Cockroaches are repulsive and annoying, but they can also carry disease, contaminate food, and leave a foul odor when populations are high. The German Cockroach is, by far, the most common cockroach in the Pacific Northwest, but we also see occurrences of American, Brownbanded, and Oriental cockroaches.
German Cockroach
Color: pale brown with two dark brown stripes down its wings
Size: 1/2-inch long
Feed on: almost any food, with a preference for starches, sweets, grease, meat products and garbage
Found in: Homes, offices, restaurants, hotels. May be carried into a building on groceries, deliveries, furniture/equipment, and personal belongings.
Harborage: Harbor in cracks and crevices, generally near a food and/or water source, such as kitchens and bathrooms. May live under, around, and in appliances; behind walls; around sinks; and in other hidden, sheltered areas.
Characteristics: One of the smallest of cockroaches, it can produce more offspring than any other, enabling infestations to build rapidly.
American Cockroach
Color: reddish-brown to brown, with a yellowish-tan band behind the head.
Size: 1-1/2 inches long
Feed on: prefer decaying organic matter, but will also feed on sweets and starchy items such as book bindings, glue, and wallpaper paste.
Found in: prefers to live in cluttered areas, particularly basements.
Characteristics: It is the largest cockroach found in dwellings.
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Brownbanded Cockroach
Color: reddish- to dark brown with two yellowish-brown bands running across its wings.
Size: 1/2-5/8 inch long
Feed on: prefers starchy material; but will feed on almost anything.
Found in: more apt to be found in private residences than in commercial buildings. May be on ceilings, walls, behind picture frames and light fixtures and switches, in appliances, closets and furniture. May infest any room in a dwelling.
Characteristics: Very active; jump when disturbed. Males can fly.
Oriental Cockroach
Color: glossy dark brown to black.
Size: 1 to 1-1/4 inches long.
Feed on: prefers decaying organic matter.
Found in: normally found outdoors, but may invade buildings as weather cools.
Characteristics: is known as the filthiest of the household infesting species.
problems
Cockroaches: The Problems
- Can transmit diseases, such as food poisoning, cholera, dysentery, salmonellosis and strep, by depositing organisms on food, dishes, or other items.
- Can cause allergic reaction in many people. Studies have shown that exposure to cockroach allergens is a major health concern for asthmatic children.
- Have an acrid odor that may permeate items with which they come in contact.
- Generally nocturnal, cockroaches are only seen during the day when disturbed or when there is an excessively large infestation.
- Under optimum conditions, cockroaches can produce two million offspring in one year, with an average breeding season resulting in 350,000 offspring.
management
Pioneer Cockroach Management
Once cockroaches invade your home or building, they can multiply very quickly. But the species differ enough that the control techniques used against one species may not be effective against another. Thus, it is essential to accurately identify and treat for the specific species that is present.
Cockroach management is a part of Pioneer Pest Management’s Home Defense and Commercial Protection ongoing maintenance programs.
To protect your family, home, or business:
- We inspect the property to locate as many cockroach hiding places as possible and determine necessary and proper insecticide treatments and other management activities.
- Typical treatment for a roach infestation will include an initial service, with follow-up services based on the level of infestation.
- We will implement Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies where viable and will recommend areas of exclusion, sanitation, or other actions you can take to help reduce cockroach attraction, means of entry, and future invasion.
- As a part of the Pioneer Home Defense and Commercial Protection programs, we will maintain a constant vigilance against new populations and respond to any such service request you may have.
contact
German cockroach photo by Alex Wild/alexanderwild.com