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Cockroaches pose a severe health risk to humans. Contact Dukes Pest Control today to keep your office or home and family safe from the diseases cockroaches spread!
Click here to contact us now!Why cockroaches are considered pests
Cockroach species that have established some type of cohabitation with humans are widely regarded as pests. While their role in the transmission of diseases to humans is usually the main concern, there are various reasons for the pest status.
Contamination
Cockroaches may contaminate food products, utensils and various areas with droppings, cast skins, empty egg cases, dead cockroach bodies and vomit marks on surfaces.
Annoyance or fear reaction
Many people are annoyed or scared by the sight of cockroaches. This may be related to their fast, unpredictable movements and perhaps very spiky legs. Many find their presence abhorrent.
Odour
Where a substantial cockroach infestation exists, an unpleasant odour may develop, owing to secretions from the mouth and cuticle.
Allergic reactions
Some people are allergic to cockroaches. Extracts of cockroaches can bring about positive skin reactions in sensitive people, and may cause an asthma attack in asthmatics. The allergen may be ingested where foods are contaminated with faeces, or inhaled when dried faeces becomes a part of dust.
Bites
Cockroaches have been known to bite people, although such incidences are rare. In ships where the cockroach population was exceedingly high, sailors have suffered bites and gnawing of the fingernails, toenails, calloused parts and occasionally softer skin.
Disease transmission
Cockroaches carry diseases of humans. Although cockroaches have never been irrefutably proved to have transmitted pathogenic diseases to humans, several factors point to the likelihood that they play an important role in such disease transmission.
Cockroaches often dwell in environments that support the growth of organism's diseases harmful to humans (sewers, grease traps, other sources of polluted water. The same cockroach may contact various surfaces (including food) in kitchens and food processing or handling facilities.
Cockroaches are known to carry, on their cuticle and in their gut and faeces, disease organisms of humans. Each cockroach may typically carry several million bacteria on the inside of its body. A variety of disease organisms may be carried, including salmonella (a genus of bacterial organisms causing gastroenteritis, dysentery, tuberculosis, hepatitis, typhoid fever and many other humans' disorders.
German cockroach
Blattella germanica
The relatively small German cockroach is probably the
most widespread and successful cockroach that coexist
with humans in buildings.
It is the most prolific breeder of all pest cockroaches, taking as little as 40 days to develop from hatchling to adult. The German cockroach is a small species measuring (12-15mm) long. It is tan to light brown, as has two parallel streaks running from the head to the base of the wings. Although it has wings, it is not very skilled at flight and is unable to sustain flight.
The German cockroach is one of the most common and prominent household cockroaches in the world, and can be found throughout many human settlements in the world. In colder climates, it is found only near human habitats, since it is not very tolerant towards the cold.
The German cockroach is originally from Asia, and is also very closely related to the Asian cockroach, to the extent that to the casual observer they appear nearly identical and may be mistaken for the other.
The German cockroach is very successful at establishing itself in buildings, and is very hardy and resilient towards attempts to exterminate them. This is due to the fact they produce a large number of nymphs for each egg called the (ootheca), and there is a short period between birth and sexual maturity. The female also carries the egg case with her during the germination period, rather than depositing the egg case like other species, a practice which would leave them vulnerable in a human habitat against zealous attempts to wipe them out.
This cockroach is also smaller than many other species so it can more easily hide and fit into very small cracks and crevices to evade humans. The German cockroach, discounting the presents of pets, has little predators inside a human habitat.
The German cockroach eats a wide range of items. They particularly like Starch, sugary foods, grease, and meats. The cockroach can be seen in the day, especially if there is a large population or if they have been disturbed; sightings have been commonly reported often in the daytime hours. However, they are nocturnal and therefore most active at night
Australian cockroach
Periplaneta australasiae
The Australian cockroach is relatively large. (30-35 mm)
in appearance, adults are similar to the American
cockroach; but the body is a darker brown, the yellow
markings on the pronotum are more clearly defined.
It is brown in color, and is a bit smaller than the American cockroach, has a yellow margin on the thorax, and yellow streaks at its sides at the wing base. It is very common in the southern USA and in the tropical climates, and can be found in many locations throughout the world due to its travels via shipping and commerce between locations. It can be found in Florida, California and other coastal states of the USA.
Egg cases that are dropped or glued to surfaces by females may contain up to 24 eggs which after hatching; require some 6-12 months for nymphal development. Adults seem to live about 4-8 months, during which time females may produce up to 20 egg cases.
The Australian cockroach can travel quickly, often darting out of sight when someone enters a room, and it can fit into small cracks and under doors despite its fairly large size. It is known to be very mobile; it also has wings which allow it to be quite a capable flier.
It prefers warmer climates and is not cold tolerant, however, it may be able to survive indoors in colder climates. It does well in moist conditions but also can tolerate dry conditions as long as water is available. It often lives around kitchens near or in grease traps, under bark in the garden, amongst woodpiles sub floors wall voids, but you can find them almost anywhere with dry humid conditions. It appears to prefer eating plants more than its relatives do, but can feed off a wide array of organic (including decaying) matter like most cockroaches it is a scavenger.
It may come indoors to look for food, and even to live, however, in warm weather it may move outdoors and enter buildings looking for food.
American cockroach
Periplaneta americana
The American cockroach is probably the largest cockroach
that infests dwellings and utilities. Adults are
red-brown in colour with a pale yellow border around the
pronotum.
This cockroach is believed to have originated from Africa, but had become established in the southern parts of the USA by the time it was given its name.
Egg cases are usually dropped or glued to surfaces within reasonable proximity to food and water. Up to 16 eggs may hatch from each egg case, and the nymphs may take 6-12 months to develop into adults.
Adult lifespan may be between 6-12 months and females may produce up to 50 egg cases.
As the American cockroach prefers warm, moist, dark conditions, it tends to live indoors in colder regains but mainly outdoors in warmer regains. Partly because of its large size, it tends not (so often) to infest the dwellings parts of buildings (unlike the German cockroach). Nevertheless, it is a very widespread pest, occurring in walls, roofs, and sub floors in and around sewers, drains, moist cellars, grease traps and rubbish dumps.
Buildings infested or visited include hospitals, bakeries, food stores, warehouses, factories and domestic homes.
It seems to have a preference for decaying organic matter, but will eat cat, most human or animal feeds and also book bindings, paper and clothing (particularly if soiled).
Adults with a water source may survive for about 2-3 months without food. The American cockroach is fully winged (albeit for only relatively short distances at a time).
Egg cases glued to food packaging or boxes, pallets and the like, may play an important role in its dispersal.
If you have a problem with Cockroaches, Dukes Pest Management Solutions can help you! Contact us today for more information