The sight of a cockroach skittering across the room is enough to send chills down anyone’s spine. Cockroaches can carry hazardous bacteria and generally live in filth, so, naturally, they’re not welcome inside your home. If you’ve noticed signs of cockroach activity, or you’ve seen these pests with your own eyes, you need professional help to implement an effective cockroach control strategy. It’s also helpful to know exactly which type of roach you’re dealing with.
American Cockroach
The American cockroach, one of the most frequent home invaders, is notable for its large size and “figure 8” pattern on the shield of its body. Reddish-brown in color, these roaches have wings capable of flight. The American cockroach is also known as the “water bug” in other parts of the United States and the “palmetto bug” in Florida due to their preference for wet environments.
Like many cockroaches, the American cockroach reproduces fast. A female roach can lay between 16 to 32 eggs a week for about 10 months.
German Cockroach
Compared to other roaches, the German cockroach is relatively small in size and about as long as a penny. Adult German cockroaches, like American cockroaches, also have wings, but German cockroaches prefer to run rather than fly. Adults tend to be light brown colored and are identified by a distinct set of dark parallel streaks on their backs.
The dreaded German cockroach is infamous for its ability to infest a space quickly after entering. A prolific breeder, a female German cockroach can produce about 300 new offspring in a lifetime, which is nearly double that of the American cockroach. The German cockroach is easily able to travel between units of connected buildings or apartments, which makes it more challenging to implement cockroach control measures.
Oriental Cockroach
Oriental cockroaches are about an inch in length and stand out for their dark brown color. As adults, these roaches have wings, but they cannot fly. Oriental cockroaches tend to be more sluggish than the average roach. Oriental cockroaches are characterized by a broader and heavier body type.
Oriental cockroaches are known to travel through sewer pipes and can contaminate food, dishes, countertops, and anything they come into contact with. Oriental cockroaches prefer dark and cool environments that include but are not limited to drains, basements, and crawl spaces.
Your Next Step
Cockroaches of all types are highly food-motivated, so your first course of action in cockroach control should be removing all traces of crumbs and leftover food from your space. Cleaning up an area and caulking or patching up cracks that could host roaches are other ways you can help keep cockroaches at bay. For the most comprehensive and long-term solution, contacting a professional exterminator will be your best bet. Give us a call today to get started on a cockroach control plan.