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The German cockroach is the most common species in British
Columbia, can be found wherever moisture, food and shelter
are available. Cockroaches (eggs included), are “brought in”
usually by man’s belongings, luggage, boxes or packages. Cockroaches
have three stages in their life cycle: eggs, nymph and adult.
Adults are ˝ inch- 5/8inch long light to medium brown with
two dark distinctive stripes behind the head.
The young cockroaches, or nymphs, are wingless, and usually
only a few millimeters long ; they are white on hatching but
darken within a few hours. They grow in stages by repeatedly
shedding the cuticle or skin. They are fully grown after several
months to more than a year, depending on the species. Females
produce one egg capsule every 3-4 weeks. Each capsule contains
25-45 eggs. The female will carry the egg capsule with her
until it is ready to hatch. The young (nymphs) will be able
to breed in as little as 36 days. Adult German roaches can
live up to one year They are mostly active at night; in the
daytime they hide in cracks and crevices in walls, door frames
and furniture, and in secure places in bathrooms, cupboards
other electric devices, drains and sewer systems, If they
are seen during the day, it is usually because their hiding
places are overcrowded due to a large population or there
is a shortage of food and water supply. Any crack or crevice
located near a source of food and/or water is prime harborage,
and they spend about 75% of their time in such harborages.
Infestations are generally found in kitchens and bathrooms,
but can inhabit other areas if there is a heavy population.
Cockroaches eat a great variety of food, including all food
used for human consumption . They prefer starchy and sugary
materials. They sip milk and nibble at cheese, meats, pastry,
grain products, sugar and sweet chocolate. They also feed
on cardboard, book bindings, ceiling boards containing starch,
the sized inner lining of shoe soles, their own cast-off skins,
dead and crippled cockroaches, fresh and dried blood, excrement,
sputum, and the fingernails and toenails of babies and sleeping
or sick persons.
Cockroaches are able to carry pathogenic bacteria onto food
which is responsible for food poisoning outbreaks because
of, there movement through washrooms, refuse heaps and sewers.
Another risk to human health arises from the ability of cockroach
egg shells, molting skin and fras to cause allergic reactions
or asthma that can be very serious for some people. Contact
us for professional management options.
To explore more scientific information about this pest, please
click here
and we will transfer you to a more informative university
website for this pest.
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