American Cockroaches
Order:
Blattodea
Family: Blattidae
Scientific Name: Periplaneta americana (L.)
The American cockroach is frequently found in commercial and residential accounts. This cockroach is the predominant species inhabiting sewers, and is often found infesting ships as well. Occasionally, this cockroach will injure indoor plants by feeding on stems and leaves.
Cockroaches may present
a significant threat to human health.
They are capable of transmitting bacteria and protozoa while foraging. Moreover, they can cause severe asthma attacks among asthmatics
with cockroach sensitivities.
Biology and Habits
Cockroaches undergo simple metamorphosis, developing from the egg stage through the Nymphal stages to the mature adult stage. The female will drop or glue ootheca (i.e., egg case) to suitable surfaces such as block walls or cardboard boxes. The reddish- to blackish-brown ootheca contains approximately 13 – 16 eggs. One female may produce 9 to 10 oothecae during her lifetime. Whitish nymphs will become active shortly after hatching.
Nymphs molt several times before maturation, which occurs within 600 days under ordinary conditions. The nymphs are almost uniformly reddish-brown in color, and may exhibit wing pads as early as the third instar. The last nymphal instar is about 0.3 inch (7 mm) long. After the final molt, the adult exhibits completely formed wings that extend to the tip of the abdomen. Although adults are not strong fliers, both sexes are capable of gliding.
The adult American cockroach
ranges from 1 3/8 to 2 1/18 inches (34 to 53 mm) in length.
Its exoskeleton and wings are reddish-brown except for a pale brown
to yellow band around the edge of the pronotum.
Under ordinary conditions, adult females will live about 440 days,
and males about 200 days.
Control
American cockroaches prefer dark, damp and warm places, such as near basement floor drains that connect with sewer systems. A thorough inspection will uncover signs of cockroach activity: adults or nymphs, oothecae, and droppings that exhibit ridges and blunt ends. Glue traps may aid in pinpointing harborage areas. After proper identification, implement pest management strategies.
Baits or residual insecticidal sprays and dusts can control these cockroaches. Before applying instructions and precautionary statements. Choosing the appropriate formulations for treatment is vital for a successful program. For example, select a wettable powder or a flowable microencapsulated product when treating porous surfaces to avoid drawing the insecticide away from the target surface area. When applying insecticide to plants, be sure the treatment will not harm the plant. When using baits, install sufficient numbers of bait placements to target the harborage area. To avoid unpalatability, baits should not be stored with volatile pesticides, or under extreme temperature or humid conditions.
In the South, this large
cockroach is commonly found in the landscape or alleyways and may move
indoors during nighttime foraging or during periods of hot temperatures
or excessive rainfalls. The American cockroach may inhabit refuse areas and readily
enters buildings through weep holes and drainage systems.
Exclusion practices involving sealing or screening, and perimeter
treatments using a residual insecticide formulation will discourage cockroach
entry. Dusts or paints containing
insecticides may be applied to sewer tunnels and entrance covers to reduce
population levels and perhaps to achieve elimination.
(Courtesy of the National Pest Control Association.)