Cockroach Management Service
German Cockroach
The German cockroach is one of the most common and rapidly reproducing cockroach species. Given favorable conditions, German cockroach population can increase in number at least 20 times within three months. In addition to being a nuisance, the German cockroach has been implicated in outbreaks of illness and allergic reactions in many people. One of the most common species of roaches, the German cockroach is also one of the smaller species of roaches, with adults averaging about 1/2 inch in length. They are tan to light to honey brownish in color. A distinguishing characteristic is the two dark horizontal stripes behind its head on its back (separated by a lighter stripe), which run lengthwise on the body. The German adult males and females have fully grown wings and can fly short distances, although they rarely do.
This species is typically found in homes, apartments, restaurants, and other buildings where food is stored, prepared, or served. German cockroaches eat all kinds of food and may hitchhike into the home in search of food and moisture. This species avoids lights and prefers to live near moisture sources and in humid areas given their general aversion to the cold. This species proliferates quickly and usually nest around the kitchen and bathroom near food and moisture.
German cockroaches prefer to live in cracks and crevices near food sources and spend an overwhelming majority of their time in these harborages. German cockroaches prefer to live close to sources of food and water, hence their affinity for kitchens. German cockroaches have a high need for moisture and usually travel 10 to 12 feet from their harborage for food and water (in kitchens, bathrooms, utility rooms, etc.), preferring darkness. Without food or water, adults may die in two weeks, but can live for a month with
only water.
German Cockroach Infestation
As with most other cockroaches, German cockroaches dwell in unsanitary conditions and follow the food trail. German cockroaches can be found throughout structures but show a preference for warm and humid places. They are usually found in kitchens near any place food has been, such as the refrigerators, stove, sink, dishwasher, and garbage can. Although bathrooms have less food available, German cockroaches may also live in bathroom sinks, undisturbed cabinets, around toilet bowls, leaking sink traps and faucets, condensation, standing water, and wet sponges. They can move through electrical and plumbing pipes and cracks about 3/16 inch wide in the floor and wall to move into adjacent rooms containing food. Similar to most cockroaches, they prefer a moist, warm climate and are the most active at night. Daytime activity can occur due to lack of food, pesticides or a large cockroach population. German cockroaches are usually imported into tightly constructed buildings with bottled-drink containers, in potato, onion, dried pet food, and grocery bags, and in furniture and corrugated cardboard.
German Cockroach Health concern
Roaches can foul food, damage wallpaper and books, eat glue from furniture, and produce an unpleasant odor. Some homeowners are allergic to roaches, and the pests can contaminate food with certain bacterial diseases that result in food poisoning, dysentery, or diarrhea. They spread bacteria that cause food poisoning, such as Salmonella and Shigella. They also might carry coliform bacteria, Streptococcus and Staphylococcus.
This species produce additional eggs after mating and mature at a quick rate. Therefore, a large infestation is more likely, and this will increase the possibility of asthma complications and allergies. German cockroaches’ feces and saliva contain problematic proteins and allergens, which may trigger asthma attacks. In densely populated cities, scientists have identified a correlation between roach presence and the incidence of asthma. Cockroach allergens cause lots of allergic reactions, especially in children. These allergens build up in deposits of droppings, secretions, cast skins, and dead bodies of roaches. This makes German cockroach control vital.
If the population increases to a large number, the cockroaches will quickly need to find new food sources; this can include food residue on human skin or mucus excretions around the eyes, nose and mouth. The German cockroaches can chew and will gladly chomp down with a painful bite which may cause mild skin irritation. If you find cockroach feces in your house, vacuuming and cleaning affected areas with warm water and soap can help lessen allergic reactions.
American Cockroach
The American cockroach is one of the larger cockroach species. American cockroaches are reddish-brown to dark brown (except for a tan or light yellow band around the shield behind the head). Their oval shaped body can measure from 1 to 1-1/2 inches in length. Males and females are about the same size. They have wings making them capable of flight, but they usually seen scurrying around on their six legs. The wings are about the same length as the body in the females and longer in the males, extending slightly beyond the abdomen. When feeling threatened they will scatter and adult males can glide for extended distances. Adults can live at least two to three months without food, a month without water, and can easily survive outdoor freezing temperatures.
The American cockroach is commonly found outdoors in landscaped areas, sewers or storm drains and in low areas of a building where moisture levels are higher. Indoors, they are most commonly found in restaurants, grocery stores, and other places where food is prepared or stored. They are often found in damp sewers and basements, in heating ducts, and on the first floors of buildings. They can be transported into homes and apartments in boxes from infested establishments. This species feeds on decaying organic matter. They hide during the day in sheltered, dark places and forage for food at night, often running rapidly when disturbed. However, American cockroaches are one of the least common roaches found in homes.
American Cockroach Infestation
Controlling these roaches begins by maintaining outdoor areas. Remove debris from your yard that includes wood piles and other materials. Also be mindful of where you put food, especially dog food, outside and inside. This species is very fond of dark, moist places, and can be found in flower beds or under mulch. In these outdoor environments their diet consists of algae, fungi, leaves and small wood pieces.
American cockroaches enter homes during a change in the weather or a shortage of food and can enter through holes from crawlspaces or underground ducts, steam tunnels, manholes, and sewer line drains. Large numbers of American cockroaches may move into buildings when triggered by blocked drainage systems, heavy rains, or changes in barometric pressure. Once inside, they will still seek out the moistest places and places with food and water. They are commonly found in bathrooms, kitchens, basements, and laundry rooms. Indoor, the American cockroach prefers dark, moist, warm places, often near steam pipes, in boiler rooms, around water heaters, in sewers, floor drains, grease traps, around plumbing, water sumps, and damp basements. In urban environments, their scavenger diet consists of any crumbs or scraps of food including pet food.
American Cockroach health concern
If no food is available, the American cockroach will find something to eat – even if it isn’t “food.” Cockroaches don’t discriminate on unsanitary or harmful items they eat, making them a very dirty insect. They have been found to carry the pathogens that cause tuberculosis, cholera, leprosy, dysentery, and typhoid Disease. They also carry and spread harmful bacteria and protozoa that cause diarrhea and gastroenteritis. American cockroaches’ feces and saliva contain proteins and allergens, which may trigger asthma attacks. Roaches can foul food, damage wallpaper, books and clothing, and produce an unpleasant odor. Vacuuming and cleaning affected areas with warm water and soap can help lessen allergic reactions.
Oriental cockroach
The Oriental cockroach is flightless and relatively small. It will eat almost anything It is often found feeding on garbage, sewage, or decaying organic matter. It can be a serious household pest in parts of theIndia. It is also sometimes referred to as the “black beetle” or a “water bug” because of its dark black appearance and tendency to harbor in humid areas and damp locations.
The Oriental cockroach is relatively small (typically 1 inch in length) and flightless. It is dark brown to shiny black in color. Females are slightly longer than males. Males have fully developed but short, broad wings extending over the majority of their bodies; females only have short triangular wing pads. The inner wing folds like a fan and is membranous whereas the outer part of the wing is narrow, leathery, and thick. Neither males nor females fly. Unlike other cockroaches, Orientals lack specialized pads on their feet and cannot climb smooth surfaces. This means unlike other species, the Oriental cockroach much prefers the floor and will avoid climbing walls and ceilings.
Similar to most cockroaches, they prefer dark, damp spaces as this species relies heavily on water. Oriental cockroaches can go an entire month without food, but only 2 weeks without water. They prefer to feed on decaying material and trash. In an outside environment they will most likely be found under mulch and rocks, under debris or in sewer systems. These cockroaches tend to be seasonal, with adults likely to appear in spring and summer months.
Oriental cockroach infestation
The Oriental cockroach is normally an outside species and its activity is usually restricted to ground or below ground level. It favors crawl spaces, areas between the soil and building foundations, underneath sidewalks, landscaping mulches, sewers, storm sewers, garbage cans, and water meters. It lives in warm, damp, shady areas near the ground or other area containing natural debris. Oriental cockroaches will often enter dwellings to find moisture and optimum temperatures (between 68 and 72*F) and are often triggered by drought, drop in temperature, flooded drains, heavy rain, or changes in barometric pressure. When large numbers of roaches occur, overcrowding can lead to the mass migration of roach species.
Oriental cockroaches mainly invade structures under doors and through holes, cracks, and pipes joining crawlspaces, underground ducts, manholes, and sewer line drains. The Oriental cockroach prefers harborage on damp, porous surfaces, such as concrete or brick. Indoors, the most common areas to find an oriental roach include: dark and damp basements, crawl spaces, in sewer pipes, in floor drains, under sinks, or any other damp cool area in the house.
Oriental cockroach health concern
Being one of the dirtiest of cockroaches, the possibility for the Oriental cockroach spreading disease is fairly high if there is an infestation. These garbage eating bugs can spread E. coli and Salmonella along with many other diseases by crawling over eating utensils or food, causing diarrhea and other possible side effects. Allergies are also probable. The feces and saliva of the Oriental cockroach contain problematic proteins and allergens, which may trigger asthma attacks. In densely populated cities, scientists have identified a correlation between roach presence and the incidence of asthma. However additional studies are needed to determine the accuracy of this correlation.