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Finding an American cockroach in your home is a frightening experience. Learning as much as you can about these insects will help you feel less afraid and more prepared for the next time you encounter one. The American cockroach is one of the largest common pests in homes in the United States. They can live up to 700 days and produce as many as 150 offspring in their lifetime. They prefer warm, humid and dark environments. Their habit of eating human garbage has allowed them to grow to tremendous numbers anywhere that people live. Understanding American cockroaches allows you to deal with them effectively. Learn more about these creatures in the rest of this article. See also my articles "How to Get Rid of Pests in Your Car!," "Weed Prevention using Pre-Emergent Herbicides," and "How To Prepare Your Home For A Bed Bug Treatment." Origins and Characteristics of the American Cockroach The American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) is the biggest species of cockroach. Strangely, its common name is deceiving because the species is native to Africa. This cockroach came to North America aboard European trading ships in the 17th century. Global trade has allowed the American cockroach to spread to all human-inhabited areas. It's a common household pest throughout the United States. You might also know the American cockroach as the palmetto bug, the Bombay canary or the water bug. Biology of the American Cockroach American cockroaches are reddish brown with a slightly yellow line behind the head. For size, these insects measure 1.5 to 2 inches long and stand about a quarter inch tall. Like all insects, they have six legs, an exoskeleton, three body segments and antennae. American cockroaches have leathery forewings and delicate hind wings that extend past their body. First, the American cockroach has chewing mouthparts and long, segmented antennae on their heads. Next, their mid-body is flat and segmented by three sets of legs with a pronotum extending over the head like a shield. Finally, the rear section is oval and broad with two stinger-like anal cerci at the tail that sense vibrations in the air or ground. American Cockroach Life Cycle The reproductive cycle of American cockroaches lasts up to 600 days. Additionally, females produce 150 offspring on average during their lifespan. Overall, the egg, nymph and adult developmental stages make up the American cockroach's life cycle. To start, females create 9 to 90 purse-shaped egg cases that protrude from the end of their abdomen. Next, after about two days, the females lay the eggs in a nesting location. Then, after 6 to 8 weeks, nymphs emerge from the egg cases and undergo a series of 13 moultings over 6 to 12 months to reach adulthood. American Cockroach Egg and Nymph Identification The eggs of American cockroaches look like pills, capsules, purses or beans with a ridge. They are tan, brown or black and about one third of an inch long. American cockroach nymphs don't have wings and are smaller than adults. On that note, they might be lighter colored, even white, which causes people to mistake them for albino cockroaches. Additionally, each time they shed their exoskeleton to grow, their coloration darkens and they harden. Therefore, an American cockroach nymph has a softer body than an adult. What Do American Cockroaches Eat? These insects eat just about anything and have become a widespread pest by feeding off human garbage. Moreover, some of the many food sources of American cockroaches are: Leather Beer Tea Dead skin flakes Animal carcasses Soiled clothes Glue Books American cockroaches are especially attracted to fermented foods. Additionally, they will eat dead or wounded cockroaches if they have the chance. Do American Cockroaches Fly? American cockroaches do have the ability to fly, though they don't use it to go far. On that note, they make short flights, usually when chased by a predator. Additionally, if they start from a high place, American cockroaches can glide a great distance. But, because they have great running speed, their preferred escape method is with their feet. American Cockroach Habitat Overall, American cockroaches prefer warm, moist and dark environments with temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. They live mostly outdoors but will move indoors when they experience a food shortage or a change in the climate. On the one hand, American cockroaches in colder areas often inhabit sewers and drains. On the other hand, in warmer climates, you're likely to find cockroaches living in humid, shady places like underneath mulch piles or in garden beds. In the end, it's common to see American cockroaches scurrying out in the open on warm summer nights. Going further, large commercial buildings like grocery stores, bakeries, restaurants, hospitals and food processing plants are especially common places to find American cockroaches. In those places, the insects infest food storage or preparation areas, steam tunnels, basements and boiler rooms. Can American Cockroaches Hurt You? While American cockroaches aren't likely to bite and don't have venom, they can spread dangerous diseases to humans. These insects have been associated with several illnesses, including: Salmonellosis. Listeriosis Cholera Typhoid Fever Dysentery Leprosy Plague Campylobacteriosis They pick up dangerous microorganisms while crawling through waste. Then, they take it to food storage or preparation areas, where it can infect humans. Moreover, American cockroach pee, spit and poop contain proteins that cause allergic reactions and asthma attacks. Therefore, they trigger year-round allergy symptoms when they live near humans, with children being the most susceptible. Should I Be Worried If I See An American Cockroach? If you see one American cockroach, you should not worry. Yes, they are scary looking, but a single cockroach is most likely lost or looking for food and water in your house. Cockroaches prefer to live outdoors, so a single one in your home doesn't mean you have an infestation. After spotting a cockroach, you might want to stay vigilant about others lurking around. Overall, American cockroaches can be solitary creatures, making it less likely that there are dozens or hundreds nearby. Furthermore, if you can chase them away or kill them, you won't likely see others. Are American Cockroaches Smart? American cockroaches are not smart. In fact, they have no intelligence. Scientists who study American cockroaches find that they have little capacity to learn, and they quickly forget anything they absorb. Strangely, when faced with capturing or killing one of these insects, they can seem smart. If you try to catch them, they react quickly and seem to know the best way to escape. In truth, American cockroaches have excellent sensory organs to help escape predators. Any reaction they have to a human trying to capture or kill them is pure instinct. Do American Cockroaches Come Up Drains? Yes, American cockroaches can come into your home through the drain. In multi-family buildings, these insects can use the drain as a highway between different units. If you want to stop American cockroaches from coming up your drains, put a stopper over them when they're not in use. Also, keeping pipes clean and disinfected deters these insects from entering. American Cockroach Vs. German Cockroach German cockroaches are smaller than American cockroaches, coming in at just over half an inch long. Moreover, the German version of this insect is tan colored with dark, parallel lines running from their wing tips to heads. Next, the German cockroach lives in larger groups. Therefore, if you see one German cockroach, it's likely you have an infestation of dozens or hundreds on your hands. Also, German cockroaches prefer living under kitchen or bathroom sinks. On the other hand, American cockroaches are more likely to live in crawlspaces or basements. Comparing Three Common Cockroach Species CockroachAmericanGerman OrientalSize1.1–2.1 in0.51–0.63 in0.71–1.14 inTemperature Preference68–84 °F59–95 °F68–86 °FColorationReddish BrownTanBlackLifespan90–706 daysAbout 200 days35–190 daysFlyingYesUncommonNo, but have wings What Kills American Cockroaches Instantly? Luckily, several insecticides kill American cockroaches on contact. There are many options of sprays that you can use to kill American cockroaches instantly. Do Roach Bait Traps Work? Additionally, you might have heard of cockroach bait traps. These don't kill cockroaches instantly, but might lead the insect to return to its colony and poison others. On the other side, there is a drawback to bait traps. A poisoned cockroach could be picked up by a child or pet and make them sick. Can You Squish an American Cockroach? You can squish an American cockroach to kill it but the World Health Organization recommends against doing it for hygienic reasons. Unfortunately, the insects could have bacteria or other pathogens on their bodies, and squashing them puts you at risk of contracting a disease. Also, their bodies can withstand as much as 900 times their weight. Therefore, you have to hit an American cockroach very hard to kill it. Preventing American Cockroaches From Entering Your Home Prevent American cockroaches from invading your home by locking up food and water and sealing entry points. Luckily, taking these preventative steps makes your house less attractive and more difficult to get into. Start by storing your food in sealed containers, cleaning up after every meal and using tight-closing garbage containers. Next, eliminate water sources like leaking pipes or standing water. On the perimeter of your house, seal any gaps or cracks in your foundation and siding. Also, use door sweeps and window screens.

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