Hobbies And Interests
Identification
Full grown adult German roaches will be no bigger than 5/8 of an inch long. They are light brown or tan and although they possess a full set of wings they cannot fly. The younger roaches look like the adults but are smaller and have no wings yet. A set of telltale parallel lines that extend from the head to the wings helps identify this species of cockroach, one of 50 found in the United States.
Features
This species of roach is especially fond of moist environments where it is warm. This means that such places as behind sinks and dishwashers make great homes for German roaches. These scavengers will eat whatever they have access to. This includes starches and sugars, grease and proteins. They have been known to consume wallpaper glue and the glue that binds books together. German roaches move about mostly in the nighttime hours and spend the day in any crevice or crack that can accommodate them. They have a wide and narrow body that allows them to easily get into the smallest of cracks and are rarely spotted in the daytime.
Time Frame
There are three stages of development that the German cockroach undergoes. It begins as an egg which the female roaches lay in an egg capsule less than a quarter inch in length. These capsules can have as many four dozen separate eggs in them and the females will produce as many as eight of these capsules in their life. The capsule stays attached to the female until it is time for the German roaches to hatch, which takes up to 30 days. The roach once hatched will undergo a transformation from a nymph to an adult over a span of many weeks. The average life span of a German cockroach is less than seven months, with the females outliving the males by a few weeks.
Effects
Food can be ruined and spoiled by the presence of German cockroaches. They secrete a foul smelling substance that can infiltrate food and affect its flavor. Large populations of German roaches can make an area of a building stink with this substance. Bacteria and viruses have been known to attach themselves to German roaches, resulting in the spread of such illnesses as diarrhea and dysentery. The bacteria and viruses will be carried on the roach's legs and back and wind up in food when the roach gets into it. The shed skins of these insects and their waste products cause allergic reactions in some people and are also a trigger for asthma in certain individuals.
Prevention/Solution
To keep German roaches from finding sanctuary in a home and multiplying, it is necessary to repair any leaky water pipes and faucets. Cracks in the foundation of a house should be tightly sealed to keep roaches out and there should be no openings around windows, doors and air conditioners for them to squeeze through. Keeping things sanitary is vital, meaning that the areas beneath stoves, sinks, refrigerators and cabinets must be cleaned frequently. Food spills should be promptly picked up, all foods need to be in tight containers, and dirty dishes should be washed and never left overnight. Garbage should be kept away from the house and pet dishes shouldn't be left with food in them.