Last Updated on
Nothing is as embarrassing and quite frankly, as unhealthy as living in a cockroach infested home. Not only are cockroaches an eyesore, but also a health hazard to you and your family. Cockroaches are known to contaminate utensils and foodstuffs with bacteria and other disease-carrying pathogens. Getting rid of them can be quite hard, as they possess advanced survival instincts such as laying eggs in dark unreachable corners, and hiding in small cracks around the house. If not controlled, cockroaches can greatly multiply in numbers which is why you need to get them eradicated by GL pest control experts soon as spot signs of infestation. This article will give you insight on the two most common types of cockroaches found in homes: The German and Oriental Cockroaches.
German cockroaches are the most common cockroach species in the world, found in most homes, restaurants, nursing homes and food processing facilities. Adult German Cockroaches are tan or light brown in color. The nymphs and female adult German cockroaches, have a darker shade; almost black in color. Both nymphs and adult German cockroaches are characterized by two longitudinal dark stripes located on the pronotum, just behind the head.
Adult German cockroaches grow up to about ½’’ to 5 or 8” long. They have a pair of long antennae and wings, although they prefer crawling to flying. This type loves living in warm humid environments close to food particles and moisture. They frequently hide inside kitchen cabinets, behind cookers, under sinks, near garbage containers and even inside home appliances. Signs of infestation include cockroach droppings, which look like pepper. You may also notice their ootheca; an egg case containing as many as 35 – 40 eggs. Female German cockroaches reproduce up to six generations in a year, which leads to severe infestation if not addressed by professional pest control personnel.
Oriental cockroaches, on the other hand, are known as ‘black beetle’ or ‘shad roach’ due to their appearance. Unlike German cockroaches which are tan in color, oriental cockroaches have a darker shade of brown with a shiny red tint on them. Male Oriental cockroaches are winged while the female ones aren’t. The males too, prefer crawling to running. The males are smaller, growing to about 1” long while the female ones grow a further ¼”.
Oriental cockroaches, unlike German ones, prefer living outdoors but near human-occupied spaces. They hide under rocks, flowerpots, porches as well as garbage cans. They may access your kitchen once in a while through drainage pipes and crawl spaces that give them a quick escape outdoors. Oriental cockroaches don’t spread as fast as German ones. The female roaches produce 8 ootheca, each containing as many as 16 eggs. They however, only reproduce one generation a year in the cold season.
Generally, roaches are attracted to human-occupied spaces, as they have a better chance of foraging for starchy food particles and organic decaying matter. Your kitchen, for instance, provides a ready ecosystem for them to survive in as starch particles and dark hiding spots are in plenty. Additionally, cockroaches love the warm temperatures found in kitchens, especially near heat-emitting kitchen appliances such as the back of a refrigerator.
Cockroaches are not known for their good hygiene practices. In fact, the dirtier the environment, the more cockroaches it attracts. They contaminate food and utensils with disease-causing pathogens from the trash cans, sewers, and plumbing pipes. You risk developing illnesses such as dysentery, salmonella, and gastroenteritis. Cockroach droppings also cause asthma in children due to the musty odor they produce, especially if they infest your home in alarming numbers.
Declaring war on German and Oriental cockroaches is easier said than done. It is especially hard to get rid of them in multi-unit apartment buildings as they are known to move between the units through plumbing pipes and ceilings. Home remedies may work for a while, but the crawling pests will eventually find their way back after a while. Additionally, many DIY cockroach control methods such as insecticides may contain pesticides that may do more harm to you than the cockroaches if used incorrectly. For guaranteed results, contract a licensed pest control company. Experts know exactly where to spray and how to set a treatment perimeter along the common escape routes used by cockroaches. As a preventative measure, observe high standards of good hygiene practices by cleaning dirty utensils and kitchen surfaces soon as you are done with your meals.
Reply