
COCKROACHES

Cockroaches are a paraphyletic group of insects belonging to Blattodea, containing all members of the group except termites. A cockroach has a flattened, oval body and long antennae that is about the length of their body. It has six strong legs covered with spines. Many adult roaches have fully developed wings, but only few fly. Young, immature cockroaches resemble adults but are smaller and do not have wings.
Cockroaches are among the most common pests infesting homes and apartments. They are especially troublesome where food is prepared and sanitation is lacking. Cockroaches are repulsive and embarrassing to most people simply by their presence. They may contaminate food, kitchen utensils, and other household items, and they leave an unpleasant odor.
Because cockroaches move freely from filth to food, they can transfer pathogenic microbes that cause food poisoning and other illnesses. Many people are also allergic to cockroach excrement and their shed skins. Cockroach-produced allergens may cause congestion, sneezing and watery eyes, as well as life-threatening bronchial inflammation (asthma) characterized by recurrent cough, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. Asthma triggered by cockroaches is especially common among children living in densely populated housing conditions where infestations are often severe.
COCKROACHES CONTAMINATE FOOD AND CAN TRANSMIT HARMFUL PATHOGENS
Cockroaches enter buildings in a variety of ways. The ubiquitous German cockroach is often introduced in infested grocery bags, beverage cartons, or furniture. Species such as the American, Oriental, and wood cockroach also gain entry through gaps around windows, doors, vents, and utility openings, and in firewood. In multi-unit dwellings such as apartments, roaches also travel between units through common walls, ceilings, etc. Consequently, while roaches usually thrive where sanitation is poor, even clean homes can become infested.
DESCRIPTION AND HABITS
Cockroaches are flattened, brownish, fast-running insects, with long, slender antennae. There are three life stages: egg, nymph, and adult. The female cockroach produces small, brown, bean-shaped egg cases that are deposited in out-of-the-way places. Several nymphs emerge from each egg case (up to 40 with the German cockroach, 15-20 with other varieties). The nymphs resemble adults except that they are smaller and lack wings. The nymphs gradually become larger and inhabit the same places as the adults. Cockroaches are prolific breeders. Species such as the German cockroach are capable of producing several thousand offspring in less than a year.
Cockroaches do not live in centralized nests or colonies like ants, bees, and termites. However, cockroaches do congregate in distinct areas, in response to aggregating odors in their feces. The droppings appear as pepper-like specks in areas of current or former activity. The spotting is similar in appearance to that of bed bugs, but can usually be distinguished by location, or by other signs of infestation.
Cockroaches are more active at night than during the daytime. During the day, they generally remain hidden in cracks and other dark, secluded areas. At night, they leave their hiding places and search for food. Cockroaches will eat all human foods, plus many other items such as soap, toothpaste, glue, hair, excrement, and filth.
In order to eliminate cockroaches, it helps to know where they are hiding. Preferred locations include warm, dark, moist areas, especially in kitchens and bathrooms. However, depending on the species and extent of infestation, cockroaches may be found anywhere in the home.
Cockroaches can be major pests in restaurants, hospitals, warehouses, offices and buildings with food-handling areas. They secrete a substance which can stain surfaces and produce bad odors. They can also destroy fabric and paper products.
COCKROACH HABITAT
Cockroach prefers to live in damp but warm places and generally found in kitchens, hotels, bakeries, restaurants, warehouses, grocer’s shops, sewage, ships and public latrines, etc., where plenty of food is available. It is a nocturnal animal hiding in holes and crevices during the day and coming out at night when it tastes diverse objects like clothes, shoes, books and human food to feed upon.
Thus, it is omnivorous in diet. It is a fast runner, i.e., cursorial in habit. It can also fly but it flies very rarely. It is dioecious and oviparous and exhibits parental care.
Cockroaches are found in a continuum of dark, humid, poorly ventilated, and often cramped spaces either continuously or when sheltering during their non-active period. Although certain species may be associated with a particular crevice type like the voids beneath rocks or the space beneath loose bark, others are commonly found in more than one of these habitat subdivisions. Many species exploit the interconnectivity of dark, enclosed spaces wherever there is suitable food and moisture, and a distinctive classification of cockroaches as either obligate or facultative inhabitants of caves, litter, or soils is not always a natural one.
HOW TO IDENTIFY COCKROACHES
Four kinds of cockroaches can infest homes in Kenya:
German cockroach
Brown-banded cockroach
American cockroach
ORIENTAL COCKROACH
Only a small percentage of the actual number of cockroaches in a house, are seen. Correct identification of cockroaches is important as there are many insects that look similar e.g. long-horned beetles, crickets, leaf-footed bugs and ground beetles.
A cockroach has a flattened, oval body and long antennae about the length of their body.
When looking at a cockroach from above, its head is hidden from view.
It has six strong legs covered with spines.
Many adult cockroaches have fully developed wings, but only few fly.
Young, immature cockroaches resemble adults but are smaller and do not have wings.
LIFE CYCLE OF COCKROACHES
A cockroach has three stages during its life cycle: egg, nymph and adult.
Adults lay eggs contained within dark-colored egg cases size and shape of a dry kidney bean.
Depending on the species, an egg case contains between 16 – 50 eggs.
Eggs hatch into young cockroaches called nymphs, that are more numerous than adults.
HOW TO KEEP COCKROACHES OUT OF YOUR HOUSE
Take precautions while moving:
When moving, use boxes and packing material from a place free of cockroaches.
When packing, watch for cockroaches and their egg capsules.
Remove and destroy any that you find.
Take all boxes out of the home at night and store in a place without cockroaches.
If storing boxes overnight in infested buildings, keep them off the floor and away from walls by placing them on chairs or tables.
During winter, you can store boxes in unheated locations such as garages.
In your new home, watch for egg cases and cockroaches that may have survived.
COCKROACHES INFESTATION
To confirm you have cockroaches:
Place sticky traps so that they are tight against edges, where walls meet floors.
Place traps in areas where cockroaches are likely to occur, such as in cupboards and around refrigerators, stoves, and sinks.
You can reduce the number of cockroaches by getting rid of places they like:
Remove corrugated cardboard boxes, newspapers, bags and other unnecessary clutter.
When storing items, leave space between packages.
Use caulk to seal spaces and cracks where cockroaches hide. Concentrate on areas where cockroach numbers are the highest.
Seal spaces where plumbing or electrical wiring goes through walls with steel wool or other rough material.
Put covers on points where plumbing enters the wall, to restrict movement of cockroaches.
KEEP YOUR HOME CLEAN
If you limit access to food and water, cockroaches cannot survive and reproduce.
Keep all food stored in a refrigerator or in insect-proof containers made of plastic, metal or glass with tight-fitting covers.
Do not leave pet food and water out overnight.
Wash your dishes, pans and utensils as soon as you are done using them.
Remove all food or spilled drinks from counter tops, and clean counters, sinks and tables with soapy water.
Vacuum floors and all cracks and crevices to remove debris and food.
Take garbage out daily in closed plastic containers. Keep waste containers clean.
Repair any leaky water pipes or faucets.
Recycle cans and bottles on a regular basis.
Wash and clean recycling bins.
Air out and dry out damp places.