The German Cockroach AKA The NYC Roach

Exterminating Cockroaches is a specialty of Beyond Pest Control.

Blattella Germanica, most commonly known as the German cockroach or the common NYC inhabitant is a small species of cockroach. It is the most common household cockroach in the world and Manhattan Apartments. Despite its name, the GC is originally from Asia. They only measure about 1 cm to about 2 cm long. German cockroaches are tan or dark brown in color, and they have dark streaks running from their head to the base of its wings. While it has wings, the GC is unable to maintain flight.

These insects are particularly doting to restaurants, kitchens, and other food prep areas. There looking for food sources but water sources as just as prevalent. In colder climates they can also be found in homes and apartments, Although New York City all year round is affected. The German cockroach can be seen during the day, but most sightings are reported at night as they are nocturnal and will run away when exposed to light. But don’t think that its only light that makes the move a change in wind pattern such as you turning on a light switch will change the wind direction and alert the roaches. If you see one there’s a big chance there are many more.

The German cockroach feeds on human and pet food, but is also a scavenger and is an omnivore and cannibal (They Eat Themselves). They particularly like sugary foods, starch, grease, and meats and are known to eat the glue on boxes. In certain cases when there is a shortage of food they will become desperate. They have been known to eat household products such as soap, glue, and toothpaste. They may even turn cannibalistic and consume each other.

The German cockroach is highly successful at establishing a forte in buildings, and is very resilient against attempts at pest control. This is due to the large amount of nymphs (clusters of eggs) produced from each egg case known as oothecae (this is a nymph that the female carries around with her), and the insect’s ability to hide because of their small size. The Blattella Germanica is smaller than almost all other species of cockroach can easily hide and fit into very small cracks and crevices.

The German Cockroach Life Cycle

In addition, the mother carries the egg case with her, instead of dropping it like other cockroach species. The process helps from making the eggs vulnerable before they hatch. The egg case of the German cockroach holds about 30 to 40 eggs. The mother will drop the egg case right before the eggs hatch. The nymphs are initially bright white, but after a few hours of inflating themselves with air they will become hard and darken. Development from eggs to adults takes 3 to 4 months. German cockroaches live up to 1 year and a female German cockroach can produce up to 8 egg cases in a lifetime. They use chemical signals to find mates and the female needs only to be impregnated once to produce eggs for a lifetime. Two German roaches can become 60 thousand in 5 months in the right conditions.

Beyond Pest Control believes cleanliness is next to godliness. Living by this ancient proverb is the best way to avoid roaches. Keeping your home as clean as possible is the first step toward keeping cockroaches out. The kitchen and bathroom are main trouble spots for Sweep and vacuum often, particularly after meals. All food items should be sealed in plastics containers or kept in the refrigerator. Also remember that roaches are attracted to your pet’s food too. Cockroaches are attracted to damp areas and need water to survive. Water is even more important than food to roach survival.

Avoid leaving standing water, whether in bathtubs or sinks. Cracks, corners, and crevices are cockroach’s favorite hiding spots. These areas should be caulked shut and sprayed carefully. Cockroaches are difficult to detect. It is important to spray your home regularly, even if you don’t see any roaches physically. A well thought out plan completed with professional help, regular treatments, and upkeep is the only ways to achieve success in your battle against these roaches

IF you have roaches depends on not only how clean and sanitary you keep your apartment but also how clean your neighbors are. Since apartments in the same line tend to have the same layout, and New York’s City’s German cockroaches travel along pipes and wires, you’re more likely to get invaded if someone living above or below you has them and your kitchens are touching. Roaches are attracted by food and water, but just washing your dishes and fixing leaky faucets isn’t going to keep them under control. We are pretty disgusting in nature and roaches love everything about us, from our backed-up drains to our overflowing trash cans. The bugs can live off paper, so recycle newspapers and boxes. And don’t line cabinets with contact paper: Roaches will eat the glue and use the area between the paper and the shelf to breed.

One notable tip is to avoid using products like raid. While raid is a great knockdown killer it’s not a great overall product for eliminating roaches, Consult a professional or find products that have a great residual. Meaning that after it dries it will continue to kill.

Winter Refuge For Insects? Your Home!

During the fall months pests such as cockroaches, spiders and rodents seek warm refuge. Unfortunately that usually tends to be our homes. This article goes on to say that the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) advises us to pest proof our homes so these creepy crawlers don’t have a way to get into our homes and into our lives. It says that rodents don’t only carry diseases but they also cause structural damage by gnawing away at wires which may cause house fires. Cockroaches as we all know also carry many diseases, and spiders are have a venom that may cause bad reactions to those whom are allergic. This is a great article, it goes into detail how to pest-proof our homes.

Another very informative site by the NPMA says “rodents alone invade an estimates 21 million homes in the U.S each winter. That’s terrifying, they go on to say that “almost 24% of homeowners are reporting rodent infestation” .

http://www.kansascity.com/2010/10/07/2287268/with-arrival-of-fall-pests-seek.html

http://www.pestworld.org/press-releases/pest-proofing-this-winter-can-keep-rodents-and-other-pests-away

Funny Facts About Cockroaches

This is a funny yet informative site about cockroaches. It says that cockroaches do whatever it needs to survive. It can live without food for an entire month, it can hold its breath for almost forty minutes, it can live without a head for an entire week because its brain is not in its head, its located throughout its entire body. Very creepy. These creepy crawling cockroaches can run up to three miles in an hour before it gets tired. It goes on to say that the heart of a cockroach can stop without causing any harm to them.

Also their antennae that they compare to NASA’s GPS system it locates its family and friends in no time. Also they say that the female gets pregnant once and is pregnant for the rest of her life. The back end of the cockroach is equipped with a motion sensor that lets it know which way to run when it’s safety is jeopardized. The scariest part of this specie is that there are over four thousand different types of cockroaches. This site is great, full of information and freaky facts.

http://www.essortment.com/all/cockroachanthro_ryoa.htm

The Cockroach Life Cycle and Behavior

Found this really informative article by Tracy V. Wilson. She describes these disgusting cockroaches in such detail. She say that cockroaches rely on the egg of the female and the sperm of the male for reproduction. The female cockroach releases pheromones to attract the male cockroach, and depending on the species the male will fight over available females. Weird enough but that does sound wickedly familiar, hmmmm. The female cockroach will release the egg and let it hatch on its own. However she does stick around to care for its young.

She goes on to say that “a German cockroach and her young can produce 300,000 more roaches in one year. An American cockroach and her young can produce a comparatively small 800 new roaches per year.”

She also describes the newly hatched cockroaches, “known as nymphs, are usually white. Shortly after birth, they turn brown, and their exoskeletons harden. They begin to resemble small, wingless adult roaches.”

She says that “cockroaches generally prefer warm, humid, dark areas. In the wild, they are most common in tropical parts of the world. They are omnivores, and many species will eat virtually anything, including paper, clothing and dead bugs. A few live exclusively on wood, much like termites do.”

Getting Rid of Roaches

The article also gives you some great advice on how to rid yourself of these cockroaches. She says “Most pest control experts recommend two primary methods for controlling roaches. First, seal off any cracks or holes that roaches could use to get into your home. Roaches can fit into extremely small spaces, including cracks that are only 1/16 of an inch (1.5 millimeters) thick. For this reason, completely blocking all roach entrances can be very difficult.

Second, keep your home clean. Even spotless homes can become infested with roaches, but leaving food or garbage out in the open is likely to attract pests. Cover and seal all of your food, and wipe down counters and tables after eating. Sweep or mop your floor after cooking, and eat only in your dining area. Always wash dirty dishes promptly, since even tiny spots of food or grease can become food for roaches.

Some infestations respond only to chemical deterrents or poisons. Your best bet may be to contact an exterminator who can determine exactly which species of cockroach is present and which chemicals to use to kill it.” Avery well written article and full of information. We look forward to reading more.

Here is a fun fact about cockroaches we found on this site.

Nuclear Cockroaches

“One common perception is that cockroaches will outlive humans, even in the event of a full-scale nuclear war. Opinions differ about whether this is the case. Some studies have shown that cockroaches, while hardier than humans, are more susceptible to radiation than other insects [source: ABC]. However, others believe that since roaches’ cells do not constantly divide the way people’s cells do, they will be more likely to survive [source: Kunkel]. Regardless of whether roaches could survive the initial blast, their need for warmth and moisture makes it unlikely that they could survive nuclear winter.”

http://animals.howstuffworks.com/insects/cockroach.htm

For more information check out the rest of our site and You can also from time to time find helpful hints on http://nypestpro.blogspot.com.

Beyond Pest Control.

Our pest control specialists service all NYC boroughs, including Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Long Island (both Nassau & Suffolk counties), Staten Island and even both Westchester & Rockland counties.