Cockroaches Live Across The United States
Nobody likes cockroaches. They’re icky and spread germs. But did you know that cockroaches are also a major allergy and asthma trigger in youth and young adults?
Symptoms of Cockroach Allergy
- Chronic stuffy nose
- Frequent ear and sinus infections
- Itchy eyes and nose
- A cough that doesn’t go away
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- Chest tightness
Brown Banded cockroaches get their common name from the pale brown bands which run across the wings of the adult, but more appropriately, from the pale brown bands which run across the body of the nymph. This species is apparently of African origin and was presumably introduced from Cuba into Florida about 1903. It now occurs throughout the United States.
RECOGNITION
Adults are about 1/2″ (male 13-14.5 mm; female 11-12 mm) long. Color light brown to brown with females much darker than males; head brown, Pronotal shield with the brown liberty-bell shaped pattern formed by translucent lateral margins or sides, and wings darker at the base but paler towards their tips with exception of a pale band at their base and another about 1/3 from base. Female darker than male, her abdomen much broader and more rounded, and her wings do not completely cover the abdomen as they do in males. Males readily fly, but females cannot fly.
Nymphal instars 1-2 with thorax dark brown to black, but having pale lateral margins, mesothorax with a white central area, metathorax pale/white its entire width or at least on its posterior half, abdomen with white central area; thorax and abdomen pale/white ventrally.
Later instars (3rd on) with pronotum having a dark liberty-bell shaped pattern formed by pale/clear lateral margins, meso- and metathorax mostly white but white areas of mesothorax usually divided by dark posterior and sublateral margins; abdomen with 1st segment dark, next 4 segments dark laterally on dorsum.
Ootheca or otherwise known as egg capsules are light brown; length about 1/4″ (5 mm) or less, with length less than twice width; subdivisional furrows extending entire width; bottom straight, top slightly bowed or arched; and with 8-10 subsegments but only 7-9 eggs on each side.
SIMILAR GROUPS OF Cockroaches
(Adults only)
(1) German cockroach (Blattella germanica), Asian cockroach (B. Asahinai), and field cockroach (B. Vaga) have 2 dark longitudinal stripes on the Pronotal shield.
(2) Pennsylvania wood cockroach (Parcoblatta pensylvanica) lacks a dark liberty-bell-shaped pattern on the Pronotal shield and cross bands on the wings.
(3) Other cockroaches are either smaller or larger, lack characteristic Pronotal and wing color patterns, and/or are not associated with structures.
BIOLOGY OF THE COCKROACH
The female carries the ootheca for 24-36 hours and then attaches it, usually to the side or undersurface of shelves, furniture, etc. On average, the female will produce about 14 egg capsules each containing about 14-18 eggs (range 10-18), with an average hatch of 13-14 per egg capsule.
Developmental time (egg to adult) is greatly influenced by temperature, varying from 90-276 days but averaging about 161 days. Adults live about 206 days (range 131-315).
Cockroaches HABITS
Brown-banded cockroaches are found throughout structures but show a preference for warmer areas, over 80°F (27°C). Be sure to check ceilings, anything high on walls such as picture frames and wall molding, near appliance motors, and in light switches, closets, and furniture.
Here are example images of the Cockroach!
Impacts of Cockroaches
Environmental exposure to cockroaches has been linked to cockroach sensitization and asthma. A large number of cockroach species exist worldwide (approximately 4,000 species), but only a few are domiciliary cockroaches, including around 25 species (Order Blattaria, Class Insecta, Phylum Arthropoda. The two species are written about in detail above; German cockroach (Blattella germanica) and American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) predominate in temperate and warm areas, respectively.
Controlling Cockroach Allergy
Cockroaches are good at hiding in walls and cracks. You may not even know they’re there. Experts say that if you see just one roach in your house, about 800 could be nearby but out of sight.
Removing Cockroaches
The first thing you need to do is reduce your contact with cockroaches. That means making changes around your house and contacting Four Seasons Exterminating for an inspection asap! Four Seasons Exterminating services Central Michigan Counties and has been in business since 1987. We Offer Pest Free Guarantee, Give Us a Call and Ask Our Customer Service Specialist About More Details! 989-352-7777
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