Did you know that there are more than 4,000 species of cockroaches? The large, well-known pests that strike fear into homeowners and invade homes only account for less than 1 percent of the known varieties. The American cockroach is the one that most people in the United States are familiar with. They result in the most phone calls to pest control companies for help. Also common are German cockroaches.
Relationships and Habits
Cockroaches can move freely from one environment to another and are adept at finding ways to survive. Tiny spines on their jointed legs allow them to move easily over rough terrain. In their wake, they leave chemical trails in their feces, calling others to follow them — especially members of the opposite sex. The others follow the trails so they can find food and water sources. This can result in a large swarm forming in no time. They adapt quickly and prefer living in a colony, making them hard to get rid of.
Where do They Hide?
Because of their nocturnal tendencies, cockroaches are often hidden away in dark corners during the daytime hours, which means homeowners might not spot them until the numbers have grown substantially. The different species vary greatly in size and weight, but the vast majority are about the size of a thumbnail. Some can get much larger. They are fairly flat and have small heads in proportion to their segmented bodies. Two long, flexible antennae are visible.
Breeding
The females of this species carry their eggs with them in casings. Each egg capsule contains about 40 young. When hatched, bright white nymphs emerge and take just three months to reach adulthood. A cockroach can live for about a year. During that time, females will generally produce eight to 10 casings, or 300 to 400 eggs.
A female impregnated only once can reproduce for the rest of her life. Members of the opposite sex attract females through the use of pheromones and courting rituals. Their ability to reproduce quickly and efficiently makes them a tough job to handle. Many termite exterminators also specialize in destroying cockroach populations in the home.
Resilience
It is their ability to survive in extremely harsh conditions that makes cockroach removal a job for the roach and pest control experts. These insects are so hardy, they can even live for up to 45 minutes without air. That hardiness makes them challenging to wipe out.
If you have cockroaches in your home contact Slug-A-Bug to rid your home of them. Don’t let their unsanitary presence put your health at risk.