Did you know that the American cockroach is among the most common pests in San Antonio? In fact, more than 30 cockroach species call Texas home. Confirming the type of roach that has chosen to set up residence in your family home is crucial. This knowledge will help you determine how to remove these unwanted visitors and keep them out for good.
All About American Cockroaches
Read on to learn more about American cockroaches.
American Cockroaches: Life Cycle & Behavior
The American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) prefers to live outdoors. Unfortunately, they will move inside and infest homes and other buildings when searching for food, especially in warm climates. They prefer humid and wet conditions, including basements, laundry rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms.
Like many other cockroaches, the life cycle of the American cockroach consists of three stages of metamorphosis:
- Egg
- Nymph
- Adult
The metamorphosis from birth to fully-formed adult takes around 600 days on average. The lifespan for an adult ranges between one and two years. On average, female American cockroaches lay one egg case per month containing up to 16 or more eggs. This can easily lead to an infestation.
What Do American Cockroaches Look Like?
If you’re trying to determine what type of roach is infesting your home, remember that American cockroaches …
- Range from about one to three inches in length
- Are oval-shaped with two straight antennas and six legs
- Are dark red or brown with light yellow edges
- Have a rough figure-8 shape on the back of their heads
- Primarily rely on their six legs to move, although they fly when startled
- Differ visually from German cockroaches, which have two dark stripes on their backs and are around half an inch in length
What Do American Cockroaches Eat?
American cockroaches are omnivorous and will eat just about anything.
When outdoors, they consume algae, fungi, decaying leaves, small insects, or other dead or wounded cockroaches. Indoors, American cockroaches will eat uncovered pet foods and coffee grounds. They also eat crumbs in drawers and cabinets, on the floor, and beneath appliances.
Because they’re not picky, they will also consume milk, sweets, cosmetics, and more. To many people’s dismay, they will also eat starchy items such as wallpaper paste, book bindings, and glue.
Problems Caused by Cockroaches
Because cockroaches are always eating, they produce a lot of waste. Their feces appears as dark droplets under appliances, in cabinets, on counters, and across your home. Cockroach egg casings may also appear in similar locations.
Additional problems caused by cockroaches may include the following:
- Their waste, skin, and secretions contain allergens that cause reactions for people with allergies and asthma.
- They can contaminate food, water sources, and surfaces, including kitchen counters.
- They may spread disease-causing germs and harmful bacteria, like Salmonella and E. coli.
- They produce wet, musty odors.
If you see one roach in your home, there are almost certainly others lurking nearby. But regardless of whether you’re facing a small or large roach infestation, it’s crucial to force them out as soon as you can.
Why Are Cockroaches So Hard to Eliminate?
It’s often said that cockroaches will roam the earth far longer than we will as humans. They are well-known for their hardy survivalist abilities.
Further, it’s difficult to conquer cockroach infestations due to the following:
- Cockroaches are masters at concealing themselves.
- They have a strong ability to reproduce.
- Research has shown that cockroaches are becoming increasingly resistant to pesticides.
If you see the signs of a cockroach infestation in your home, call in the professionals to ensure that treatments will be successful.
Tips for Effective Cockroach Prevention
Be sure to take the steps below and use other common-sense measures to help prevent cockroaches from taking over your home:
- Use a dehumidifier to decrease excess moisture.
- Immediately pick up any crumbs or food waste
- Ensure that you seal foods stored in cabinets properly.
- Store pet food in airtight containers.
- Fix any leaky faucets and pipes in and around your home.
- Repair damaged screens and weatherstripping.
- Always keep your garbage cans sealed.
If these steps aren’t enough to keep cockroaches out of your San Antonio home, call Romney Pest Control for a free quote! Our team of experienced professionals can handle any pest with ease.
