. They are usually found in the kitchens and bathrooms where there is an ample supply of food and free standing water. During the daytime, the German cockroach looks for dark, humid, and warm places to hide. They cannot tolerate the cold. They scatter when the light is turned on. They easily find hiding places due to their small size. They have wings but do not fly. These wings do, however, help them to jump down from high places such as kitchen counter tops.
Their population rate of reproduction is extremely fast. They produce the largest number of eggs per capsule and require the shortest amount of time to sexual maturity. Many cockroach species paste their egg capsule somewhere which results in it becoming vulnerable to environmental conditions and predators. The female German cockroach, on the other hand, keeps her egg capsule with her, producing a better survival rate. All these factors together result in the German cockroach population being able to grow at an exponential rate. If you see a German cockroach during the day, it is a good indication that their hiding places are overcrowded or they are experiencing a shortage of food and water. They are very resilient against pest control. The name pest is a good description for them!
Brown Banded Cockroach
Size: Grows to a length of ½ inches This common cockroach is often mistaken for the German cockroach. Their size and look is very similar. However, the Brown Banded cockroach does not have the same moisture requirements. They do not require as much water and can exist without free standing water sources. As a result, you are more likely to find them away from the moisture source and more likely to find them through out the home. Because they like higher locations, you are likely to find them on ceiling fixtures, behind picture frames, and on the upper areas of the wall. They also like warmer temperatures and can also be found around appliances that give off heat from their motors. Computers, television sets, clocks and other electronic components giving off heat are more favorable hiding spots for the Brown Banded cockroach. They also prefer that you do not run your air conditioner. The males have the ability to fly but the females have underdeveloped wings and cannot fly. They both can jump when trying to escape. But you’re not likely to see them during the day because they don’t like the light. If you do see them, it is a very good indication that their hiding place is overcrowded. So they do appreciate it when you leave clutter lying around your home. They do not like clean, tidy housekeepers. The Brown Banded cockroach is a very hardy and resilient species. They are one of the hardest to eliminate.
Identifying the type of common cockroach that has taken up residence is extremely helpful. This information can determine where they might hide, what they like, and how to best get rid of them. This is important for cockroach allergy avoidance. The word for the common cockroach comes from the Spanish word cucaracha. The common cockroach describes a beetle-like insect.
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