Cockroaches

Did You Know?

• Roachfecescancauseallergicreactionsandasthmainchildrenandadults.

• Roachescanharborandtransmitdiseases.

• Roachesaremostactiveatnight.

• Roachesspendover75%oftheirlifehidingincracksandcrevices.

• Commonlyusedinsecticidesandbaitsmayrepelroachesorbeineffectiveatkillingroaches.

• Baitsandinorganicdustsarethebestchemicaloptionswhencoupledwithnon-chemicalcontrolmethods.

Above:Figure1.Germancock-roaches:Adults,nymphs,andeggsac.

Right:Figure2.Americancock-roaches:Adults,nymphs,andeggsac.

IPM Fact Sheet # 2 July 2013

Utah

PESTPRESS

Management Tools for a Healthy Learning EnvironmentCockroaches

General Information:

Cockroachesareoneofthemostdifficultstructuralpeststoeliminate.Theyhidewell,reproducequickly,andcanberesistanttomanycommonlyusedinsecticidespraysandbaits.Usinganintegratedpestmanagement(IPM)approachcangreatlyimproveroachcontrolandminimizeroachallergenswithinschools.

What Do They Look Like?

Ingeneral,cockroachesareflat,oval-shaped,havelong,filament-likeantennae,chewingmouthparts,andleatherywingswithvisibleveins(wingsnotpresentonimmaturesandsomespeciesofadults).Theheadisonlypartlyvisiblefromabove.Adultroachesrangeinsizefromabout1/2”to2”dependingonthespecies(Figs.1-2).

Life Cycle

Egg(ootheca=eggsac),winglessimmatures(nymphs)thatappearassmalleradults,andwingedorwinglessadults,dependingonspecies.Lifecyclelengthvarieswithroachspecies,temperature,humidity,sex,availabilityoffoodandwater,etc.,butcanrangefrommonthstoyears.

Common Utah Cockroaches

Thereare3primarycockroachesinUtah:1)Germancockroach(Blatella germanica),2)Americancockroach(Periplaneta americana),and3)Orientalcockroach(Blatta orientalis).

Any products, services or organizations that are mentioned, shown or indirectly implied in this publication do not imply endorsement by Utah State University. Utah State University is an affir-

mative action/equal opportunity institution.2013

Managing Cockroaches with Integrated Pest Management

• Inspectandmonitorallareaswherefoodisprepared,stored,oreaten,andwheremoistureandheatarepresent.Monitorusingcockroachtrapstolocateareaswithhighroachdensities.Trapswillnoteliminateaninfestation,butcanbeusedtodetermineroachspecies,harboragelocation,andmovement.

• Habitatmodification(eliminatefoodandmoisture):-fixleakyplumbing -minimizehumidity-emptyfreezerdriptraysweekly -protectdrainswithfinemetalscreen-storefoodinairtightcontainers -cleanupfoodfoodandcrumbsdaily -vacuumandwashallareaswhere -donotstorewetdishragsandspongeswherefoodisprepared,stored,oreaten roacheshaveaccess

• Exclusion(reducehidingplacesandentrypoints):-caulkorsealfoundationorwall -installdoorsweepsandweatherstrippingcracks>1/16”andwhereplumbing -reduceclutterinclassroomsandstorageareasorwiringcomesthroughwalls

• Chemicalcontrol:(uselowtoxicitybaitsanddusts):-diatomaceousearth(dust) -boricacid(donotusewherechildrencanaccess)-silicatedusts -baits(slow-actingbuteffective)*ContacttheUtahPlantPestDiagnosticLabformoreinformationonusingbaits,orvisitthelistedroachresources.

Most cockroaches prefer humidity and warmth, but one, the Oriental cockroach, prefers cooler areas with high humidity. Roaches feed on almost everything from grease stains to pet food, to the glue holding furniture together! Immature roaches can feed on feces from other roaches. All stages of cockroaches spend about 75% of their time hiding together in small cracks that can be small as their low-profile, flat bodies.

Cockroaches talk to each other using chemicals (pheromones). Pheromones can be given off through the body or fecal material. Attractive pheromones cause cockroaches of the same species to be highly attracted to a particular female, male, or site where food and water are plentiful. Attractive baits and traps can be used to aid in control when roach populations are low, or continually for monitoring high-risk areas.

Cockroaches need moisture, food, and shelter to survive. Cleanliness, exclusion, habitat modification, and minimizing available water and food sources are critical aspects to any cockroach management program.

For more info, check out:

Utah State Univ.: Cockroacheshttp://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/factsheet/cockroaches2010.pdf

Colorado State Univ.: Cockroaches http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05553.html

Univ. Nebraska Lincoln: Cockroaches http://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/cockroaches.shtml

Above:Figure3.Approximatesizeofadultcockroachesandeggsacs.

Adult Cockroach Size

Egg Sac Size

German

Oriental

American

Cockroach