Latin Name: Blattella Germanica
The German cockroach with the botanical name, Blattella germanica, is the most common cockroach species in the United States. You can find them primarily in structures throughout Florida and other multifamily dwellings. Other places include food processing facilities, nursing homes, hotels, etc. They can be confused with Asian cockroaches because of their similarities, except their practiced eyes, which differentiates them.
The German cockroach is known for its light brown body coloration with two dark and almost parallel stripes across the pronotum behind their heads. They have six legs and an oval body shape. They are usually ½” – 5/8″ (10 – 16 mm) long with a long antenna. The female German cockroaches are darker than the males. However, the male German cockroach is slender and thin with a tapered posterior abdomen and visible terminal segments in their abdomen. Their nymphs are dark brown or black, with a dark stripe located on their backs. They have wings, but you will rarely find them flying; they prefer to run.
German cockroaches prefer areas that are humid, warm, and at a temperature (70°F/21°C). You will always find them in commercial and residential kitchens, then bathrooms. Generally, they love to stay in places where people eat and drink. Hence, you will always find them in living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, and dens in your home. They also make their homes in cracks and crevices near food and drinks. In multi-unit apartment buildings, you will find them move quickly between units using shared pipes as a highway.
German cockroaches are hitchhikers. You will find them in new structures by hitching a ride in cardboard boxes, grocery bags, second-hand appliances such as microwaves, television, refrigerators, etc.
Although it is rare, German cockroaches can survive outdoors during warm months. They mostly do their migration from building to building on warm evenings.
Their droppings appear as small, dark, and pepper-like material in drawers and countertops. When there are plenty in a place, they give off a mild and musty odor. You may also find their fecal staining in room corners.
German cockroaches are scavengers. They can eat any and everything available. They eat bindings of books, soap, toothpaste, crumbs from dirty dishes, etc. However, they prefer to eat starchy food like potatoes, sweets, bread, gravies, and any human or pet food. German cockroaches can survive without food for up to 30 days, but they dehydrate due to a lack of moisture for more than two weeks.
They are mostly known to bite man but are a significant threat to human health because of their ability to spread human pathogens and bacteria. German cockroaches have caused outbreaks of illness and allergic reactions in several countries and people. They also carry many kinds of bacteria, human pathogens, parasitic worms. German cockroaches pick up germs on the spines of their legs and bodies as they crawl from decaying matter or sewage. Medical studies also show that German cockroaches cause several allergic reactions and even exacerbates children’s rashes and asthma attacks.
The best way to recognize their presence is to look out for:
You know what a German cockroach looks like, and you are wondering how to get rid of them. The best advice is to practice healthy and clean living. German cockroaches need just a tiny amount of food to sustain themselves. Do the following to control the infestation of German cockroaches in your home.
If you suspect these pests are in or around your home, give us a call for a Free Home Inspection!
