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CRAWLING INSECTS |
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GERMAN COCKROACHES
Facts, Identification & Control
Latin Name (Blattella germanica)
Appearance
German cockroaches are well-known indoor cockroaches
with a distribution that is world-wide. Adults are
easily recognized by their light brown or tan coloration
with two black horizontal stripes located on the
pronotum immediately behind the head, and growing to a
length of 13 to 16 mm. The much smaller young, or
nymphs, are darker, almost black in color, also with the
black stripes behind the head.
While adult German cockroaches have wings, they rarely
fly, preferring to run.
Behavior, Diet &
Habits
Although capable of living outdoors in tropical
environments, German cockroaches are most commonly found
indoors, with a preference for the warmer and more humid
areas of a structure. In homes, these insects will
typically be found in kitchens and bathrooms, but can
move to other areas of a home if food and moisture are
available.
In most cases, German cockroaches are introduced into a
structure or residence when bags, boxes or cardboard
containers are brought into the home. They may even be
brought in with used appliances. In multiunit apartment
buildings and flats complexes, German cockroaches can
easily move between units, using the shared plumbing and
pipes as a highway.
German cockroaches are scavengers, capable of feeding on
most any food source available, including toothpaste,
soap and the bindings of books. These pests are known
for their ability to capitalize on the availability of
even the smallest amounts of food by feeding on crumbs
missed during cleaning or feeding on the dirty dishes
left in the sink overnight.
Reproduction
German cockroaches are known for their ability to
reproduce quickly. Female German cockroaches only need
to mate once for the production of young. After mating,
and under normal conditions, they will produce, on
average, 4 to 6 egg cases during the course of their
lives, with each egg case, or ootheca, containing
approximately 30 to 40 eggs. This egg case is then
carried by the female until 1 to 2 days before hatching.
Depending upon the conditions, the average time for
development, from egg to adult can range from 54 to 215
days, with an average of approximately 100 days. As
adults, German cockroaches can survive anywhere from 100
to 200 days.
Signs of a German
Cockroach Infestation
Droppings
German cockroach droppings may appear as small, dark,
“pepper-like” material left on countertops or in
drawers. Fecal staining may appear as dark spots or
smears, some that are slightly raised, in the corners of
rooms, along the tops of doors or around small cracks
and openings into walls.
Egg Capsules
Since German cockroach females carries their egg case
until 1 to 2 days before depositing it, empty egg cases
may be found in areas that the females frequent.
Odor
German cockroaches are also known to secrete a number of
odorous compounds. When populations are present in large
numbers, it may be possible to detect a mild, or what
some have reported as a “musty” odor.
More Information
German Cockroach Illustration
Asian cockroaches, a pest of the southeastern United
States, is often mistaken for the German cockroach.
Similar in appearance, the main differences between the
two are evident in their behavior. While German
cockroaches are known as a pest of structures, found
frequently in areas of high humidity and temperature,
Asian cockroaches are most frequently found outdoors,
and only occasionally make their way into structures. In
addition, Asian cockroaches are known for their ability
to fly, whereas German cockroaches rarely use their
wings for flight and prefer to run from danger.
German cockroaches are also known for their ability to
transmit a number of pathogens, including E. coli,
Salmonella spp. and Typhus. Recent studies have also
indicated that in larger metropolitan areas, the
development of asthma in children can be directly linked
to the presence of German cockroaches.
Control of German
Cockroaches
German cockroaches produce a large number of nymphs in
each ootheca. Their small size allows them to hide more
efficiently, and they have few natural predators inside
human habitats. For these reasons, German cockroach
populations tend to grow rapidly and require
professional treatment. Contact your local pest control
expert for a consultation.
We have technicians across the Western Cape which always
puts a VERM-X operator within easy reach.
We do Pest control for crawling insects in the following areas:
Cockroach control in Athlone
Cockroach control in Atlantic Seaboard
Cockroach control on Bantry Bay
Cockroach control in Belhar
Cockroach control in Bellville
Cockroach control in Bergvliet
Cockroach control in Bishop Lavis
Cockroach control in Bishopscourt
Cockroach control in Bloubergstrand
Cockroach control in Blue Downs
Cockroach control in Bo-Kaap
Cockroach control in Bonteheuwel
Cockroach control in Bothasig
Cockroach control in Brackenfell
Cockroach control in Brooklyn
Cockroach control in Camps Bay
Cockroach control in Canal Walk
Cockroach control in Cape Flats
Cockroach control in Cape Town
Cockroach control in CAPE TOWN
Cockroach control in Capri Village
Cockroach control in City Bowl
Cockroach control in Claremont
Cockroach control in Clifton
Cockroach control in Clovelly
Cockroach control in Constantia
Cockroach control in Crawford
Cockroach control in Delft
Cockroach control in Diep River
Cockroach control in Durbanville
Cockroach control in Edgemead
Cockroach control in Electric City
Cockroach control in Epping
Cockroach control in Fish Hoek
Cockroach control in Foreshore
Cockroach control in Fresnaye
Cockroach control in Gardens
Cockroach control in Glencairn
Cockroach control in Goodwood
Cockroach control in Grassy Park
Cockroach control in Green Point
Cockroach control in Gugulethu
Cockroach control in Hanover Park
Cockroach control in Heathfield
Cockroach control in Helderberg
Cockroach control in Hout Bay
Cockroach control in Imizamo
Cockroach control in Kalk Bay
Cockroach control in Kalksteenfontein
Cockroach control in Kenilworth
Cockroach control in Kensington
Cockroach control in Khayelitsha
Cockroach control in Kirstenhof
Cockroach control in Kommetjie
Cockroach control in Kraaifontein
Cockroach control in Kuils River
Cockroach control in Lakeside
Cockroach control in Langa
Cockroach control in Lansdowne
Cockroach control in Lavender Hill
Cockroach control in Llandudno
Cockroach control in Lotus River
Cockroach control in Macassar
Cockroach control in Maitland
Cockroach control in Manenberg
Cockroach control in Marina da Gama
Cockroach control in Masiphumelele
Cockroach control in Milnerton
Cockroach control in Monte Vista
Cockroach control in Mouille Point
Cockroach control in Mowbray
Cockroach control in Muizenberg
Cockroach control in Newlands
Cockroach control in Noordhoek
Cockroach control in Northern Suburbs
Cockroach control in Northern Suburbs
Cockroach control in Nyanga
Cockroach control in Observatory
Cockroach control in Ocean View
Cockroach control in Oranjezicht
Cockroach control in Ottery
Cockroach control in Panorama
Cockroach control in Parow
Cockroach control in Pellican Park
Cockroach control in Philippi
Cockroach control in Pinelands
Cockroach control in Plumstead
Cockroach control in Retreat
Cockroach control in Rondebosch
Cockroach control in Rondebosch East
Cockroach control in Rosebank
Cockroach control in Salt River
Cockroach control in Samora Micheal
Cockroach control in Scarborough
Cockroach control in Schotse Kloof
Cockroach control in Sea Point
Cockroach control in Somerset West
Cockroach control in South Peninsula
Cockroach control in Southern Peninsula
Cockroach control in Southern Suburbs
Cockroach control in St James
Cockroach control in Steenberg
Cockroach control in Stellenbosch
Cockroach control in Strand
Cockroach control in Strandfontein
Cockroach control in Sun Valley
Cockroach control in Sunnydale
Cockroach control in Table View
Cockroach control in Tableview
Cockroach control in Tamboerskloof
Cockroach control in the Cape Flats
Cockroach control in the Northern Suburbs
Cockroach control in Thornton
Cockroach control in Three Anchor Bay
Cockroach control in Tokai
Cockroach control in Upper Woodstock
Cockroach control in Vredehoek
Cockroach control in Walmer
Cockroach control in Waterfront
Cockroach control in West Bea
Cockroach control in West Coast
Cockroach control in Wetton
Cockroach control in Woodstock
Cockroach control in Wynberg
Cockroach control in Yethu
Cockroach control in Zonnebloem |
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