Are you afraid cockroaches have infested your Orlando home?
If you are here, you must have come across cockroaches on the floors of your Orlando home. It is not uncommon for residents in Florida to catch a glimpse of these notorious pests now and then.
The temperature and conditions here are perfect for their survival. But don’t worry, you don’t have to deal with these uninvited guests on your own. Calling Orlando pest control is the way to go. But before you do that, its best to get to know your enemy.
There is a high chance that the invaders you witnessed are the German cockroaches – the most common of all cockroach species in America. Due to their devious ways, and hitchhiker lifestyle, the German roaches, often find their way to our homes.
Away from their reptilian predators, the species flourishes in the concealed corners of the house. Their rapid reproduction rate does not help us either. They say, know thy enemy, and it couldn’t be far from the truth in the case of German cockroaches.
This article will give you all the information you need on these sneaky little pests.
German Cockroaches Quick Facts
Color Light brown / Tan |
Living Condition warm and moist |
The number of legs: Six |
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Lifespan: |
Riddance: Orlando Pest ControlCall All American Pest Control (321) 559-7378. |
Habitat: Small openings and crevices
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Size: ½-inches to 5/8- inches |
Food: Anything with nutritional value! |
Antennae: yes! |
What does a German Cockroach look like? – Identifying A German Roach
To identify a German cockroach, the first thing you need to look at is its color. Adult cockroaches can be any shade between light brown and tan color, whereas younger ones are usually black.
The most distinguishing feature of a German cockroach is a pair of horizontal black stripes on their thorax, just behind the head. These stripes are almost parallel to each other.
A German cockroach is somewhere between ½- inches and 5/8- inches (13 – 16 mm). Oval in shape; this bug has six legs attached to their spine and two long antennas that are almost straight. The adults have wings, but they rarely fly.
Where do German Cockroach live?
German cockroaches seek warm and humid conditions. This makes Orlando Florida, one of the best breeding grounds for these bugs. Closer to food sources, they will often be found in kitchens, dining rooms, pantry, or anywhere you eat or drink. Any crack or gap near a food source could shelter these tiny cockroaches. They can also reside in the bathrooms.
A perfect example of survivors, German roaches, can live on anything that has nutritional value, be it toothpaste, soap, or glue. This is why it becomes almost impossible to get rid of them without the help of the Orlando Pest Control.
German Cockroach Behavior
Talented hitchhikers, German cockroaches can find their way to your house by getting in your grocery bags, cardboard boxes, office bags, and even your kids’ school or gym bags. Just like bed bugs, they might lodge themselves in used equipment or furniture brought to your house or office. In apartment buildings and complexes, they move from apartment to apartment through vents, drains, and utility lines.
German cockroaches are nocturnal and do most of their food hunt in the night. They tend to aggregate; they leave their feces in your kitchen cabinets or nook and corners of your kitchen shelves. Their feces release a specific odor, which attracts more roaches. The aggregation sites of bugs can be identified by brownish spotting that they leave behind.
Did you know….German cockroaches can change their normal behavior. Don’t be surprised if you find it in your bedroom or open daylight. You may find them outdoors in damp shady flower beds as well. |
German Cockroaches Life Cycle
The reproduction rate of a German cockroach is faster than American cockroach, so is their infestation rate. With its ability to store sperm, a female German cockroach needs to mate only once in a lifetime and can infest a home with 30,000 roaches in just a year!
There are three life stages of German cockroaches:
Stage 1: German Cockroach Eggs
The female German cockroach lays 40 eggs at a time. Once the eggs have been laid, the female carries them around in a yellow-brown egg Capsule, also known as ootheca, till the egg is about to hatch. It takes about 28 days for the eggs to hatch. About 24 hours before the nymph emergence, it drops the ootheca in a hidden place.
The female German cockroach can produce up to 4 – 6 capsules in her lifetime. The development from egg to an adult depends upon the environmental factors. Growth is rapid in warm and humid places with a nearby food source. An egg can take from 54 – 215 days to turn into an adult cockroach with a functional reproductive system.
Did you know….Insecticides cannot penetrate through the egg capsule. The ootheca will hatch even days after treatment. This makes it necessary to set a follow-up treatment with the Orlando Pest Control to avoid the risk of a second infestation. |
Stage 2: German Cockroach Nymph
The immature cockroach is called a nymph. Once out of the eggs, they are on their own. German cockroach nymph feeds on the feces of their adults until they are capable of finding their food on their own. They mature into an adult in about 60 days, depending on the environmental conditions.
Nymphs are known to shed their skin to grow. Shedding of skin is called molting, and the wingless nymph is known to molt for about six to seven times till it matures. The wings emerge at the last stage of molting.
Stage 3: Adult German Cockroach
The nymph matures into adults capable of reproducing. An average male German cockroach lives for about 100 To 150 days, whereas females can live up to 200 days. Nocturnal by nature, most German cockroaches scavenge during dark hours.
How can I tell if I have German Cockroaches?
If you think German roaches might have infested your house, you may want to look for the following evidence to confirm:
- Look for Droppings: Small and dark. Resembling pepper, droppings of German roaches can be found on shelf tops and in kitchen cabinets. Dark spots or stains around the cracks and in the corners of the room might indicate German roaches’ fecal smears.
- Look for Egg Capsules: Empty egg capsules of the German cockroach might be found in crevices and gaps in the walls or cabinets. The female carries its ootheca until the day of hatching. It sets it in a hidden spot only 24 hours before. Once out, German Cockroach nymphs leave behind the capsules.
- Look for a moldy odor: The secretion of distinctive chemical scents by the German roaches might be an indication of a massive infestation. Mostly too light to be detected, the scent secreted by a huge population of German roaches might be identified as a moldy smell.
How can I prevent German Cockroach Infestation?
Here are certain measures you could take to save your house from infestation:
- Clear Trash cans regularly.
- Never leave food out for an extended period.
- Properly store food and pantry items.
- Make sure you don’t have any openings or cracks in your house.
- Repair any leaky pipes and faucets in your kitchen and bathroom immediately!
What do I do if I have German Cockroaches
As sneaky and stubborn as they are, German cockroaches cannot be eradicated by simple home remedies! You need to call in the professionals. All American Pest Control gives the best Pest Control packages in Orland! You can reach them at (321) 559-7378.
FAQ
What is the most common type of cockroaches found in America?
German roaches! Other types are the American cockroach, Brown-banded cockroach, and Oriental cockroach.
How long do German cockroaches live?
100-200 days! Under the right environmental conditions, a male German roach can live up to 150 days, whereas a female German roach can have a life span of 200 days.
Can German Cockroaches drown?
Not really! A German roach can hold its breath underwater for around 40 minutes!
Do German Cockroaches bite?
Yes! Though a rare occurrence, they can bite. Their bite is 1 -4mm wide and bright red in color.
What do German cockroaches eat?
Almost Anything! German roaches have a huge palate. Anything with even a little nutritional value is food for a German roach. They feed on feces, toothpaste, soap, and even glue!
How do German roaches get to my house?
Hitchhiking! German roaches can lodge in your grocery bag, card boxes, used furniture, or even handbags to find their way into your house!
How can I get rid of German cockroaches?
German roaches are the most difficult roaches to get rid of! Call an exterminator. All American Pest Control is the best Orlando Pest Control company! You can call them at (321) 559-7378.
All American Pest Control
2014 Edgewater Dr #250, Orlando, FL 32804