Cockroaches

EXPLORE COCKROACHES

• Cockroaches have been around since the time of dinosaurs.
• A cockroach can live almost a month without food. 
• A cockroach can live about two weeks without water.
• Some female cockroaches only mate once and stay pregnant for life.
• A cockroach can live for up to one week without its head.
• Cockroach can hold their breath for up to 40 minutes.
• Cockroaches can run up to 3 miles an hour.
• Cockroaches are commonly found in buildings and homes because they prefer warm environment close to food and water.
• Cockroaches can cause allergies and trigger asthma attacks
• They can also spread nearly 33 different kinds of bacteria

TYPES OF COCKROACHES

1. American cockroaches

- Is the largest cockroach found in houses.

- The American cockroach is not native to North America, but was likely introduced via ships from Africa in the 1600s.

- Cockroaches don’t get their wings until the become adults.

- Size : 2”

- Shape : Oval

- Colour : Reddish-brown, with a yellowish figure 8 pattern on the back of the head

- Legs : 6

- Wings : Yes

- Antenna : Yes

- Common name : American cockroach

- Kingdom : Animalia

- Phylum : Arthropoda

- Class : Insecta

- Order : Dictyoptera

- Family : Blattidae

- Species : Periplaneta Americana

Diet - American cockroaches will eat just about anything, including plants and other insects.

Habitat - American cockroaches prefer to live in warm, dark, wet areas, like sewers and basements. They often enter structures through drains and pipes.  American cockroaches can be found in homes, restaurants, grocery stores and hospitals

Impact - they can contaminate food by shedding their skins. Their cast off skin and waste by products are allergens that can trigger allergic reactions, asthma and other illness, especially in children.

Prevention - 

i) Keep cooking, eating and food storage areas clean and dry.

ii) If we see cockroaches, it is best to call a pest management professional due to the illness they can spread.

2. German cockroaches

- German cockroaches can be found all over the world.

- Each German cockroach can live about 100-200 days.

- They are the most common cockroach in the United States

- Sizes : ½” to 5/8” 

- Shape : Oval

- Colour : Brown to dark brown

- Legs : 6

- Wings : Yes

- Antenna : Yes 

- Common name : German cockroach

- Kingdom : Animalia

- Phylum : Arthpoda

- Class : Insecta

- Order : Blattodea

- Family : Battellidea 

- Species : Blattella germanica

Diet -  Cockroaches are attracted to sweet and floury foods. They also eat non- organic items such as toothpaste and books.

Habitat - live in warm and damp places like kitchens, bathrooms, and places where people eat and drink.

Impact - They can contaminate food by shedding their skins. Their cast off skin and waste by products are allergens that can trigger allergic reactions, asthma, and other illness, especially in children.

Prevention -

 i) Keep cooking, eating and food storage areas clean and dry.  

ii)  If we see cockroaches, it is best to call a pest management professional  due to the illness they can spread.

3. Oriental cockroaches

- Probably get their names from trade ships but they are actually from Africa.

- They are large and very dark compared to other cockroaches.

- They prefer dirty places and cooler temperatures than other cockroaches.

- An oriental cockroach creates a strong smell and is considered one of the dirtiest of all the cockroaches.

- Sizes : 1”

- Shape : Oval

- Colour : Dark brown, almost black

- Legs : 6

- Wings : no

- Antenna : Yes

- Common name : Oriental cockroach

- Kingdom : Animalia

- Phylum : Arthropoda

- Class : Insecta

- Order : Dictyoptera

- Family : Blattadae

- Species : Blatta orientalis

Diet - feed on all types of garbage and other organic materials.

Habitat - also live in sewers and wet, basements and crawlspaces, firewood and piles of leaves.

Impact - They can contaminate food by shedding their skins. Their cast off skin and waste by products are allergens that can trigger allergic reactions, asthma and other illness, especially in children.

Prevention -

 i) Keep our home clean and dry. ii) Vacuum often and seal cracks in and around our house. Iii) If we see cockroaches, it is best to call pest management professional due to the illness they can spread.


reference : cockroaches