Important Facts to Know About 3 Common California Cockroaches
It's no wonder cockroaches multiply and thrive in the most desperate conditions. The ubiquitous insects have been around for hundreds of millions of years in one form or another. Over the eons, they've developed into 3,500 separate species of bugs.
Over 50 types of cockroaches are active in the U.S., with six species of cockroaches being the most common species found in California. Below are some of the traits of the three main cockroach pests found in California along with some tips on preventing and managing infestations.
The three main types of insects discussed below are the Oriental cockroach, American cockroach and German cockroach. Should you wish to do more research on the various types of cockroaches found in the Southwest, the other three less common species are the Turkestan cockroach, brown-banded cockroach and smoky-brown cockroach.
The Latin name for this insect is Blatta orientalis, while the common name is "water bug" in some locations. Oriental cockroaches adore wet, dark spots under drains and damp hoses. They can take up residence under a refrigerator or washing machine. The Oriental cockroach will freely travel in sewers, gaining access through loose connections, unsealed pipe openings and cracks in waste lines in order to enter your basement or home.
The Oriental cockroach is so dark brown, some individuals look black. The one-inch adults may have a sheen or a shiny coating. Females can fly a bit, while the males appear to have wings only for show. The nymphs and adults have a slightly cylindrical appearance that's almost a bullet shape when viewed from above.
Each female can carry and nurture around eight ready-to-deposit capsules that hold 16 eggs each. Eggs hold a total of 200 baby roaches per capsule and are ready for the female to drop in 30 hours. The capsules are not fastened in any way when dropped in their protected locations.
After around 60 days, the eggs hatch. Nymphs molt many times, and females can live up to 26 weeks. Oriental cockroach populations may peak during spring and summer and begin to decline as autumn approaches.
Aside from being unsightly, oriental cockroaches can carry diseases including dysentery and food poisoning. They also leave smelly secretions. Cockroach waste and dead skin are dangerous allergens for people with asthma and severe allergies.
The American cockroach can grow up to two inches in length. It is also known as Periplaneta americana. This cockroach adores basements and sewers and can be found in places where organic matter is decomposing. The American cockroach infests water-meter cases, hampers, bathtubs, drains and kennels. This insect is a common pest in industrial steam tunnels and landfills.
American cockroaches are a red-brown hue with a sometimes lighter head. The body shape is oval, and there are two long antennae that sweep along either side of the body for nearly its entire length. Juveniles appear more bullet-shaped.
Females form and drop capsules in one day that each hold up to 16 eggs. Eggs hatch in a month to 58 days. Since an adult female can produce up to 90 egg capsules, the average female American cockroach produces up to 800 nymphs.
The American cockroach can also fly. Adults can live a month without water and up to three months without food. American cockroaches will feed on documents, glue and other household materials besides food. They also contaminate food with disease-causing microorganisms and cause allergic reactions in children and adults.
The nonflying German cockroach also goes by the name Blatella germanica. German cockroaches are the most common species in homes, schools and businesses. Unlike American and Oriental cockroaches that are drawn to rotting organic matter and moisture around your home, German cockroaches usually enter your home via items like a grocery sack or a thrift-store purse.
The German cockroach is around 1/2- to 3/4-inch long with a light brown body and wings. The adult and nymph cockroach have two vertical stripes behind the head running parallel from head to wings.
The success of this cockroach is due to its prolific breeding potential. A female can live up to 30 weeks and produce up to eight egg capsules in her lifetime. Each of those capsules contains 48 eggs that develop while the mother carries it. The capsules hatch in 28 days, with female nymphs grown and ready to breed 35 days after hatching.
German cockroaches lurk in damp, warm places under stoves and other appliances. They hide by day and scavenge by night on favorites like sugary and fatty foods. Because of their thin bodies and multiple legs, they run quickly and hide well.
German cockroaches carry diseases and spread odors in their secretions. As with many cockroaches, the excrement and shed skin of German cockroaches can cause asthma attacks, rashes and other allergic reactions.
Tips for Eliminating Cockroaches
Take a holistic approach to beating cockroaches. If you only treat the room where you see roaches, they'll simply move to another area of your home. Instead, call a professional pest management company to help you develop an integrated pest management strategy for combatting pests.
It's not necessary to use highly toxic chemicals or poisons to kill cockroaches. Call in the pros to treat your home with proven, effective, safer products. Call Greenleaf Organic Pest Management today to schedule a complete insect-pest survey and develop your individual pest-control strah22