Cockroaches and What You Need To Know All States Quiz

Cockroaches go through gradual metamorphosis, with three basic stages in their life cycle: egg, nymph and adult.

Cockroach eggs are laid in bean-like egg capsules, called ootheca, which may contain several dozen eggs or more. 

German Cockroach adults are pale brown to tan and about one-half inch long.  Adults have wings and are distinguished by having two dark stripes that run lengthwise along the pronotum, behind the head.

Brownbanded cockroaches are the smallest of the more common cockroach, slightly smaller than the German cockroach.  Brownbanded cockroaches vary from light tan to glossy dark brown in color. The adult stages are marked with two light-colored bands at the base of the wings

Oriental cockroaches are not as common as the Brownbanded cockroach and the German cockroach.  Adults are about one inch long and dark brown or black in color. Oriental cockroaches are strong fliers.

American Cockroaches are 1 3/8-2 1/8 inches long at maturity, reddish -brown, and fully developed wings that completely cover the abdomen. The pronotum has a dirty-yellow band around the edge.

Detection is fundamental to this in determining the cockroach species present. Since different cockroach species have differing habits, this will allow treatments to be better targeted.

 Sticky traps (monitoring boards) are a very useful tool to detect cockroach activity and monitor the successfulness of a  treatment.  Several different types of traps exist, and some also contain a sex-attractant (pheromones) or food grade attractant. These traps should be placed in areas where cockroach activity is suspected, common breading locations and food storage areas.

Sanitation is fundamental to cockroach control. Any methods that can be used to deny cockroaches the food, water and shelter they need will greatly aid in control

Vacuuming is almost always the best, first treatment option to quickly reduce the population and prevent scattering of the infestation. Exclusion is the next best long term solution to control infestations.

Cockroaches tend to prefer cool, well lighted, dry shelters and are often found near kitchens and food-handling areas.

Aside from their importance as a household nuisance, they may contaminate areas with their salivary secretions and excrement leaving an unpleasant odor

Cockroaches are not suspected of helping to spread diseases such as dysentery, diarrhea, and food poisoning.

German cockroaches will generally be found close to moisture and food, such as in kitchens and other food areas, restrooms, and around plumbing fixtures

Brownbanded cockroaches are the largest of the more common cockroach, slightly larger than the German cockroach.

Brownbanded cockroaches usually glue their egg capsules to surfaces in dark areas such as cabinets, chairs, boxes, drawers, and high areas of a building

Brownbanded cockroaches tend to occur more often in homes, apartments, hotels and hospitals than in stores or restaurants.

Oriental cockroaches habitats include floor and storm drains, water-meter boxes, around plumbing fixtures, moist crawl spaces, sewers, and around garbage

American cockroach forage from sewers and other areas into the ground floor of buildings, especially if pipes are damaged, screens are missing, or water traps in drains are faulty.

American cockroaches may come into contact with human excrement in sewers or with pet droppings outdoors, but they are not capable of transmitting bacteria that cause food poisoning