Bug Facts - American
Cockroach
Physical
Characteristics
 The American cockroach is the
largest of the house infesting roaches and and is also found
in larger commercial buildings, in food storage areas and
basements. It is the most common roach found in city sewer
systems. It is sometimes called a palmetto bug.
Adults are about 1 inch long and shiny, chestnut brown.
There are yellow marking on the region behind the head. The
immatures are uniformly dark brown and lack wings. The egg
case is about 3/8 inch long and dark brown.
They prefer temperatures above 70 degrees and will die in
temperatures below 15 degrees.
They can live 2-3 months without food and 1 month without
water.
They feed on decaying organic matter, and will eat starch
materials.
Roaches often glue egg capsules to walls or other
surfaces.
A female may produce from 6 to 14 egg cases with 16 eggs
per case. Eggs take 38 to 49 days to develop.
Damage & Disease
Risks
Roaches can foul food, damage wallpaper and books, eat
glue from furniture, and produce an unpleasant odor. Some
homeowners are allergic to roaches. The pests can
contaminate food with certain bacterial diseases that result
in food poisoning, dysentery, or diarrhea.
Prevention &
Treatment
Inspect sacks, cartons and boxes, etc., before they are
brought into the house, and destroy any roaches. Sanitation
is critical in roach control. Clean up spilled foods and
liquids, avoid leaving scraps of food on unwashed dishes and
counter tops, keep food in tightly sealed containers, rinse
cans and bottles before putting them in trash and transfer
garbage outdoors into roach-proof receptacles.
Infestations of cockroaches can be prevented with Burge
Pest Control's Residential Power Protection Plan.
| 
