Cockroaches

Facts, Habits, and Risks

Cockroaches are among the oldest pests on Earth and are highly adaptable to changing environments. Most species originate from tropical or subtropical regions, usually living outdoors and being most active at night. They prefer moist environments and a high degree of warmth.

Cockroachs

Impact on Humans and Property

Cockroaches can become pests in homes, restaurants, hospitals, warehouses, offices, and any structure where food is prepared or stored. They can:

  • Contaminate food and eating utensils.

  • Transmit bacteria that cause food poisoning.

  • Destroy fabric and paper products.

  • Leave stains and unpleasant odors on surfaces.

Cockroach secretions produce a characteristic odor that may affect food flavor and air quality when populations are high.

Health Risks

Cockroaches are known to spread:

  • At least 33 kinds of bacteria

  • 6 kinds of parasitic worms

  • 7 other human pathogens

They can pick up germs on their legs and bodies from decaying matter or sewage and transfer them to food or food surfaces, posing serious health risks.

Common Cockroach Species

There are many species of cockroaches, including:

  • German cockroach – most persistent indoors.

  • American cockroach – prefers moist, humid areas.

  • Oriental cockroach – moist, dark environments.

  • Garden cockroach

  • Surinam cockroach

  • Brown-banded cockroach

  • Turkestan cockroach

The German cockroach is the most troublesome species, especially in indoor environments.

Types of Cockroach

Actual Size: 53.3 mm

Characteristics: Brown to reddish-brown; winged.

Legs: 6

Antennae: Yes

Habits:

  • Both sexes are capable of flight.
  • Largest of the house-infesting cockroaches.
  • Attracted to alcoholic beverages, especially beer.

Habitat:

It is a common inhabitant of sewers, storm drainage systems, factories, hospitals, and hotels. The American cockroach is omnivorous and an opportunistic feeder. It consumes decaying organic matter but is a scavenger and will eat almost anything. It prefers sweets but has also been observed eating paper, pet food, soap, hair, fruit, book bindings, cardboard boxes, cloth, and dead insects.

American cockroaches prefer warm, damp environments and can often be found outdoors around drains, garbage bins, trees, and woodpiles. When these roaches venture inside homes in search of food, they often live in damp areas such as basements, garages, kitchens, and bathrooms.

Actual Size: 12.7 mm to 15.8 mm

Characteristics: Pale brown with two dark longitudinal stripes behind the head.

Legs: 6

Antennae: Yes

Wings: Yes, but rarely fly.

Habits:

  • Both sexes fully winged, but do not fly.
  • Can live in big colonies as they reproduce quickly.
  • Lives indoors, completely dependent on human habitats for survival.

Habitat:

German cockroaches are found primarily in kitchens, bathrooms, or other areas where daily access to water is available. If sanitation is poor, the German cockroach can successfully expand its normal habitat to include all portions of a structure where adequate food, water, and shelter exist.

German cockroaches prefer to hide in wooden and paper materials, as well as electrical equipment. These roaches can also be found hiding in cabinets, drawers, up under sinks, and inside heat-producing appliances like dishwashers, microwaves, and coffee makers.

Prefer humid, warm areas. Often found in residential and commercial kitchens as well as bathrooms. Usually in areas where people eat and drink.

Actual Size: Little over 12.7 mm long

Characteristics: mostly light brown

Legs: 6

Antennae: Yes

Wings: Yes, adults have wings and can fly.

Habits:

  • Small cockroaches living in fields, gardens and woods.
  • We can meet them outside from Spring to Fall. Summer is the most common period to find them.
  • It can enter sometimes into buildings attracted by lights.
  • It can get inside through wood or plants.

Habitat

Like other roaches, they feed on decomposing material and garbage, among other things. This leads them to compost piles and landscaping cluttered with leaves or damp mulch.

If they come indoors, they’ll fly toward lights and TV screens. They’ll usually hide close to food sources or in areas with the highest humidity.