Cockroaches are one of the most despised pests. They invade our homes and consume our food. They are dirty, carry and spread disease and quick to spread. Our dislike, and sometimes fear, of these creatures can sometimes lead to unrealistic ideas about what they can do. Do cockroaches make noise? Most cockroaches cannot make noise. The Madagascan Hissing Cockroach is the exception, hissing to communicate.
Found indigenously on the island of Madagascar, They are the epitome of fear for someone who hates cockroaches. These roaches are very large, and they hiss. And yet, there are many people that keep these insects as pets. They produce this hissing sound by vibrating their pronotum against their tegmina. The pronotum is the boney part of the exoskeleton behind their head, and the tegmina is the boney part on their back.
THE MADAGASCAN HISSING COCKROACH
This cockroach is indigenous to Madagascar. They are one of the largest cockroach species. These gentle giants can get from 5 to 10 centimeters long (2 to 4 inches). They are dark brown to black in color. Other than that, they resemble cockroaches in every other way. If you have cockroaches in your home, contact an experienced Tulsa Exterminator for help.
These roaches have a head, thorax, and abdomen. They have six legs. Hissing cockroaches do not have wings and therefor do not fly. They are excellent climbers, though, thanks to the pads and hooks on their feet. The males are much larger than the females, and they are very territorial. The males have a set of large bumps, or horns on the back of their heads.
BEHAVIORS
Madagascan hissing cockroaches can, as their name implies, hiss. They use this sound to communicate to each other and to ward off predators. They make this hissing sound to attract females as well. The males usually make two different sounds, a calling sound, and a courtship sound. The calling sound is used to bring females to the male, while the courtship sound is used once the two get close.
The males are also very territorial. They seek to protect their area and keep other males from mating with females in their area. Their aggressive hissing is also coupled with a lot of pushing and shoving to battle for territory. The larger male will usually win these battles. These cockroaches can mate year round, but will only do so when the weather is warm.
LOCAL COCKROACHES
In Oklahoma, we have no hissing cockroaches. But we still have our own species of cockroaches. The predominate species of cockroaches are the German cockroach, the brown banded cockroach, the American cockroach and the oriental cockroach. These insects are commonly found in and around homes in this state. These insects are tropical, so they prefer warm weather and heated homes. Your local Oklahoma Exterminator will have more information.
The German and brown banded cockroach are found almost exclusively in homes. The winters can get pretty cold around here, and these are tropical creatures. They will do everything possible to stay inside the heat, especially your home. The American and Oriental cockroach are outdoor insects. These are much larger in size and are found mostly in drainage ditches and sewers. They will occasionally find their way indoors, usually when there is a water leak or some other entry point.
OVERWINTERING IN OKLAHOMA
Cockroaches, like other insects, must find a way to survive cold winters. Many roaches, such as the German and brown banded, simply find a home to stay in. They don’t last long out in the elements. Outdoor cockroaches must find a different way. They use a method known as diapause, where their bodies slow until they become dormant.
It is a well known fact that cockroaches are more resilient to nuclear fallout than we are. They just do better in heat in general. But, as well as they do in heat, they are not well suited at all for the cold weather. When you get down to the ten and twenty degree Fahrenheit temperatures, these insects quickly begin to die off. But no matter how cold it is outside, it is important to protect you home, since indoor temperatures are conducive to roaches. Contact your Oklahoma pest control company for help.
HOW TO ELIMINATE COCKROACHES FROM YOUR HOME
No one should have to live with these insects. Cockroaches are unsanitary, unhealthy, and all round disgusting. That is why, if you find yourself in this situation, you should contact your experienced Tulsa pest control company. Here at TermMax Pest Control, we can get you a free estimate. We service the greater Tulsa area including Bixby, Owasso, Sand Springs, Coweta, Broken Arrow, Pratville, Sapulpa, Claremore, Jenks, Turley, Catoosa and much more. Contact us today for more information. We’re here to help!