American cockroaches are reddish brown with a yellowish figure 8 pattern on the back of the head and 6 legs. Adults range in size from 1 ⅜ to 2 ⅛ inches. They are also referred to as the Palmetto bug or water bug and despite their misleading name, they can be found worldwide.
Both sexes are fully winged with wings of males extending beyond the tip of the abdomen – they are poor to moderate fliers. The female drops her egg capsules – called ootheca – within a few hours or up to 4 hours after it is formed. It is dropped or glued with a mouth secretion to a surface, usually in a crack or crevice of high relative humidity near a food source. The ootheca has 8 eggs on each side.
American cockroaches are filthy pests, and their presence in the home can pose a severe health threat. Cockroaches have been reported to spread at least 33 kinds of bacteria, including E. coli and Salmonella, as well as six kinds of parasitic worms and at least seven other kinds of human pathogens. In addition, the saliva, urine and fecal droppings from American cockroaches contain allergen proteins known to elicit allergic reactions and asthma attacks. As such, cockroaches are a common trigger of year-round allergy and asthma symptoms, especially in children.
American cockroaches primarily live outdoors, but are commonly found inside of structures. In the Northern U.S., they are often found in sewers and drains. In fact, American cockroaches are the most common cockroach species found in city sewer systems. During the warmer summer months, they can also be found outdoors in yards and alleys. American cockroaches will generally move indoors when they are in search of food or experience a significant climate change. They prefer warm, moist and dark environments with temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees. They often enter structures by hitchhiking in on human belongings, coming up from the sewer system via drains or occasional mass migration from other structures, dumps, etc., during warm weather.
American cockroaches are especially common in larger commercial buildings where there is food storage and preparation, such as restaurants, bakeries, grocery stores, food processing plants, hospitals, etc. Here they usually infest storage and food preparation areas, boiler rooms, steam tunnels and basements. These pests can also infest homes by easily passing underneath doors lacking weather stripping or entering through basement windows and garages. Once inside a residence, American cockroaches usually make their way into the kitchen, bathroom, basement or laundry room in search of food and water.
American cockroaches feed on many kinds of food, but they show a particular fondness for fermenting material. Outdoors, they tend to eat decaying leaves, fungi, algae and small insects. Indoors, they eat crumbs found under appliances, in drains, behind kitchen cabinets and on the floor. They will also eat pet food that is left uncovered.
Having a clean and sanitary home is the best way to prevent an infestation of American cockroaches. Homeowners should consistently keep all surfaces, sinks, and floors free of clutter and crumbs. Don’t allow dirty dishes to pile up in the sink or let spilled foods sit on the counter. It’s also recommended to store food in sealed airtight containers, and avoid leaving pet food out. Some additional ways to prevent American cockroaches include vacuuming at least once a week to remove crumbs, installing dehumidifiers in crawl spaces and basements to prevent moisture build-up, and running water periodically in spare bathrooms to keep u-traps filled.
If a cockroach infestation is suspected, contact Richland Pest & Bee Control for advice on American cockroach control and elimination. Our pest professionals will be able to recommend a customized treatment plan to get rid of the cockroaches and help prevent a future problem.
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