Cockroaches
Pest Library
Appearance and General Information
The cockroach is characterised by a flattened oval body, long threadlike antennae, and a shining black or brown leathery integument. The head is bent downward, and the mouthparts point backward. About 30 cockroach species out of 4,600 are associated with human habitats. About four species are well known as pests. Most species of cockroach are about the size of a thumbnail, but several species are bigger. The world’s heaviest cockroach is the Australian giant burrowing cockroach, which can reach 9 centimetres in length and weigh more than 30 grams. Cockroaches are members of the order Blattodea, which includes the termites.
Identification
Colour
American Cockroach is of reddish-brown. They have yellowish margin on the pronotum (the body region behind the head).
Size – Average length – 40 mm, 7 mm tall
Habitat
American cockroaches generally live in moist areas but can survive in dry areas if they have access to water. They prefer high temperatures around 29 °C and do not tolerate low temperatures. These cockroaches are common in basements, crawl spaces, cracks and crevices of porches, foundations, and walkways adjacent to buildings. In residential areas outside the tropics, these cockroaches live in basements and sewers and may move outdoors into yards during warm weather.
Diet
American cockroaches are omnivorous that eat materials such as cheese, beer, tea, leather, bakery products, starch in book bindings, manuscripts, glue, hair, flakes of dried skin, dead animals, plant materials, soiled clothing, and glossy paper with starch sizing. They are particularly fond of fermenting foods. They have also been observed to feed upon dead or wounded cockroaches of their own or other species.
Threat to Human as a pest
American cockroaches produces odorous secretions that can alter the flavor of food. Cockroaches spread disease and contaminate food. Cockroaches pick up gems on their legs and body and deposit them on our food and it can cause food poisoning.
Identification
Colour
Adult German Cockroaches have light brown or Tan colour. They have two dark, roughly parallel, streaks on the pronotum immediately behind the head.
Size –11 mm to 16 mm
Habitat
German Cockroaches are generally known as indoor cockroaches as they like living and breeding indoor. They prefer warm and humid space. These cockroaches can hide in small spaces like wall crack and therefore German Cockroaches infestation is larger than it seems. These cockroaches are attracted to garbage bags, kitchen cabinet and sink. Therefore, they frequently appear in the kitchen and bathroom.
Diet
German cockroaches are scavengers, they eat any source of food is available. These Cockroaches are attracted to meat, sugar, plant, fat, starches whenever there is a shortage of food these cockroaches can eat household item such as soap, glue, toothpaste.
Reproduction
German Cockroaches produces faster than any other residential cockroaches. They lay approximately 40 eggs at a time which mature in 50 to 60 days. Therefore, their infestation is not treated on time can become serious threat.
Threat to Human as a pest
Due to their rapid reproduction these cockroaches grow in numbers. They are small and they can hide in wall crack so they can avoid many human efforts of eradicating them. They are resistance to some pesticide. Survival of just a few eggs is quite enough to regenerate a nearly exterminated pest population within a few generations, and recolonization from surrounding populations often is very rapid. Since these cockroaches are indoor and feed themselves on human food they can frequently contaminate food items and spread disease.
Identification
Colour
Brown Banded Cockroaches are of is tan to light brown colour and has two light-coloured bands across the wings and abdomen.
Size
They are small cockroaches measuring from 10 mm to 11 mm. The male appears slenderer than the female, the female appears wider.
Habitat
These cockroaches prefer dry and warm location and need less moisture than the German cockroaches. They can be found in home and apartment’s living room and bedroom. To avoid water, they prefer higher location such ceiling, upper cabinets of wardrobe, kitchen.
Threat to Human as a pest
These cockroaches are major cause of triggering asthma and allergies. Also they can disease like food poisoning and dysentery by contaminating food.
Identification
Colour
Oriental cockroaches are dark brown or black in colour and has glossy body.
Size
Male – 18 to 29 mm, Female: 20 to 27 mm.
Habitat and General Information
Oriental Cockroaches are also called and Waterbug and Black Beetle. This is a large species of Cockroaches. Oriental Cockroaches are slower than the other species. They can often be found around decaying organic matter, and in sewers, drains, damp basements, porches, and other damp locations. They can be found outside in bushes, under leaf groundcover, under mulch, and around other damp places outdoors. These cockroaches like water therefore they are called water bugs.
Threat to Human as a pest
These cockroaches are found decaying organic matter. It invades human dwelling in the search of food and often found near unused sink. They can spread the bacteria by contaminating our food.
Identification
Colour
Black and Mahogany Colour, Shiny Appearance
Size
These cockroaches are large species and can reach upto 35 mm
Habitat
The smokybrown cockroach prefers warmer climates and is not cold-tolerant. In cold season it often come indoors to survive cold. It grows well in moist situation. It often lives around the perimeter of buildings. These species are prone to dehydration therefore moist surrounding is very important to their survival.
Threat to Human as a pest
These cockroaches do forage for food indoor and can spread bacteria. They gain entry into the home through open spaces.