American Cockroach
Image: American cockroach feeding on Advion Insect Granules on a manhole cover in College Station, Texas. Photo by Scott Lingren.
Order: Blattodea, Family: Blattidae, Periplaneta americana
Little Known Facts
The American cockroach is often euphemistically referred to as the waterbug or palmettobug.
They are attracted to lights at night.
They can live up to a month without food and up to a week without their head.
They typically live for more than a year.
American Cockroach Biology
The American Cockroach is the most commonly seen large cockroach species in College Station, Coppell, Dallas, and other areas in Texas. They are about 2 inches in length and adults and have the ability to fly. Another commonly found species of large cockroach is the smokybrown cockroach. They are much darker and more uniform in color, but approximately the same size and shape as the American cockroach. Cockroaches develop gradually, meaning the newly hatched nymphs appear similar to adults and grow with each successive molt, until reaching adulthood. The nymphs don't have fully developed wings and can't fly. Adult females can lay as many as 10 egg cases with 16 eggs each during their 1 year lifetime. Egg cases are stuck in cracks and crevices and hatch after about 6 weeks. The nymphs take around 6 months to develop into adults.
American cockroaches are omnivorous scavengers. They will eat nearly anything from fruit to decaying animal material. They prefer dark, damp areas and are commonly found both outside and inside structures. They are beneficial in that they help break down decaying waste and organic matter. However, their association with sewers and various other nasty environments means that they can move disease causing bacteria, fungi, and nematodes from those areas to areas where we live and eat. They also can soil indoor areas with their feces and they have a foul odor.
Preventing American Cockroach Infestations
Eliminating damp areas inside and outside your home can help limit the number of American cockroaches that can invade. Get rid of dead, decaying leaves, keep compost piles away from your house, avoid over watering lawns, and repair any leaks inside or out. Minimizing the amount of outside lighting can reduce the number of cockroaches flying to your house at night. Finally, practice good sanitation inside and out. Don't leave food or dirty dishes out and make sure you regularly remove any trash.
American Cockroach Control
American Cockroaches are included in our Basic Pest Control Service. They are much easier to control than German cockroaches because of their long developmental cycle. German cockroaches can develop from egg to adult in 30 days, instead of several months. There are a number of insecticides available that are very effective against American cockroaches. We may use one or more of the following chemical classes, depending on the situation and our client preferences: Pyrethroid (reduced risk versions available), Pyrethrin (reduced risk), Oxadiazine (reduced risk), Neonicitinoid (reduced risk versions available), and Insect Growth Regulators (reduced risk), Our treatment begins with an exterior application using our environmentally friendly Backpack Mist Blowers. Next, we apply a granular bait (reduced risk) outside. The bait we use is extremely effective against cockroaches, crickets, earwigs, pill bugs, and some ant species. Typically, those two methods are all that is needed to control and prevent American cockroaches. However, we may also spray inside to control an active infestation. Additionally, we may use a vapor insecticide strip in the attic or bath traps for severe infestations. In pier and beam structures, we may need to apply a dust to the crawl space using our power duster.
DIY Tips
Almost any sprayable insecticide will be effective against American Cockroaches. For better control, use an insecticide bait outdoors. We prever Advion Insect Granules for this. You may also use No Pest Strips in attics, bath traps, or other wall voids to improve control. Be sure to follow the label instructions exactly.