Nature King Pest Management

GERMAN COCKROACH

The German cockroach is the most commonly encountered of the house infesting species in the United States, This insect is the most economically important urban pest, it is also generally the most persistent and difficult to manage. The reasons for this are somewhat complex, but an understanding of some of the factors involved is basic to the practice of pest management. First, the German cockroach has a larger number of eggs per capsule than the other species that infest structures.

Second, it also has the shortest period to develop from hatching until sexual maturity; thus, populations of German cockroaches will build up faster than other species. Third, German cockroach nymphs have a better chance of surviving than do other species because the female carries the egg capsule during the entire time that the embryos are developing within the eggs. This results in the nymphs avoiding many hazards of the environment which may affect eggs that remain detached and isolated. Fourth, German cockroach nymphs are smaller than most other cockroaches; thus, they are able to conceal themselves in many places which are inaccessible to individuals of the larger species.

These biological factors, combined with its very adaptive feeding habits and other behaviors, give the German cockroach advantages toward increased chances for survival and persistently maintaining high populations.

The German cockroach is a general feeder, but is particularly attracted to fermented foods and beverage residues (e.g., beer spills). If water is present, adults can live about a month without food, but young nymphs will die of starvation within 10 days. Without food or water, the adults die in less than two weeks. Most stages become very stressed if deprived of food or water for more than a couple of days. Stressed cockroaches tend to wander or forage for resources aggressively, even during abnormal periods such as the daytime.

Infestations are sometimes found in areas not generally suspected of German cockroaches; for example, dresser drawers in bedrooms. When German cockroaches are found scattered through non-food areas of a home or building, it is usually caused by a very heavy infestation or by the repellent effects of insecticide applications. Cockroaches in these areas will find food scarce, but can feed on scattered crumbs, soiled clothing, the glue on dresser drawers or on some cosmetic products. German cockroaches can also be found outdoors during warm months, often associated with garbage receptacles. This, too, is usually due to a heavy infestation indoors.

Cockroach Control Tips

Roaches can't help the fact that to most humans, they are unwanted company. It's funny, though, how these pesky insects can often make a grown man or woman scream, tremble and run for cover faster than you can say, Basically, there are 5 species of roaches that are common in the Western Hemisphere. It is interesting to note that each of these cockroaches has its own distinct habits and traits, each cockroach behaves differently. Therefore each must be treated differently.

German cockroach (the number 1 roach in the USA) is an indoor roach. Sometimes they are called kitchen roaches or grocery store roaches because they live in kitchens and bathrooms and infest cabinets. Most of the time they are brought in through goods from the grocery store.

Brown Banded Roaches are also an indoor roach. They are common to closets where you will find small clusters of eggs glued to the ceiling or to the walls. For these two roaches you must treat indoors, especially cabinets and closets.

Smoky Brown, American and Oriental roaches can grow up to 2 or more inches in length and are commonly called water roaches, waterbugs, palmetto bugs, etc..These roaches live outdoors and treatment outdoors and especially under pier and beam homes (one of their favorite hiding places) will help to keep them away.

Here are some simple steps that will help control any cockroach infestation:

Cut down on their food supply.

• Vacuum or sweep the floor after every meal.
• Wash dishes in soapy, hot water to eliminate all traces of grease.
• Keep trash in a tight-lidded container.
• Keep compost as far from the house as possible. Cover each new "deposit" with a fresh layer of sand or soil.
• Store unused portions of chips, cereal, cookies etc. in tightly sealed plastic containers or large glass jars with screw-on lids.
• After a pet has eaten, remove their food bowl and sweep the floor.
• Don't walk through the house eating: contain crumbs in one room.
• Don't forget to clean crumbs from under appliances daily.

Make it hard for them to hide.

• Move woodpiles away from outside walls.
• Take your recycling out promptly; avoid letting old food cans, stacks of newspapers or magazines pile up.
• Use boric acid or Drione Dust and put it into the nooks and crannies where roaches hide. WARNING: BORIC ACID, WHILE SAFER THAN MANY PESTICIDES, IS NOT SAFE FOR PETS OR HUMANS TO BREATHE, EAT OR HAVE ON SKIN. Put the boric acid in a clean, dry duster. Using a flashlight, inspect cracks in areas where you have spied roaches. Remember to check cracks between walls and floors, behind sinks and under appliances.Where you can see them hiding, puff the boric acid into the cracks.

Dry Up Their Water Supply

Like humans, roaches can go much longer without food than without water. To keep roaches away, keep them thirsty.

• Fix dripping faucets.
• Pour some Lysol into toilets at night to make the water undrinkable.
• Don't over water house plants. Soggy soil is a delicious cockroach cocktail.

Keep Them Out!

• To prevent roaches from migrating from your neighbor's place to yours, seal up common roach entry ways.
• Fill holes where pipes disappear into walls with steel wool or caulk.
• Pour a little Lysol down your drains nightly to discourage roaches from crawling up into your sinks.
• Keep sink plugs over drains.

AMERICAN COCKROACH

The American cockroach is also known as the water bug, flying water bug and, in some areas of the South, the palmetto bug. It is the largest of the common species, growing to 1.5 inches or more in length. Both the male and female are fully winged.

The female drops her egg capsule within a day after it is formed, egg capsules are formed at the rate of about one per week until from 15 to 90 capsules have been produced. Each capsule contains 14-16 eggs. At room temperature, nymphs will hatch out in 50-55 days. Young nymphs are grayish-brown and each will molt 9-13 times before reaching maturity.

The time required to complete the nymphal stage varies from 160-971 days. Under ideal conditions, an adult female can live up to 14-15 months; males for a somewhat shorter period.

When indoors, the nymphs and adults are usually found in dark, moist areas of basements and crawl spaces as well as in and around bathtubs, clothes hampers, floor drains, pipe chases and sewers.

The American cockroach is also common around the manholes of sewers, and on the underside of metal covers of large sump pumps in boiler rooms. American cockroaches have also been observed migrating from one building to another during warm months in the North.

In the South, this roach is abundant in alley ways, yards, hollow trees and palm trees. Recent studies in Florida have shown that American cockroaches and other outdoor roaches are generally associated with trees and woodpiles in landscapes. Similar studies in Texas have shown that American and smoky-brown cockroaches often prefer moist, shady areas of ground cover, which are often found around foundations and near swimming pools.

American cockroaches feed on a variety of foods, but decaying organic matter seems to be preferred. They also feed upon book bindings, manuscripts, clothing and glossy paper with starch sizing. Syrup and other sweets are also attractive. The adults can survive two or three months without food, but only about a month without water.

American Cockroach Management

As with German cockroach management, it is important to do a thorough inspection. A trap survey may be necessary in difficult or special situations before any management procedures are attempted. This includes infestations which are originating in the landscape outdoors.

In the South, American cockroaches are commonly found in the landscape along with other larger species, and can readily move inside during nighttime foraging. Movement indoors often increases during periods of cold, extreme hot and dry weather, or excessive rainfall. In these cases, it is important to treat all outdoor areas where the cockroach populations are focused. Perimeter or "barrier" treatments using residual insecticide formulations to prevent cockroach entry into buildings are helpful. Identify where the cockroaches are harboring and moving around in the landscape, and focus insecticide applications in those areas. Exclusion techniques such as caulking or sealing various cockroach entry points are effective at reducing the problem indoors. To prevent cockroaches from entering through weep holes in exterior brick facade, insert small squares of window screening into the holes using a putty knife.. Excessive and widespread insecticide applications in the landscape are not usually necessary.

American cockroaches can be controlled by the use of sprays, dusts or baits. Residual insecticide sprays applied into infested areas will control American roaches slowly, but effectively. Be sure to treat around floor drains where American cockroaches are harboring, and try to use window screening or some other method to physically prevent them from entering the building from these sources, at Nature King Pest Management, we specialize in total pest elimination, our procedures to treat roach infestation have been effective for many years, call our office for a free estimate and take advantage of our season specials.

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