Roaches

APPEARANCE:

This roach is very similar to the American roach, but is smaller in size and is dark brown-mahogany, black in color. Adults have well-developed wings that stretch to the tip of the abdomen.

DIET:

Normally they prefer plant material, but will eat almost anything when they come inside the home.They feed on plant material and may inhabit greenhouses.

HABITS AND BIOLOGY:

The smoky brown is a tropical roach, thus more common in the southern United States. This species is occasionally shipped all over the U.S. on fruit or nursery stock.

They enter houses in the summer or hitchhike on firewood. Females lay a dark brown capsule that contains 24 eggs, hatching in one to two months. The young will become an adult in 10-12 months. This roach is not usually found in the Northern States unless they are brought in. However, in the Southern part of the country they are numerous. These roaches fly at night toward lights.

This roach is also called "waterbug" or "black beetle".

APPEARANCE:

This roach is shiny black and is about 1.25 inches long. They have wings, but can't fly.

The total length for the female is 1 ¼" and 1" for the male. The females have small nonfunctional wings while the males have wings that cover about ¾ of the abdomen, nether the female or male can fly. Adults are very dark brown or black in color.

DIET:

Decayed organic matter in mulch piles and rubbish. The Oriental cockroach prefers starchy food, and builds up populations around garbage cans.Most of their water consumption is gotten through their food and the moisture around them.

HABITS AND BIOLOGY:

Females produce an average of 8 egg Capsules, containing 16 eggs in each,from spring to mid-summer. Unlike other urban cockroaches, the Oriental roach produces only one generation per year where temperatures are cool in winter. The female will carry the egg capsule(irregularly shaped,black,3/8" long,and 1/4"wide), for around 30 hours and then drops or attaches it in a protected area, near a food supply. The eggs hatch in about 60 days under warm conditions. At least 75% of the eggs must hatch to open the capsule.

The young become adults in 6-12 months. Nymphs(young) are active from about March through much of the summer. During this period they molt seven to ten times, and are reddish-brown to black in color, except in the first stage when they are pale tan. The older brown Oriental cockroach nymphs are very difficult to distinguish from the American cockroach nymphs.

This type of roach will have seasonal cycle in it's development.They peak to adults during the spring and early summer, dwindling in numbers by the late summer/early fall. Nymphs(young) are active from about March through much of the summer. During this period they molt seven to ten times, and are reddish-brown to black in color, except in the first stage when they are pale tan. The older brown Oriental cockroach nymphs are very difficult to distinguish from the American cockroach nymphs.

In early spring, only adult Oriental cockroaches are found. By late spring, nymphs are abundant. As nymphal numbers increase, the adults die off and by August any adults are new ones. By fall, almost the entire population is adult.

Inside they can be found in damp areas such as basements, crawl spaces,and kitchens. indoors and out.

They are usually found at or below ground level in yards, beneath leaves, in dumps, in the mulch of flower beds and in high moisture situations such as sewers, drains and dark, damp basements. They favor crawl spaces, spaces between the soil and building foundations, the undersides of stoops and sidewalks, landscaping mulches, water meters, basements and their floor drains, and other such moist places. These cockroaches frequently live in floor drains that drain directly outside; these drains are also used as entrances to homes. They tolerate lower temperature ranges than other roaches and may winter in rock walls or such protected sites.

During times of drought there may be movement towards the inside of the home, but generally speaking they are found outdoors during the warmer months. They may also move inside if it is unseasonably cold.

The German roach is one of the most common roaches found in apartment houses, restaurants, and hotels. German roaches ( eggs included), are "brought in", usually on man's belongings, luggage, boxes or packages. All it takes, is bringing in one egg capsule, six months later you do have an infestation.

They have the most eggs produced, shortest development cycle, best survival rate of the young, and the most adaptive feeding habits of most of the roaches. 

However in restaurants...you may have to still spray with a residual insecticide...we encourage you to call us for recommendations, in that we have had a long history of helping restaurants solve their problem, but needs to be handled on a individual basis.

APPEARANCE:

Adults are 1/2 inch- 5/8 inch long, light to medium brown with 2 dark distinctive stripes behind the head. The young (nymphs) are wingless, smaller and much darker in color, with a light stripe on their backs.

DIET:

Will eat anything, will stay close to food and water source.

HABITS AND BIOLOGY:

Females produce one egg capsule every 3-4 weeks. Each capsule contains 25-45 eggs. The female will carry the egg capsule with her until it is ready to hatch. The young(nymphs) will be able to breed in as little as 36 days. Adult German roaches can live up to one year These roaches are mostly active at night .If they are seen during the day, it is usually because their hiding places are overcrowded due to a large population or there is a shortage of food and water supply.

Infestations are generally found in kitchens and bathrooms, but can inhabit other areas if there is a heavy population or you have run them into each other with the repellent effect of insecticides.