American Cockroach Identification & Prevention

Large, reddish-brown cockroach 1 1/2 inches long. Found in basements, steam tunnels, sewer systems, and boiler rooms.

Description

American cockroaches originated in central Africa and have since spread worldwide via man-made vessels such as ships, automobiles, and airplanes. These cockroaches inhabit sewer systems, boiler rooms, steam tunnels, basements, and even attics in flat top roofs. Anytime a pest professional hears the phrase "those roaches were big enough to ride," they immediately know which cockroach species is present.

Biology And Behavior

These cockroaches are large and reddish-brown, ranging from 1 3/8 to 2 1/8 of an inch long.
They can travel long distances to food or harborage (living) sources (>300ft).
Females glue egg capsules to surfaces; egg capsules contain 14-16 eggs per capsule.
Females produce 250 to 300 offspring in a lifetime.
They live long, typically longer than one year.
They feed on most foods but prefer fermenting foods, including beer.
American cockroaches occasionally migrate en masse from sewers, landfills, and other harborage areas.

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American Cockroach Prevention Tips

Remove food and moisture sources (i.e., roof leaks, food spills).
Keep floor drains filled with water or cover drain openings with a fine mesh screen.
Seal cracks greater than 1/4 inch in floors, walls, and ceilings with a sealant.
Fill window and door frame gaps and utility openings with a sealant.
Keep shrubs, vines, and tree limbs trimmed away from the structure.
Mulch should be less than 3 inches deep; gravel perimeters are best around a structure.
Remove garbage daily and store containers outside with tight-fitting lids.
Remove leaf litter and yard wastes from around a foundation.
Don't stack lumber, firewood, bricks, or other debris next to a foundation.