Cockroaches are unpleasant pests that can invade a home and wreak havoc. There are thousands of different species of cockroaches, many of which love in the United States. If you find a cockroach in your home, there is a good chance that there are many others that you have not seen yet. The first step in getting rid of cockroaches in your house is to identify what type they are so you can give the exterminator as much information as possible. Here is a brief overview of some of the most common types of cockroaches in the U.S. and their behaviors.
American Cockroach
The American cockroach is reddish-brown in color with lightly-colored edges. Its wings often appear longer than its body. This species of cockroach is generally large, measuring about one to one-and-a-half inches. The American cockroach lives in warm and wet areas. When they enter a home, they like to take refuge in the basement, around sewers or other areas where water is plentiful. This cockroach breed near water, particularly in sewers.
German Cockroach
The German cockroach is light brown or tan. It is easily recognized by the lengthwise stripes on its head. This species of cockroach is rather small, measuring a mere one-quarter to five-eighths of an inch in length. You can most often find a German cockroach in small cracks and crevices in kitchens and bathrooms or anywhere water is readily available. However, once they get into your home and their population increases, they can spread all over. German cockroaches frequently attach themselves to people or objects as a means of traveling to new locations. They also breed frequently and excessively This species of cockroach is the one that is most frequently found in homes, as they can tolerate pest control methods.
Oriental Cockroach
The Oriental cockroach is a dark, oily black. At first glance, it appears to have no wings. This species is rather large and often measures about one inch long. This species of cockroach likes to stay in dark and moist areas. They can often be found near sewer drains, pipes, wet basements, under porches or in crawl spaces.
Brown-Banded Cockroach
The brown-banded cockroach is rather small. An adult of this species measures in at only one-quarter of an inch long. Females of this species are dark brown while the males are golden-tan. Both sexes have light-colored bands their wings and abdomen. The males can fly if they are bothered, but females do not have the ability to fly in any circumstances. This species of cockroach like to stay in warm areas indoors. They can be found in piles of clutter,hollow parts of furniture and near appliances that give off heat. Unlike other species of roaches, the brown-banded variety does not need to rely on moist areas if they can find a water source easily. This type of cockroach thrives on eating starchy materials like paper products or stamp glue. This species is also resistant to traditional extermination methods and are difficult to eliminate.
If you would like more information about common cockroaches in the United States or need the help of a professional to get rid of them in your home, contact Valley Pest Solutions today.