American Cockroaches

Characteristics, Habits, and Geography

American cockroaches are among the largest of the common roaches, averaging between one and one and a half inches in length. They are reddish-brown in color, with yellow fringes on the area of the body behind the head. While American cockroaches have wings and are capable of flying, they rarely do so, as they can also run very quickly. They thrive in moist, warm areas such as basements, sewers, and crawl spaces. The preferred diet of American cockroaches consists of decaying organic matter and fermented foods.

These cockroaches dislike cold temperatures, so while they do not generally infest houses in large numbers, cold weather may at times force them to seek shelter inside. Typically, they enter  buildings through small openings such as sewer connections, open spaces beneath doors, or air ducts. Alternatively, roaches may stow away in grocery bags, suitcases, or other items brought into the home.  They typically hide in dark crevices during the day, and emerge at night to hunt for food.

American roaches are found in most U.S. cities, although they are slightly more common in tropical areas, as they find the warm temperatures there particularly preferable.

Damage Signs

The best way to spot an infestation is to find the roaches themselves. Home owners concerned by the possibility of an infestation should examine dark, moist areas such as basements, steam pipes, and crawl spaces at night, using a flashlight. Alternatively, they may be able to flush out the roaches during the day by poking crevices and cracks with a thin tool or a wire. Household chemical sprays that that can be applied to the infested areas and that can flush out roaches are also available on the market.

If left unchecked, roaches can contaminate food, causing food poisoning, dysentery, or diarrhea. They can also cause damage to clothes, wallpaper, and books, as well as create an unpleasant smell in the home or building which they infest. They have also been linked to the onset of childhood asthma.

Control

The best method of preventing a roach infestation is to pay careful attention to sanitation. Seal opened boxes of food, be regular in cleaning dirty dishes, and wipe up crumbs from countertops , as all of these can all attract roaches. Keep garbage in roach-proof containers.

If an infestation is already in progress, insecticides may be successfully applied to areas of roach activity. Alternatively, baits, such as gels or pastes may be used. If the infestation is severe, contact a professional pest control company to remove the roaches.

 Sourced from: mypestprevention.com