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Major pest cockroach species

Cockroaches are among the best adapted insect groups and are widely spread all around the world. From around 3500 species worldwide, some cockroaches had successfully adjusted to living with humans and became pests. Here we will present you several major species of cockroach pests:

German cockroach - Blatella germanica is the most common house, apartment, restaurant and hotel infesting cockroach and the number one pest in the United States and in most parts of civilized world. Adult German cockroaches are 1/2 to 5/8 inch long, pale brown or tan and have two dark stripes on the area immediately behind the head. Both sexes have wings but rarely fly. The adult female produces four to eight light brown egg capsules in her lifetime with each capsule being about 1/4-inch long and containing 30 to 48 eggs. The female carries that egg capsule until just before the nymphs are ready to emerge. In one year over 10,000 descendants can be produced.

German cockroaches remain hidden during the day and are active during the nighttime. They are smaller than most other roach species and may hide in places inaccessible for larger species. German cockroaches or their egg capsules can be brought into homes in boxes, grocery and produce bags, household items and children's book bags from school.

German cockroaches carry disease organisms on their bodies and different forms of food poisoning, dysentery and diarrhea are transmitted from garbage, filth, and decaying organic matter to food, dishes, and kitchen utensils. Cockroach excrements and cast skins also contain a number of allergens, causing skin rashes, sneezing or asthma to some people.

American cockroach - Periplaneta americana adults are 1 and 1 1/2 inches long (38mm), being the largest of the house-infesting cockroaches. In the southern U.S., they are often called a Palmetto bug or a Waterbug. They are reddish brown and have fully developed wings, although rarely use the ability to fly. Adult female produces 15 to 90 egg capsules that have 14 to 16 eggs averagely and the number of offspring reaches around 800 per year. Female American cockroach drops the egg capsule within a day after it was formed in a location near a food source or in protected area.

American cockroaches prefer warmer climates and are not cold tolerant; however, they may survive indoors in colder climates. In residential areas, these cockroaches favor basements, places around pipes and sewers and may move outdoors during warm weather. Due to their slow development, large infestations of these insects are not common within houses.

American cockroaches carry disease organisms in the same ways as German roaches do.

Australian cockroach - Periplaneta australasiae closely resembles the American cockroach, but is slightly smaller and has a pronounced yellow margin on the pronotum. Both males and females have fully developed wings and adults travel easily from trees onto houses. Adult female produces 20 to 30 egg capsules with 24 eggs inside, 16 of which hatch.

Australian cockroaches also like warm, humid environments and are often found in kitchens, restaurants, bakeries and food storage areas. They are also common on imported items such as bananas and have spread in greenhouses. In southern states these roaches live outdoors in leaf litter or around shrubs and trees. Australian cockroach is apparently more vegetarian species than others and indoors they often feed on book covers and paper products or even can eat holes in clothing.

Brown banded cockroach - Supella longipalpa is an African species of cockroach only recently established in houses in Europe. Adults are about 1/2-inch in length and have two light yellow or cream transverse bands across the base of the wings and abdomen. Adult male is long and thin, while the female is more oval in shape. Only males fly. Adult female produces 10 to 20 egg cases in her lifetime with 14 to 18 eggs inside. Egg capsules are deposited inside furniture, undersides of tables, draperies, wall decorations, shelving and ceilings.

Brown banded cockroaches are omnivorous and will eat anything that possesses starch materials - even organic glues used in books and cabinets.

They prefer to hide in warm, elevated areas near the ceiling, but as brown banded cockroaches can survive in drier areas, they will also be found behind wall decorations, pictures, loose wallpaper, underneath chairs and tables, in closets, beneath or inside furniture, and in electrical appliances such as TV sets, stereos, radios and toasters. It is difficult to control brown banded roaches since they live widely dispersed as individuals scattered all over the premises.

This species of cockroaches as many other pest roach species can foul food, contaminate it with bacterial diseases, damage wallpaper and books, eat glue from furniture, produce an unpleasant odor, cause allergy or childhood asthma.

Oriental cockroach - Blatta orientalis is about 1 inch long. Both male and female adults are very dark brown, nearly black with only males having developed wings and able to fly for short distances. Adult female produces around 10 egg capsules in her lifetime with 16 eggs each thus each female has around 150 offspring. Female carries egg capsule for about 30 hours and then glues it in a warm, hidden place near the food source.

Oriental cockroaches feed on all kinds of filth, rubbish, and other decaying organic matter. They can often be found around decaying organic matter indoors and outdoors, in sewers, drains, damp basements, porches, and other dump locations.

Oriental cockroaches cannot climb up smooth surfaces so they may enter the home in food packages and laundry, or merely come in under the door or through air ducts, garbage chutes, or ventilators.

Oriental cockroaches carry disease organisms in the same ways as other roaches do – on their bodies or legs.