American Cockroach

Appearance:

This species is sometimes called a "water bug" and is the largest of the house-infesting cockroaches - near 1 1/2-inch long. Mostly reddish-brown with a light yellow band marking on its thorax. (head)

Habits:

Somewhat aggressive. Reported to nibble on fingernails and eyelashes of sleeping sailors on infested ships. Capable of considerable flight although mostly a short glide after being disturbed. Prefers warm, damp areas including storm sewers and drains. Visits homes, restaurants, and commercial facilities.

Diet:

Scavenger; eats what we eat plus glue, soap, paper, garbage - practically anything.

Reproduction:

A female may produce many egg capsules after only one mating and may produce capsules approximately every 4 days. The maximum number of capsules recorded by one female was 90.

Each American egg capsule contains 13-16 eggs. Capsules are often glued to surfaces in hidden areas. These roaches reach sexual maturity in about 7 months.

Other:

This roach has a special affinity for yeasty alcoholic beverages - no particular brand.

 

German Cockroach

Appearance:

Adult German roaches are slender and 1/2 to 5/8 inch long. They're light brown to tan with a distinctive head shield bearing two dark parallel bars.

Habits:

This roach is the most common cockroach in the U. S. and the most prolific. Active mostly at night, it commonly infests kitchens and bathrooms but can spread quickly throughout the entire premises. The most common species found in apartment and commercial facilities. German roaches don't migrate from outside but sneak a ride into homes and business inside something brought in. Or in the case of apartments and condos, they may enter from neighboring units via common plumbing or utilities.

Diet:

Scavenger; eats what we eat plus tooth paste, soap, glue, pet food - nearly anything.

Reproduction:

Each German egg capsule can hatch out to 30-40 baby roaches - in just one month. Hatchlings can become sexually mature adults in only 5 weeks. Adult lifespan can be up to one year.

Other:

Allergies have been associated with the presence of German cockroaches. Cockroaches can carry diseases including Salmonella. This species of cockroach is capable of producing the most severe cockroach infestation in just a few weeks.

Oriental Cockroach

Appearance:

Reddish brown to black and about 1 to 1 1/4 inch long.

Habits:

This cockroach prefers sewers and commercial buildings where they can become numerous especially in damp areas of crawl spaces and drains. A common exterior roach found in leaf litter and ground covers, they can however build to large numbers in secluded, damp areas of homes and buildings.

Diet:

Typical cockroach - eats anything available but prefers decaying plant matter

Reproduction:

Each female cockroach produces about eight egg capsules containing 16 eggs. Nymphs become adults after 10 molts over 200-800 days dependent on temperature. Adult’s lifespan can be up to six months.

Other:

Produces a considerably unpleasant, pungent cockroach odor. Seems to tolerate cold weather more so than other species.

Brown-banded Cockroach

Appearance:

Adults are about 1/2-inch long. Light to medium brown color with two yellow-brown lines running across their bodies.

Habits:

As with all roaches - they work the night shift. This species prefers a drier environment than many roaches and will scatter throughout the home migrating to hiding places such as in ceiling moldings, furniture, pictures, appliances and TVs. Since they're not nesting in normal cockroach harborages, it makes for more challenging treatments.

Diet:

Scavenger - no particular preferences - eats nearly anything.

Reproduction:

Females produce around 14 egg capsules each containing between 14-18 eggs. After carrying the egg capsule for only a few hours, the female glues the egg capsule in a hidden area often inside appliances or under some protected area. Nymphs hatch in about 70 days reaching adult status between 90 - 276 days. Adults live about 6-10 months.

Other:

The brown-banded roach and the German roach look similar but can be distinguished by their distinctive band markings. This species requires less moisture than other species.