Throughout California, homeowners continue to find the same species of cockroaches invading their home. These frequent invaders contaminate food and surface areas inside the home, pollute the indoor air and even leave behind damage to the home. Neither one of these common cockroach species should ever be allowed to invade homes. Animal Pest Management Services, Inc will share a few things about the most common cockroach species found in the State of California.
American Cockroach
The American cockroach can be found throughout America. This extremely adaptive species will invade cities and rural areas. Often referred to as the Palmetto Bug, this species likes to climb up palm trees and hide in the leaves. Occasionally they will be seen fluttering down. The American cockroach is one of the largest species of cockroach found in the United States, reaching up to 2 inches long. The American cockroach can live for 4 years. A female is capable of producing an egg case which contains up to 15 eggs at one time, once a week. These eggs will hatch within 32 to 58 days. If not controlled, they can rather quickly infest a home within a month.
Brown-Banded Cockroach
The Brown-Banded cockroach is smaller, only reaching between 3/8 to ½ an inch in length. Brown-Banded cockroaches have a distinctive light brown band that goes horizontally across their back, which gave the Brown-Banded cockroach their name. Brown-Banded cockroaches are not very social in nature yet are occasionally seen in small groups. However, they are mostly a solitary species. Luckily the Brown-Banded cockroach does not reproduce like the American cockroach. Instead, a female will lay only a single egg case in her lifetime, which contains up to 18 eggs. Their eggs can take up to 90 days to hatch and they mature much slower. From egg to adult, the Brown-Banded cockroach can take 275 days to reach adulthood if in poor conditions. In ideal conditions, they can mature in 95 days. One of the less problematic species, the Brown-Banded cockroach can still invade homes from time to time.
German Cockroach
The German cockroach is the second most common species found in homes throughout America. The German cockroach is also a smaller species, only reaching up to ½ of an inch in length. They are a light golden bronze color with two dark brown or black stripes going down their head, starting from their eyes. German cockroaches like other species are well known for carrying diseases such as E. Coli, staphylococcus, and streptococcus, simply from making surface contact. German cockroaches, once they reach adulthood will live for 10 months with a single female laying up to 8 egg cases or capsules in her lifetime. They too reproduce quickly. A single egg case can contain 40 eggs and will carry the egg case until the eggs are ready to hatch. German cockroaches can get out of hand very quickly, which is why it is important to react to an invasion quickly.
Cockroach Pest Inspection, Control, Removal & More in San Bernardino, Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside & San Diego Counties, California
If your home has an infestation of cockroaches, contact a professional pest control service right away. Most cockroaches can reproduce quickly and carry a number of diseases and viruses. For quality pest control services, contact Animal Pest Management Services, Inc today.
