Getting Rid of Roaches

Getting rid of roaches can be a complex experience unless use a bug exterminator or you know all the facts. Cockroaches are one of the oldest and most primitive insects, they have been able to survive millions of years of evolutionary changes. It is therefore not surprising that men find their odor offensive and destructive.
Cockroaches are omnivorous nocturnal insects that hide during the day and feed at night. They can be found in damp, humid places, such as kitchen and bathroom cabinets, beneath the floors and inside interior walls. Some have even been known to explore the light fixtures, it is their ability to enter a place to hide, breed and survive. Most owners are grossed out to find a cockroach infestation in their home.

In general, the "Do-It-Yourself person" will attempt to exterminate the cockroaches with sprays, powders foggers, baits and pastes. Keep in mind the difficult part here is application, application which is the reason for most failures.

You need to reach the areas where these critters are completely hidden and to get to their infestation.

There are several other problems to be concerned with, because these applications can be dangerous to humans and domestic animals a long-term contamination by chemicals used for extermination needs to be reevaluated. After several failed attempts, a landlord or homeowner should consider a professional exterminator.

Choosing a professional exterminator takes a little time and effort, which is well worth the time. Choose a company with good references. Check to make sure each exterminator is authorized by a regulatory agency such as the state and a business association. This can prevent pest control exterminators with less experience to endanger your home with unnecessary exposure that may be harmful to the health of your family.

A good exterminator will require a time period for you and family including pets to be out of the treated premises for a period of 12 to 24 hours, depending on the infestation problem. On some occasions the need to vacate can be as little as a few hours

Most exterminating companies will provide you with a list of follow-up actions in getting rid of roaches. These actions are a safety factor for you and family. Follow up is the key to getting rid of roaches. A good exterminator will include a one or two follow up inspection and or treatments.
Remember, getting rid of roaches can be a preventive action so be sure and take the preventive way; it is less costly in the long run.

You can do a do-it-yourself treatment if so desired. If you fail don’t waste time in getting rid of roaches, call an exterminator.

American Cockroach or Palmetto Bug

The American cockroach and sometimes called the Palmetto bug, water bug  or the flying bug, they can live approximately a year to a year and a half. It is reddish-brown, with a pale brown or yellow border on the upper surface of the pronotum. They can get up to 1-2 inches in size. There are contest for the largest American cockroach.They can survive one month without access to water and go 2-3 months without eating.

American cock roach egg capsules 

An adult female will produce between six and 14 egg cases.  She will produce an average of 150 young in her lifetime. They will usually plant their egg capsules in cracks and corners. The American cockroach adults and young nymphs in all stages of growth have similar appearances.



They usually prefer the dark moist areas like basements, bathtubs, floor drains and sewers. They more commonly congregate in open spaces instead of small crack and crevices. I remember Picking up a towel on a washing machine in a customer’s house and about 10 roaches ran out.

American cock roach food


American cockroaches feed on a variety of foods, but decaying organic matter seems to be preferred. They also feed upon book bindings, manuscripts, clothing and glossy paper with starch sizing. Adults are attracted to light. Adults and nymphs can be found in a variety of places.  Environmental factors such as temperature and humidity can increase or decrease the developmental time of the American cockroach.

American cockroaches, thought to have originated in Africa, Have actively co-habit with humans and adapted their behavior accordingly. The control of The American cockroach depends on using certain baits and outside granular treatments. As it is with the German roach, follow up is always a key factor in the exterminating of American cock roach.

Most Exterminating company will give you a free inspection and a free estimate for pest control of any cockroach. There is always the do it your self stores who can recommend the baits, chemicals or traps to use when trying to eliminate the American cock roach. 

More information on how to kill German cockroaches

More information on how to kill German cockroaches. It is very important for you to know how to identify the German cockroach especially if you plan on a  DIY (Do it Yourself) treatment. Just remember there is a lot to getting rid of roaches and this particular roach is a very hard roach to control, so if you are not successful call a professional.

        German roach

The German cockroach is the cockroach of concern, the species that gives all other cockroaches a bad name. It occurs in structures throughout Florida, and is the species that typically plagues multifamily dwellings. In Florida, the German cockroach may be confused with the Asian cockroach, Blattella asahinai Mizukubo. While these cockroaches are very similar, there are some differences that a practiced eye can discern.

German cockroach is found throughout the world in association with humans. They are unable to survive in locations away from humans or human activity. The major factor limiting German cockroach survival appears to be cold temperatures. Studies have shown that German cockroaches were unable to colonize inactive ships during cool temperatures and could not survive in homes without central heating in northern climates. The availability of water, food, and harborage also govern the ability of German cockroaches to establish populations, and limit growth.

Description

        German roach egg

Egg. Eggs are carried in an egg case, or ootheca, by the female until just before hatch occurs. The ootheca can be seen protruding from the posterior end (genital chamber) of the female. Nymphs will often hatch from the ootheca while the female is still carrying it. A typical egg case contains 30 to 40 eggs. The egg case is a tiny, brown, purse-shaped capsule. It is about 8 mm long, 3 mm high, and 2 mm wide.


German roach larva
Larva or Nymph. The nymphal stage begins with egg hatch and ends with the emergence of the adult. Nymphs are dark brown to black in color, with distinct dark parallel bands running the length of the pronotum. Nymphs do not possess wings. The number of molts required to reach the adult stage varies, but the most frequently reported number of molts is six. The stage between molts is called an instar. At room temperature nymphs complete development in about 60 days. All developmental stages actively forage for food and water.3rd instar nymphnewly molted adult

        German roach adult

Adult. The adult is 10 to 15 mm long, brown to dark brown in color with two distinct parallel bands running the length of the pronotum. The sexes can be distinguished by the following characteristics: male - body thin and slender, posterior abdomen is tapered, terminal segments of abdomen visible, not covered by tegmina (leathery outer wings); female - body stout, posterior abdomen is rounded, entire abdomen just covered by tegmina.adult maleadult female
Life Cycle

German roach life stages
when you look for more information on how to kill german roaches you need to understand that the German cockroach has three life stages typical of insects with incomplete metamorphosis: the egg, nymph, and adult. The entire life cycle is completed in about 100 days. However, factors such as temperature, nutritional status, and strain differences may influence the time required to complete a life cycle. German cockroaches breed continuously with many overlapping generations present at any one time. Under ideal conditions, population growth has been shown to be exponential. Actively growing field populations are comprised of 80 percent nymphs and 20 percent adults. The German cockroach is omnivorous, eating table scraps, pet food, and even book bindings.

German cockroach - Blattella germanica (Linnaeus)

Blogged with the Flock Browser