About Roaches
Roaches have been around for over 200 million years, thriving on every continent except Antarctica. In the United States, about 70 species are present out of the 4,000 known worldwide.
Primarily nocturnal, roaches seek shelter indoors, preferring dark, warm areas. Homeowners often find them in bathrooms, closets, and kitchens. Their color ranges from light brown to black, depending on the species and their preferred habitat.
What do roaches look like?
Roaches have oval bodies with a head, thorax, and abdomen, and they possess six legs, antennae, compound eyes, and a hard exoskeleton. Without counting their antennae, roaches in the U.S. can be between 1/2” to 2” long. They have downward-pointing mouths, breathe through spiracles on their bodies, and use their antennae for smelling and sensing. Some roaches have wings but are generally poor fliers, except for the brown-banded cockroach.
Roaches come in various shades of brown, each species having unique markings. For example, the brown-banded cockroach has a light-colored band across its wings, the German cockroach has two dark stripes on its thorax, and the American cockroach has a yellow band behind its head. The Oriental cockroach is often called the “black beetle” due to its dark color.
Roach lifespans vary by species, ranging from months to years. They progress from egg to nymph to adult, with nymphs molting multiple times before maturing. The German cockroach is particularly prolific, with one female and her offspring capable of producing 300,000 roaches annually.
What are the unique characteristics of roaches?
Roaches are omnivorous and will eat anything from plants to leather, human food, paper, and even dead skin cells. When food is scarce, they become cannibalistic. Interestingly, roaches are attracted to beer because of its sugar content.
Despite their reputation, roaches are not indestructible but have impressive survival skills. They can run at three miles per hour, withstand temperatures as low as 32°F, and can survive a month without food and a week without water. Roaches can hold their breath for 40 minutes and live for half an hour submerged in water. Remarkably, they can survive for a week without their head, eventually dying from dehydration.
What are the habits of roaches?
Roaches are mostly active at night, seeking out dark, warm spots to hide. They usually conceal themselves in cracks and crevices, although American cockroaches are known to be bolder and often gather in the open.
Where are roaches commonly found? Roaches will inhabit any place with food, water, shelter, and warmth:
- Brown-banded cockroaches: Found in the Southern, Midwest, and Northeastern U.S., they prefer warm, dry places like closets, furniture, and cabinets.
- German cockroaches: Favor warm, moist areas such as bathrooms and kitchens, and are common in restaurants, grocery stores, hotels, and apartments.
- American cockroaches: Typically outdoors, they venture inside for food or to escape the cold, preferring dark, damp locations like basements and boiler rooms.
- Oriental cockroaches: Common in the Southern, Midwest, and Northwestern U.S., they thrive in damp spots such as crawl spaces, under porches, and around sewer pipes.
- Wood cockroaches: Prefer outdoor environments, living under wood piles, debris, and leaves.
What are the risks of having a roach infestation?
Roaches can carry and spread over 30 types of bacteria, including salmonella, contaminating food and surfaces. They can trigger asthma attacks and allergic reactions, particularly in children. Roaches may also bite, feeding on human skin, hair, and nails, causing irritation, swelling, and open wounds.