Although all types of cockroaches tend to
bring to mind conditions of filth and disgust for many people, not all
cockroaches are the same. If you are experiencing problems with cockroaches in
your home, it is essential that you determine the type of cockroach which you
are dealing with. Although there are more than 4,500 species of cockroaches
worldwide, there are only four species which commonly live within homes and
apartments in the United States. Learning the differences between the different
species is a great way to help you to identify the type of cockroach which you
are combating.
The American cockroach is also sometimes
referred to as the water bug in some southern states. Of the common cockroach
species the American cockroach is the largest with adults reaching up to 1 ½”
in length. These pests are a reddish brown in color and typically have a yellow
or light brown border. The male and female American cockroaches are both winged
and the sex of the pest can be distinguished by the length of the wings. The
lifespan of the American cockroach is approximately 14 months in length; during
this time the females will produce one capsule of eggs a week which contains
approximately 15 eggs. When these roaches find a home within your home, they
are typically located in moist and dark areas such as in basements, under
sinks, in and around bathtubs or any other place which provides a constant
source or moisture.
The German cockroach is the most common
cockroach found in homes and restaurant’s in the United States. Adult German
cockroaches are able to be distinguished by the dark stripes which are located
on the backs of their heads. The young nymphs tend to look like their parents;
however, they are darker in color and have a single stripe which runs down the
middle of their back. The female roaches carry egg capsules with them which
protrude from their rear end until the nymphs are ready to hatch. Sometimes the
female may attach this egg capsule in a safe and secluded place as well;
however, this species requires that a constant supply of water be supplied to
the nymphs from the mother up until hatching or they may dehydrate. An adult
female German cockroach will typically produce approximately 6 egg capsules in
her lifetime which each contain around 50 eggs per capsule.
The Smokey Brown cockroach is a descendant
of the American cockroach; however, they are much smaller and tend to reach up
to 1” in length when fully grown. This species is an even mahogany brown and do
not have any distinguishing stripes or colors around the band. The male and
female Smokey brown cockroaches both have wings which are longer then the
length of their bodies and the young nymphs have extra-long antennas which are
white at the tips. The adult female Smokey Brown cockroach will produce
approximately 17 capsules in her lifespan which each contain approximately 25
eggs. This is the most common type of cockroach found in the southern states
such as Texas, Florida and other warm coastal states.
The oriental cockroach can be found within
all regions of the United States unlike many of the other common cockroach
species. The females grow to a length of approximately 1 ¼” and the males
typically do not grow larger than 1” in length. Although the male Oriental
cockroach has wings, neither the male nor female has the ability to fly. Both
the male and female adult oriental cockroaches are a dark brown to black color
and will have a greasy shine to their body. The females will carry the egg
capsules for eight hours, and then deposit them in a safe place where they will
then hatch after approximately 60 days has passed. The females produce around 8
capsules in their lifetime with each capsule containing around 15 eggs. This
species can live up to one month without a source of food living on water
alone.
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