4 Things You Need To Know About German Cockroaches

About Me
tick control in your yard

Do you live in an area where ticks have become a serious problem? Do you have children and pets to worry about as they play outside? If so, it is time for you to learn about tick extermination and control. How you maintain your property and how you prepare to go outside can have a big impact on how likely you, your family and your pets are to be exposed to the diseases carried by ticks. My site can help you maintain your yard and take care of your pets and children so that they are safe to play outside on the warm summer days.

Search

4 Things You Need To Know About German Cockroaches

4 December 2015
 Categories: , Blog


There are many types of cockroaches that can move into your home, including German cockroaches. Here are four things you need to know about these unwanted pests.  

How can you identify them?

German cockroaches are small; they reach lengths of up to 16 millimeters (0.63 inches). Their bodies are light brown with dark brown markings. Their markings are fairly distinctive: look for two thick, dark vertical stripes behind their heads.

These cockroaches have wings, though they aren't able to fly. Unlike other types of cockroaches, their wings are shorter than their bodies.

Where do German cockroaches live?

These cockroaches are native to Southeast Asia and prefer to live in tropical or temperate climates. However, thanks to indoor heating, they can survive in any state, including Alaska.

If they move into your home, you may find them living in warm, moist areas of your home like your bathroom, kitchen, or laundry room. During the day, they sleep in dark, hidden places, but at night, they leave their hiding places in search of food. At night, you may see them running around your house looking for foods like sweets, grease, and meat.

What is unique about them?

At first glance, all species of cockroach seem similar, but each species of cockroach has unique features that need to be considered if you want to control them. Some German cockroaches have developed an aversion to glucose, a simple sugar that is often used to make roach bait stations more appealing to roaches. These roaches think the glucose tastes bitter, so they won't be tricked into eating the poison. This makes them harder to get rid of as you can't rely on roach bait stations.

German cockroaches also have unique egg-laying habits, according to Bug Guide. Other cockroaches lay their eggs and then abandon them, which allows you to find the egg sacs and destroy them before they hatch. German cockroaches carry their egg sacs with them and only drop them when they are about to hatch.

How can you control them?

German cockroaches' unique habits make them hard to get rid of, so the best control strategy is to prevent them from moving into your house. Here are some ways to make your house less appealing to roaches:

  • Store food in roach-proof containers, such as plastic containers with tight-fitting lids;
  • Clean up crumbs and spills;
  • Fix leaking faucets and other sources of excess water;
  • Remove clutter to reduce hiding places.

German cockroaches are hard to get rid of, so if you find them in your house, contact a licensed pest control company (such as Aloha Termite Kauai Inc) right away.