S & W Pest Management Inc : Insect Guide

Pest Guide » Cockroaches » Oriental Cockroach:

Oriental Cockroaches
Blatta orientalis
Color: Dark brown, almost black
Legs: Six
Shape: Oval
Size: 1"
Antennae: Yes
Flight: No

The Oriental cockroach known as the "water bug" or “black beetle cockroaches”, is more closely associated with damp areas than the other common roaches. These insects feed on garbage and decaying organic matter and are often considered the filthiest of the house-infesting roaches. They are found in damp basements, cellars, crawl spaces, near drains, leaky water pipes and beneath refrigerators, sinks and washing machines, under floors, and inside walls. They forage mostly on first floors of buildings.

Outdoors, they are found beneath decomposing leaves or mulching materials, in trash and in sewers. During the autumn, there can be a mass movement into buildings, but can still be found outdoors and in unheated buildings during the winter.

It is important to note that while they do not cause structural damage to a home, they are dangerous because they have been reported to spread at least 33 kinds of bacteria, six kinds of parasitic worms, and at least seven other kinds of human pathogens.

Recent medical studies have shown that cockroach allergens cause lots of allergic reactions in inner city children. They were even shown to cause asthma in children. These allergens build up in deposits of droppings, secretions, cast skins, and dead bodies of roaches.

Prevention Outside:

Store fire wood away from your home and remove piles of lumber or other decaying wood that could serve as a nesting site.
Use 20-mesh screen on all windows and doors, and especially at ventilation openings for attics and crawl spaces.
Seal exterior doors with weather stripping and fill gaps in walls and floors where pipes enter using steel wool or caulking compounds.
Eliminate sources of moisture such as leaky faucets, plumbing, and free-standing water. Also, make sure that your sprinkler system does not spray directly onto the foundation of your home or business.
Secure garbage in trash cans.

Prevention Indoors:

Inspect all incoming food goods, boxes, and used furniture and appliances for the presence of cockroaches or their egg capsules.
Avoid storing food items in cardboard boxes on shelves. Cardboard is a preferred hiding place for cockroaches.
Do not leave food sitting out, wash counters of food material and vacuum or sweep floors often.
Store paper bags in the garage or room other than the kitchen, utility room, or bathrooms.

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