The German cockroach is the most common and widespread household cockroach. Adults are 1/2 to 5/8 inch long and light brown to tan bodies. There are two dark brown stripes on the pronotum, running from front to back. Both adult males and females have well-developed wings, but they do not fly. German cockroaches are most common in areas of the house in which there are abundant food and water, high humiditiy, and safe horborage. They are ususalyy found in kitchens and bathrooms. However, they may invade other rooms if sanitation is poor or if the population gets very large.
German cockraoches are active at night, searching for food and water. Small nymphs usually remain within harborages, foraging for food scraps there. Newly hatched nymphs must also feed on cockroaches feces. Seeing adults or nymphs during the day is a clue that the population is large.
While females are are producing and carrying an egg case, they are inactive. They rarely feed or seek water and remain hidden. This behavior tends to protect them and their young from pest control efforts.
German cockraoches have small yellowish and brown egg case. German cockroach egg case contains from 30 to 40 eggs. the female carries the egg case on the tip of her abdomen until about 24 hours before the eggs are ready to hatch. Then, she drops the egg case and leaves the nymphs to fend for themselves. An Adult female lives for about six months. On average, she will produce one egg case a month, or about 150 to 240 nymphs in all. The average life cycle is about 100 days under favorable conditions.
Key To Control German Cockraoch:
Apply a residual insecticde to crack, crevices and to baseboards followed a flushing agent. In some instant bait will work alone or augment this effort. Because of German cockroach high rate of reproduction, the goal is to kill nearly the entire population on initial clean-out treatment. The inactive behavior of the female while producing and carrying her egg case, makes it possible for her to re-populate the infestation in short order. A second residual treatment and targeted flushing if needed will further reduce remaining cockroach and newly hatched nymphs. A third treatment usually produce the desire results of being free of German cockroach. Preventive treatment can be set in place when re-infestation is likely due cockraoch being brought back in to treated area. Call H. L. Cooper Pest Control Company at (804) 652-1777 and let us set up a German Cockraoch Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program for your home or business today!