Types of Cockroaches: Cockroaches are such insects that can live in any environment on earth. There are more than 4,000 types of cockroaches found in the world and there are more than 50 species in America. These insects are mostly found in warm, moist places where food and moisture are easily available. Cockroaches spread bacteria like salmonella and can aggravate allergies or asthma. Cockroaches grow very quickly so it is difficult to eliminate them. To remove them, cleaning is most important, and professional pest control and pesticides have to be used. In today’s article, let us know about 8 common cockroaches.
8 types of cockroach and their identification
German cockroach: It is the most common cockroach in the world. Its adults are light caramel in color. They have two black stripes on the back of their heads and are approximately the size of a penny. They move very fast and give birth to babies frequently. A female can give birth to hundreds of children in a year. These are mostly seen in kitchen, bathroom and laundry areas. Pest control is necessary to remove them.
Brown-banded cockroach: They are smaller than German cockroaches, are light brown to golden in color and have distinct stripes on their wings and abdomen. Male cockroaches, about 1 to 1.5 centimeters long, have wings and can fly, sometimes being seen near lights at night. They live in temperatures above 26 degrees Celsius. These are found in apartments and heated buildings.
Oriental Cockroach: These cockroaches are found in moist, dark places like ground floors, crawl spaces, drains and garbage areas. They move slowly and can grow up to 2.5 centimeters. These are often mistaken for beetles. They like cool places and are more active at night. They usually live outside but can come inside the house due to humidity.
American cockroach: Also called palmetto bug, it is one of the largest cockroaches. It is 4 cm long and red-brown in colour. It has long antennae and lives in warm, dark and wet places such as sewers, basements and boiler rooms. These are not seen much in homes but can contaminate food and surfaces. Due to rotting things, they bring harmful bacteria.
Smoky Brown Cockroach: This is also a big cockroach, it is dark red-brown and shiny in color. A fully grown cockroach is 3.5 centimeters long. In the southern parts of America, especially Florida and the Gulf States, they are found in warm and humid environments. They need constant moisture to survive.
Australian cockroach: This is a cockroach of hot areas, similar in appearance to the American cockroach but smaller. There are light yellow marks on the sides of its head and wings. These are found especially in coastal and southern states and are also seen in greenhouses or moist places.
Florida Woods Cockroach: These cockroaches thrive in warm, moist environments and are usually found on rotting wood, under leaves or near tree trunks. These are rarely seen in homes.
Turkestan Cockroach: There is a new species in the US that is spreading rapidly, especially in western and southern states like Texas and California. Male cockroaches are light brown in color and have long wings, female cockroaches are dark in color and have broader wings. These are 2.5 centimeters long. These cockroaches live outside in compost, garden and leaf waste. They prefer dry weather but can enter the house through cracks or doors.
