Which Roach is Which?

German Cockroaches are the most common pest. They are smaller, ½ – 5/8 inch long. They are light brown with tan parallel stripes behind their heads. They thrive in small spaces, cracks, and crevices that they can hide in. German roaches are also fond of warm, humid areas that are close to a food source. They leave their pepper like droppings wherever they want, creating a musty smell. German roaches love to clean themselves but that does not mean that they are clean pest. Many people present with issues with allergies because of their droppings. They also spread 33 types of bacteria, 6 different types of parasitic worms and carry 7 other kinds of pathogens that can make humans very ill.

American Cockroaches also known as “water bugs” or “palmetto bugs.” They are larger 1 ¼ – 2 1/8 inches long on average. They are reddish brown and have a yellow tinted ‘figure 8’ on the back of their heads. The droppings of these cockroaches have blunt edges with a ridge running down the side. They also put off a pheromone that is described as a ‘musky’ smell. These usually reside in a 70-80 degree environment that is also moist. American cockroaches are mostly seen around drains because of this they are exposed to E. Coli and Salmonella and carry 33 types of harmful bacteria, 6 different parasitic worms and 7 other types of pathogens.

Oriental Cockroaches also known as “water bugs” and are almost always found in a damp area. They are shiny black and is usually gets about 1 inch long. They have wings but are unable to fly. If you have an invasion of these pest, it will usually be in the summertime and usually on the first floor of your dwelling. They can live without water for 2 weeks. They prefer to be in basements and crawl spaces or near garbage piles.

Roaches are a pest – no matter which one you may have! There is hope! The first thing is to make sure that you are not giving them a food source. Roaches thrive in an environment that has clutter and food waste around. Exclusion is also a good form of pest control – put screens on drain, caulking any cracks around sinks, doors, and windows.  If that does not fix the problem, then the best thing to do is to call a professional to take care of the pest issue.