I bet you didn't realize that cockroaches have existed for over 300 million years! How do we know this? Through fossils that have been found over the years we have learned that these insects were neighbors of some of the most feared predators that once roamed the earth-dinosaurs! With over 3,000 species in existence today, 55 have made the United States their home. Of the 55 species only 4 have made their presence known to homes and establishments. They include the German, American, brown-banded, and Oriental cockroaches. As for now I am going to discuss the Oriental cockroach.
Who is the Oriental Cockroach?
The Oriental Cockroach or Blatta orientalis L. is often referred to as a water bug. And one thing you can bet on is that this insect isn't an attractive pest. Next to Godzilla these critters are probably the second most unwanted monster you'd want in your home. But truth be told, we all know that our chances of seeing Godzilla are slim to nothing. As far as our chances of seeing one of these unwelcome intruders, the chances are far greater. Most of us have seen or will see a few of then in our life time. So just where do they lurk? This insect prefers to hang around dark and damp areas that are cool like basements or under sinks and washing machines. These pests can be quite a bother because they have been known to take family vacations traveling through sewer pipes. They basically survive off of filth. If that isn't disgusting enough try having a house full of them and you are asking for potential threat of illness and disease.
The adult oriental cockroach is around one inch long and dark brown in color which is big compared to the German cockroach. Both female and males have an oily sheen. Females have larger bodies and wing pads that have no apparent function. The male cockroaches also have wings that cover 75% of their abdomen; however, they aren't able to fly. Kind of makes you wonder why they even have wings doesn't it?
Both adults and young cockroaches (also known as nymphs) can be found scurrying about in decaying organic matter. How gross is that? Where will you find them partying? They will be getting down in the darkest corners of your home or establishment. They can be seen in sewers, drains, crawl spaces, floor drains, and even under your porch. The truth is that these guys manage to get around. You can even find them outside in your yard beneath leaves and around your shrubs. They can be seen having a siesta in your flower beds and in your gardens. Other places they can be seen are in foundations such as stone walls, garbage and trash dumps and trash chutes. Nymphs and adults are not quick moving critters, so they won't be seen indoors on walls or in cupboards. Oriental cockroaches like to socialize in large numbers around leaks in the basement or crawl space areas. The majority of their social gatherings occur outdoors in warm weather. If there are long periods of dry spells then they will scurry to find any place that's moist. You could find then hiding in your laundry basket or in food packages. They may simply squeeze under your door or through air ducts. They are certainly clever and will do anything to survive!
Eggs, eggs, and more eggs!
The female Oriental cockroach carries eggs that are laid in capsules for around 30 hours. After which time she then drops these capsules near a convenient supply of food. These eggs are not glued to the surface. So just how many capsules is the female capable of producing? Now it's time for some Math. On average she can produce up to 8 capsules. Each capsule contains 16 eggs. After around 2 months these eggs hatch under normal temperature conditions. Have you figured out how many babies are born? If you guessed 128 then you happen to be correct! If there are 50 females with 16 eggs then that mean 1500 newborns have hatched! Yikes! An adult female can live anywhere from 5-26 weeks with around 200 offspring. And unlike her cousins, she has a seasonal developmental cycle. Peak time for adults is late spring to early summer.
Health Risks
Because these insects like to forage through rubbish and other decaying organic matter cockroaches also carry diseases. Filth can be carried into our kitchens and spread to our food supplies, dishes, utensils, and other surfaces. Before you know it contamination has set in and this poses a huge problem. They carry bacteria, protozoa and viruses. And all these disease producing organisms are passed onto us! We can suffer from food poisoning, dysentery, and diarrhea from Oriental cockroaches, not to mention allergies with severe reactions such as watery eyes, skin rashes, congestion, sinus problems and even asthma!
Bidding Farewell
Prevention is the key to control and management. Keeping trash emptied and food wrapped is also important. Leaving dirty dishes in your sink is a definite no-no.Caulking any crevices and cracks is also a great idea. You can use commercial sprays or baits, but in my experience they are temporary fixes. If you discover that a new family has moved in then you'll have to take more drastic measure! If you're on a budget the cheapest and most effective way to have these pests on their backs with legs up in no time is good old Boric Acid. For the mere cost of around 2 dollars you can get rid of them for good. This really works! If you must go organic then Diatomaceous Earth works great! It has more of a hefty price tag, but it has so many other uses you‘re really getting your money's worth. Not only can you use this stuff to get rid of unwanted cockroaches, but you can also use to on your pets to keep fleas and ticks away too! No matter how you choose to do it, you won't want your home or establishment to become the next breeding ground for the oriental cockroach's next social gathering.