Cockroaches are found today all over the world. They are ubiquitous. There are almost seventy different species of cockroach in North America alone. These tropical insects have traversed the globe. In fact, most are not named for the tropical areas (probably in Africa) from which they come from, but exotic places that they have visited. So you may ask, what kind of roach do I have? There are sixty nine different species of cockroach in North America, but the household pests are usually German, Brown Banded, American, Oriental or Smokey Brown Cockroaches.
Because cockroaches prefer warm climates, they must stay in well heated homes, especially in the winter. Many cockroaches find sources of food and water, and plenty of hiding spots in our homes. Of course, this is not acceptable. Understanding the differences in the five cockroach types, the German cockroach, the Brown Banded cockroach, the American cockroach, the Oriental cockroach and the Smoky Brown cockroach, can help us eliminate these infestations.
GERMAN COCKROACH
The German cockroach is the most common roach found in homes. It is around a 1/2 inch long, brown with two dark lines laterally down its back. The pronotum is a shield like part behind the head of the cockroach where you will find the most prominent parts of these two stripes. German cockroaches, like most roaches, like warm, tight locations. These roaches tend to stay low and hidden.
These roaches are never found outside. They are exclusively a human parasite. They can multiply incredibly quickly. One female can produce thousands of nymphs, or offspring, a year. The German cockroach doesn’t lay eggs in a crack or crevice like many do, but the mother carries her eggs in an egg sack called an ootheca. The nymphs born from the ootheca look much like the adults, only smaller. They will molt, or shed their skin multiple times before reaching adulthood. A good Oklahoma exterminator can help remove German cockroaches from your home or office.
BROWN BANDED COCKROACH
The Brown Banded cockroach is probable the second most seen roach in home infestations. Just like its name, it is a brown roach with two light brown bands around the wing portion of it. These roaches prefer higher places. They are often found behind wall hangings and tall furniture. Brown banded roaches are often found in rooms other than the kitchen and bathroom, as opposed to the German cockroach.
These roaches lay pea sized ootheca in small cracks and crevices. Each ootheca has around 18 eggs that will hatch nymphs. Each female can produce up to 15 ootheca a year. As you can see, these roaches can multiply and get out of hand very quickly.
AMERICAN COCKROACH
The American cockroach is the largest of the home invading cockroaches. This roach is actually second in abundance to the German cockroach, but prefers to stay hidden among plumbing and basements. They predominately stay around water supplies and are often found in sewers and drains. These pests seldom are found in homes, but are more often seen in large buildings and high rises, bakeries, restaurants and other businesses.
American cockroaches are omnivores. That means that they will eat either plant or animal. They are mostly scavengers, but have been found to eat hair, human waste, paper, cloth and rotted food. They are particularly fond of surgery foods. Because of their unclean sanitary conditions, these roaches can carry many diseases and are considered a health risk. If you have any issues with American cockroaches, contact an Oklahoma pest control company.
ORIENTAL COCKROACH
The Oriental cockroach is black and around an inch long. These bugs love high humidity and low temperatures. They don’t often find their way into homes except in crawlspaces and basements. You may see some around plumbing in the kitchen and bathroom as well. If your home has a water leak or other such issue, these roaches may find your home interesting.
Oriental cockroaches will eat just about anything, but they prefer high starch foods. They are often found in drainage ditches, sewers, drains and pipes. If you find some of these roaches in your home, it’s important that you find the source of water that they are using. If you can stop that, half the battle is already won. These roaches deposit their ootheca deep in cracks, so it can be hard to control them if they become established. But your Tulsa exterminator will definitely be able to help.
SMOKY BROWN COCKROACH
The Smoky Brown cockroach is much the same as the Oriental cockroach. It is often found outside. This roach is very susceptible to drying out, so it must remain in moist areas with high humidity. As omnivores, they will eat just about anything, but if they find a food source in your home, they could be there to stay.
Look for these insects around wood piles, dead trees or anywhere else that they can find shade and moisture. A leaky roof can sometimes attract them into your home.
HOW TO GET RID OF THEM
The three biggest attractants of cockroaches to your home are harborage, food and water. If they can find a place to stay and hide effectively, they will. This means that picking up clutter and maintaining good sanitation practices can thwart a would be pest. Keeping dishes clean and food put up in a sealed container can keep cockroaches from finding a suitable food source. Leaking plumbing or rain water entering your home in basements and roofs can lead to a pest problem as well. Take care of these things and you will have done everything possible to keep pests out.
But sometimes, they have already gotten in before you can stop them. What now? This is when you need to contact a reputable Tulsa pest control company. That’s where we come in. Here at TermMax Pest Control, we can get you a timely free estimate to get rid of your cockroach issues once and for all. Contact us today! We’re here to help!