Types Of Roaches and Roach Control In The San Antonio Area and South Texas
Most cockroaches are tropical or sub-tropical in origin and generally live outdoors. However, some species have adapted well to living with humans. Though it is true that they prosper in clutter, filth and grime, cockroaches at times infest even the most sanitary and well-organized homes and buildings.
Cockroaches enter buildings in infested boxes, grocery bags, beverage cartons, furniture and dried pet foods. They also enter around loose-fitting doors and windows, where electrical lines or water and steam pipes pass through walls, in seasoned firewood and through sewer lines.
Most cockroaches are nocturnal and appear during daylight only when disturbed or where there is a heavy infestation. They prefer warm, dark, humid shelters, and often move around the kitchen sink or drainboard. They prefer to rest in cracks around, under or inside cupboards and cabinets; where pipes or electrical wiring pass along or through a wall; behind window or door frames, loose baseboards or molding strips; under tables and chairs; in upholstered furniture; in bathrooms; in radio and TV cabinets; and in motor compartments of refrigerators, washing machines and other appliances. It is important to know where cockroaches are hiding in your home because these are the locations that must be cleaned and treated.
Cockroaches feed on a variety of plant and animal products, including meat and grease, starchy foods, sweets, baked goods and other unprotected kitchen goods. They also feed on materials such as leather, wallpaper paste and book binding and sizing.
Cockroaches rank high on the homeowner’s list of pest problems. Their presence in the home is objectionable and implies un-cleanliness. Cockroaches contaminate food with excrement and salivary secretions, and they may leave an unpleasant odor. Cockroaches also carry disease organisms, although their role in transmitting diseases to humans is poorly documented.
Biology and Behavior
Cockroaches develop by gradual metamorphosis and have three life stages: egg, nymph and adult. Adult females produce small, bean-shaped egg capsules. The female usually drops the egg capsules or glues them to some surface soon after they are formed. However, the female German cockroach carries the capsule protruding from her body until the eggs are ready to hatch thus making them one of the hardest to control. Nymphs hatch from the eggs and emerge from the capsules. They resemble adult cockroaches, except that they are smaller and do not have fully developed wings. Their flattened bodies and long, spiny legs enable them to run rapidly and to squeeze into crevices and other dark hiding places.
Nymphs molt several times before becoming mature males and females. As indicated in Table 1, the time required to complete the life cycle varies from about 2 months to nearly 3 years depending on the species, food and water sources, and environmental conditions.
Common Species
There are approximately 3,500 species of cockroaches, but only 55 species are known to live in the U.S. In Texas, five cockroach species are really troublesome in homes and other buildings. The other cockroach species are not found in Texas or they breed and live outdoors. They may on occasion come inside the home, but outdoor species usually do not develop large populations inside homes and often die or migrate outdoors.
German Cockroach ( Blattella germanica )
The adult German cockroach is light brown and 1/2 to 5/8 inch long. The head shield has two dark stripes which run lengthwise. Adults are fully winged but rarely fly. Nymphal German cockroaches are smaller and darker than adults and are wingless.
The German cockroach is the most prevalent cockroach in Texas and is more active than other domestic species. The German cockroach produces more eggs per capsule than most other species and has a developmental period as short as 2 months. Thus, troublesome infestations can develop rapidly from a few individuals. The trained professionals at Hitman Pest Control have the experience and skills necessary to bring your rapidly developing problem under control, so give us a call or use the form to schedule your appointment.
Brownbanded Cockroach ( Supella longipalpa )
The brownbanded cockroach is light gold to glossy dark brown, and is 1/2 to 5/8 inch long. It has transverse yellow bands across the base of the wings and across the abdomen. The wings of adult males cover their abdomens, while the females’ wings are shorter. The yellow bands across the back are more pronounced on nymphs than on adults.
These cockroaches are quite active, and the adults, especially the males, fly rapidly when disturbed. Both adults and nymphs may jump to escape danger. The adult female carries her egg capsule for only a day or two before gluing it to a protected surface underneath or inside furniture, in a closet or on the ceiling in a darkened room. They can also be found in televisions and other appliances.
Brownbanded cockroaches are more apt to be found in homes, apartments, hotels, motels, nursing homes and hospitals than in restaurants, grocery stores and other commercial establishments. They prefer starchy foods and appear to have lower water requirements than other cockroaches. They can occupy drier locations within a building. Nymphs and adults frequently are found on ceilings in dark or dimly lit rooms, behind picture frames, in light switches, in upper walls of cabinets and closets, or on undersides of furniture and inside upholstered furniture. Because brownbanded cockroaches are found in so many locations they may be more difficult to control.
American Cockroach ( Periplaneta americana )
The American cockroach is the largest of the common species, growing to a length of 1 1/2 to 2 inches. It is reddish-brown with a light yellow band around the edge of the head shield. Adults of both sexes have well-developed wings, but seldom fly. They are, however, capable of gliding flights. Nymphal cockroaches are smaller than adults, grayish-brown in color and less fully winged.
The adult female usually drops her egg capsule within a day after it is formed. She often places the capsule near a food or water source or in a location where it can be covered with miscellaneous debris. Occasionally, she glues the capsule to some surface with secretions from her mouth. The capsule may be deposited outdoors in moist wood, in cracks in bark or in whorls of plants.
In the warm climate of Texas, American cockroaches often live out of doors in alleys, lawns, decayed trees and plants. They often enter and thrive in homes, commercial establishments and other buildings which provide favorable shelter and an ample food supply. They live mainly in dark, moist sites in kitchens, bathrooms, basements, steam tunnels, sewers and even in crawl spaces under buildings.
Oriental Cockroach ( Blatta orientalis )
Adult oriental cockroaches are glossy dark brown to black. Females may be nearly 1 1/4 inches long, while males are 1 inch long. The male’s wings cover most of the body, while the female’s shorter wings are reduced to mere lobes. Neither sex can fly, and in fact , these cockroaches are rather sluggish and do not move very fast even when disturbed. Nymphal cockroaches are smaller than adults, dark brown to black, and have wing stubs without definite veins.
The adult female oriental cockroach usually carries her egg capsule for about a day, then drops it or attaches it to a protected surface near a food supply. These cockroaches appear to have a seasonal cycle in their development. They overwinter as large nymphs or adults, and are usually noticed in the spring when they mate. In the spring of the year, they migrate from buildings to the out of doors where they spend the summer months. In the fall, the next generation tries to find shelter indoors where they can spend the winter. Natural mortality usually reduces the number of adults in the population during the summer, fall and winter. These cockroaches are more frequently found in North and Central Texas.
Nymphs and adults are usually found near decaying organic matter. During warm, humid weather they inhabit lawns, compost piles, flower beds and dumps. However, in periods of drought or with the approach of cold weather, they move in masses into homes and other buildings. In buildings, these cockroaches inhabit high moisture areas such as sewers, drains and dark, damp basements. Their activities are somewhat restricted to the ground or below-ground levels of buildings.
Smokybrown Cockroach ( Periplaneta fuliginosa )
The adult is slightly more than 1 inch long and is a uniform, very dark brown to black. The head shield is a solid dark color. Both males and females have wings longer than their bodies and are capable of flying or gliding. Nymphs are smaller than adults and have only partially developed wings.
Adult females usually carry their egg capsules for a day or two before attaching them to the outside surfaces of buildings and other protected sites near the ground.
These cockroaches live primarily outdoors and prefer woods, leaf litter, trash piles and other humid sites with abundant organic matter. They also hide under rocks, ground cover and building materials. They may enter homes with infested firewood during seasonal migrations. These species are most commonly found in South Texas.
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