Cockroach Facts

The cockroach is an insect that has been around for a long time. They have been on the earth for hundreds of millions of years and may even pre-date the dinosaurs. Cockroaches continue to be one of the most populous creatures on this planet with over 4,000 different known species worldwide. There are cockroach species that live in both urban and rural areas. 

The one constant about cockroaches is that they are adaptable, capable of finding food and a way to survive even in some of the harshest environments. The hardy insects have survived global catastrophes and have managed to make homes in virtually every continent. Roaches also have adapted well when transported from their native lands to new regions.

At Western Exterminator, we are cockroach experts. We know the difference between the myths and rumors and the truth about roaches. Knowing the difference allows us to provide comprehensive cockroach treatments. 

Cockroaches are pests and poise health risks to people. Therefore, they have to be clearly understood in order to provide effective cockroach treatment. In the spirit of educating homeowners and business owners about these insects, we are presenting the cockroach facts. 

If you think that you have a cockroach problem, then call in the experts at Western Exterminator by calling 800-937-8398 or filling in an online form.

Cockroach lifespan

Each species of cockroach has their own estimated lifespan but on average, cockroaches live for about one year. Factors such as food supply, habitat and climate affect lifespan. American cockroaches can live for about one year while German cockroaches are estimated to live for about 100 days.

On average, cockroaches can live for a month without food but only a week without water. Cockroaches can feed on a variety of materials so starving cockroaches as a means of pest control is not effective.

Cockroach behavior

This is what makes roaches particularly difficult antagonists for the pest control industry. Our technicians have to constantly adapt and learn so that they can continue to find ways to eliminate and prevent cockroaches. Cockroaches have been clocked running up to 3 miles an hour, which is very fast for an insect. 

At Western Exterminator, we are experts in cockroach behavior. We know how to track them down, find where they hide, and get rid of infestations fast. Some of cockroach behaviors include:

• Cockroaches are everywhere - an indication of their remarkable ability to adapt to all climates. Some estimates say that there are up to 4,000 species and 70 species in the United States.
• Cockroaches prefer the night - which is why you usually see them when you turn on the lights at night. They prefer the darkness for finding food and mating purposes.
• Cockroaches reproduce fast - when you see one you will want to call in a professional. There are probably a lot more that you cannot see. Some female cockroaches will only mate once, but then spend the rest of their lives pregnant. Cockroach eggs are small and vary in color, but most cockroaches are very good at hiding their eggs. You can end up with an infestation fast with a large number of cockroach eggs.
• A cockroach is omnivorous - that means they will eat almost anything, but they have a preference for sweets, meat, and starches. However, you can also find them eating leather or books on the shelf. If an infestation has gotten so bad that their food supply is low, cockroaches have even been known to bite humans.
• Cockroaches hide - their bodies have adapted to squeezing into tiny crevices and cracks. Their ability to do this also means that even the smallest hole can allow cockroaches access to your building or property and once they are in there, they can be very hard to find.
• Some cockroaches can live for up to a month without food and for two weeks without water - there have even been cases where a cockroach without a head lived for a week.
• Roaches love to be in dark, warm areas - that's why your home or building is so attractive to them. They want to be warm, have lots of places to hide and want to be close to food and water.
• Cockroaches are very fast! - A human-sized cockroach would be able to run over 100 miles per hour and if a horse could run as fast as a roach it would be able to cover approximately 450 feet per second.

Cockroach habitat

Cockroaches are everywhere - an indication of their remarkable ability to adapt to all climates. Some estimates say that there are up to 70 species in the United States.

Roaches love to be in dark, warm areas - that's why your home or building is so attractive to them. They want to be warm, have lots of places to hide and be close to food and water. 

Cockroaches prefer the night - which is why you usually see them when you turn on the light. They prefer the darkness for finding food and mating purposes. Cockroach bodies have adapted to squeezing into tiny crevices and cracks which means that even the smallest hole can allow a cockroach entry to your building or property.

Cockroach lifecycle

All cockroaches go through three stages of development – cockroach egg, nymph and adult. Eggs are hatched in casings called oothecae, where they develop and are protected from their environment. Once they hatch, they become nymphs and as nymphs, they grow in stages called molts until they become adults. Some species develop wings while others don’t. 

Cockroaches reproduce fast - when you see one, you will want to call in a professional as soon as possible. If you are seeing cockroaches out in the open, then there are probably a lot more infesting your property hidden from sight. Some female cockroaches will only mate once, but then spend the rest of their lives pregnant.

What do cockroaches eat?

A cockroach is omnivorous - that means they will eat almost anything, but they have a preference for sweets, meat, and starches. However, you can also find them eating leather or books on the shelf. If an infestation has gotten so bad that their food supply is low, cockroaches have even been known to bite humans.

Some cockroaches can live for up to a month without food and for two weeks without water - there have even been cases where a cockroach without a head lived for a week.

Cockroach diseases

Cockroaches do not spend time cleaning up after themselves and they never wash their hands. That means roaches running around your kitchen counters are more than disturbing - the insects can bring a bunch of things into your home or business that you don’t want there. Things like disease and bacteria that can make people sick. 

Cockroaches love to infest garbage, decaying matter like food or even rotting flesh. They are also known to travel in sewers and other areas where they might encounter waste materials. 

A cockroach infestation can result in Illnesses such as food poisoning.

Do cockroaches bite?

The question that sometimes gets asked, when you have an insect that seems so willing to take a bite out of everything, is do cockroaches bite people? The short answer is yes, sometimes they do, but there's more to it than that.

A cockroach's mouth is one of the more primitive in the animal kingdom and contains four parts:

• Labrum - this is the exterior part of the mouth that clasps the food and guides it into the part that does all of the real hard work. 
• Mandibles - these are the real jaws. They chew up and grind the food for digestion.
• Maxillae - the secondary part of the jaws. They are usually lined with small teeth and are also used to grind and chew the food, but can also act like little hands to hold onto it.
• Labium - this is what closes up the mouth area so the food gets where it needs to go.

Asthma and allergies

For nearly 50 years now, experts have known that cockroaches are a major cause of asthma and allergies. The concern comes from their droppings, the skins that they shed and from the saliva they use to digest food. Cockroach skins and saliva release airborne particles that people can have an allergic reaction to (especially those who have asthma). In urban areas, one of the major causes of asthma and allergies comes from the presence of cockroaches.

Best way to get rid of cockroaches

If you think you have a cockroach problem in your home or building, then call us at 800-937-8398 or use our online contact form. 

Western Exterminator roach control and roach removal experts know how to find where the pests are getting into your home. 

We use environmentally sound pest control methods that focus on finding solutions that work and reduce the need for constant chemical treatments.