Cockroaches
Common household cockroaches A. German cockroach, B. American cockroach, C. Australian cockroach, D&E. Oriental cockroach
Cockroaches are one of the most commonly noted household pest insects. They feed on pet and human food, and can leave an offensive odor.
They can also passively transport microbes on their body surfaces including those that are potentially hazardous to humans, particularly in places such as hospitals.
Cockroaches have been shown to be linked with allergic reactions in humans.
One of the proteins that triggers allergic reactions has been identified as tropomyosin. These allergens have also been found to have a direct link with asthma.
General preventive measures against household pests include keeping all food stored away in sealed containers, using garbage cans with tight lids, frequent cleaning in the kitchen, and vacuuming thoroughly on a regular basis.
Any water leaks, such as dripping faucets should be repaired or replaced. It is also helpful to seal off any entry points, such as holes around baseboards, in between kitchen cabinets, pipes, doors, and windows with silicone caulk.
Cockroaches are among the hardiest insects on the planet.
Some species of Cockroaches are capable of remaining active for a month without food and are able to survive on limited resources like the glue from the back of postage stamps.
Some can go without air for 45 minutes. In one experiment, cockroaches were able to recover from being submerged underwater for half an hour.
Some have been known to live up to three months without food and a month without water. Frequently living outdoors, although preferring warm climates and considered “cold intolerant,” they are resilient enough to survive occasional freezing temperatures. This makes them difficult to eradicate once they have infested an area.
Source: Wikipedia
The American cockroach (Periplaneta americana), also known as the palmetto bug or waterbug, particularly in the southern United States, is the largest species of common cockroach, and often considered a pest. None of the Periplaneta species are endemic to the Americas; despite the name, P. americana was introduced to the United States from Africa as early as 1625. They are now common in tropical climates because human activity has extended the insect’s range of habitation, and global shipping has transported the insects to world ports including the Southern United States, Tenerife, southern Spain, Greece, Taiwan, and Cape Town and Durban, South Africa.
Characteristics of Cockroaches
Coachroaches are common household pests
Pest Control Professionals consider these characteristic while pursuing a pest control treatment. American cockroach adults grow to an average length of around 4 centimetres (1.6 in) and about 7 millimetres (0.28 in) tall. They are reddish brown and have a yellowish margin on the body region behind the head. Immature insects resemble adults except that they are wingless.
The insect can travel quickly, often darting out of sight when someone enters a room, and can fit into small cracks and under doors despite its fairly large size. It is considered one of the fastest running insects.
In an experiment carried out at the University of California, Berkeley in 1991, a Periplaneta americana registered a record speed of 5.4 kilometres per hour (3.4 mph), about 50 body lengths per second, which would be comparable to a human running at 330 kilometres per hour (210 mph).
It has a pair of large compound eyes each having over 2000 individual lenses. Periplaneta is very active at night.
Habitat To Be Focused on for Cockroach Elimination
They generally live in moist areas, but can survive in dry areas if they have access to water. They like warm temperatures around 84°F and do not tolerate cold temperatures very well. In residential areas, they live in sewers and basements, and may move outdoors into yards during warm weather. They are common in basements, crawl spaces, cracks and crevices of porches, walkways adjacent to buildings, and foundations.
The American cockroach is a scavenger that feeds on decaying organic matter and a variety of other foods. It is particularly fond of foods that are fermenting.
Life Cycle
Females produce an egg case called an ootheca which protrudes from the tip of the abdomen . After about two days the egg cases are placed on a surface in a safe location. Egg cases are about 0.35 inches long, brown, and purse shaped. Immature insects emerge from egg cases in 6 to 8 weeks and require 6 to 12 months to mature. Adults can live up to one year, during which females produce an average of 150 young.
Pest Control Treatment for Cockroaches
Due to their large size and slow development, large infestations of these insects are not common within houses. However, during certain times of the year, they may move inside a house from outside. In cold weather they may move indoors, seeking warmer temperatures and food. They may enter houses through sewer connections, under doors, around plumbing, air ducts, or other openings in the foundation. Cockroach populations may be controlled through the use of insecticides or with the help of a cockroaches exterminator.
Source: Wikipedia
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