Cockroaches

Blattodea

Cockroaches (or roaches) are the most primitive insect to date – their basic form hasn’t changed in three-and-a-half million years. They’re considered the most disgusting pests in the world. Cockroaches are everywhere from homes to schools, restaurants, warehouses, offices and hospitals. Cockroaches transmit disease causing bacteria after crawling all over human excrement from sewers, pet droppings, and garbage.

Their droppings and shed skins spread allergens, causing asthma attacks. Roaches contaminate eating utensils, leave stains, odors, and destroy fabrics and paper products. They’re the nocturnal masters of concealment. If cockroaches have everything needed for survival, they’ll stay in homes and buildings all year-long.

Finding the skins and feces, or seeing one or two skittering across the floor at night may signal a large, hidden infestation. It’s important to have professionals from Full Force Cockroach Exterminators identify the species so they can offer the best control treatment.

American Cockroaches

Periplaneta americana

1 in. to 3 in. Reddish–brown/Mahogany with a yellow band behind the head.

American Roaches are a large species that fly with fully developed wings. They live outdoors in damp flowerbeds and under mulch. Some States call them “Palmettos” because they also live in palm and other tree species. It’s common to find them in sewers. Outside they’ll eat fungi, algae, small insects, leaves and tiny wood particles. They’ll easily pass underneath doors if the weather strips are damaged. These roaches love high humidity and seek out warm spaces in homes and buildings with leaky fixtures, pipes, sinks, and other water leaks. They’re found dwelling in bathrooms, under sinks, basements, laundry rooms.

Inside the home they’ll forage for crumbs, food scraps, spills and pet food left out overnight. American Cockroaches run fast and if confronted and scared enough they’ll fly.

American Cockroaches carry a host of bacteria, viruses, and parasites on their bodies and in their feces that can lead to dysentery, Salmonella, diarrhea, and other human and pet health issues. Their shed skins can trigger severe asthma attacks, especially in children. Always call the professionals at Full Force Cockroach Exterminators to eliminate them.

German Cockroaches

Blattella germanica

½ to ⅝ in. Tan or light brown with parallel black stripes behind the head.

A German Cockroach has wings but prefers to run fast. They’re also fast breeders. Females carry up to 40 eggs and produce six generations within a year. The German Cockroach will feed on any food source from crumbs, dirty dishes left overnight, toothpaste, soap, and book bindings. They squeeze through small cracks and openings, and under doors, only needing ⅜ th of an inch to pass. They’ll effortlessly move through apartment units.

They multiply in large numbers wherever in warm and humid areas like the kitchen and bathroom. German Cockroaches are hitchhikers, and will travel in cardboard boxes, furniture, used appliances, grocery bags and other packages.

German Cockroaches carry a host of bacteria, viruses, and parasites on their bodies and in their feces that can lead to dysentery, Salmonella, diarrhea, and other human and pet health issues. Their shed skins can trigger severe asthma attacks, especially in children. Always call the professionals at Full Force Cockroach Exterminators to eliminate them.

Oriental Cockroaches

Blatta orientalis

25mm – 32mm. (0.10 to 1.3 in.) Dark reddish-brown to black

Oriental Cockroaches have smooth hard bodies and shiny skin. The female is wider than the male. The males are smaller with three-quarter-length wings. The females have large wing pads over the first few segments of their body, but neither roach can fly. Oriental Cockroaches are known for having a fetid musty odor.

They’re an outdoor species that live in moist, damp areas beneath stones, outdoor debris, leaf piles, landscape beds, and mulch. Their odor betrays their rancid diet. Oriental Cockroaches eat filth, garbage, and decayed matter. They’ll survive a month without food, but need a constant supply of water. They won’t survive two weeks without it.

Oriental Cockroaches flee indoors when the weather turns hot and dry. During the humid summer nights they’ll crawl out of gutters, sewers and drains and are visible all over. They gain access to buildings and homes through openings in foundations, walls, under porches, basements, and in crawlspaces. In urban areas, They’ll take up space in storm drains and sewers.

Oriental Cockroaches will bite if food’s scarce and there’s a large infestation. Their bite isn’t fatal but can lead to irritated swelling and lesions. Oriental Cockroaches carry a host of bacteria, viruses, and parasites on their bodies and in their feces that can lead to dysentery, Salmonella, diarrhea, and other human and pet health issues. Their shed skins can trigger severe asthma attacks, especially in children. Always call the professionals at Full Force Cockroach Exterminators to eliminate them.