![]() ![]() ![]() This is the species that is most often associated with cockroach-induced allergies in children and adults. They can also infest single-family homes. German cockroaches are especially common and problematic in multifamily housing, as well as restaurants and other commercial facilities. They occur worldwide and thrive indoors where they have ready access to food and water. German cockroach, Blatella germanica, is the species most commonly involved in chronic indoor infestations. This is the roach most dreaded and abhorred by homeowners and apartment dwellers alike. Because their habits and the methods used to control them are similar, it is not necessary to be able to distinguish the different species of large roaches. Adult large roaches are more than 1 inch long. Adult German cockroaches are only about ½ inch long and have two dark stripes on the front part of their back. Fortunately, this is easy to do because there is a big difference in the sizes of the adults. If you want your efforts to be successful, it is especially important to distinguish between German cockroaches and the large roaches. The first step in preventing or controlling cockroaches is to know which species you are trying to control. See the section on “Other Cockroaches” at the end of this publication for information on identification and biology of some of the less common cockroach species. For example, if you found two woods roaches that were brought in with firewood, misidentified them as German cockroaches, and hired a professional pest control company to control German cockroaches, you would be wasting a lot of money. However, it is still important to be aware of these species so you can avoid spending money unnecessarily. Because these other roach species do not normally establish reproducing populations inside our homes and buildings, they are not considered to be serious pests. Several other species occur in the state, but many of them breed outdoors and are only occasionally found inside. Newly hatched nymphs are less than ⅛ inch long.Īlthough there are several cockroach species in the Southeast, the small roaches (German cockroach and brown-banded cockroach) and the complex of large roaches (smoky-brown cockroach, brown cockroach, and American cockroach) are the most common and the most problematic. Of course, the immature stages, known as nymphs, of either group are much smaller than the adults. The species of pest roaches that occur in Mississippi can be divided into two groups: “small roaches” and “large roaches.” Small roaches are only about ½ inch long as adults, while large roaches are more than 1 inch long as adults. Which Kind of Cockroach Do You Need to Control? Several researchers have reported data indicating that the insects may be most commonly implicated in the transmission of Salmonella, a bacterium that causes gastrointestinal upset. However, many organisms that cause human diseases have been found on the legs, other body parts, or fecal pellets of cockroaches. Some health officials see no association between cockroaches and disease and think that cockroaches are merely nuisance pests. ![]() The extent of disease transmission by cockroaches is not clear. ![]() That study also found that children who were both allergic to cockroaches and exposed to high levels of cockroach allergens had three times as many hospitalizations a year compared with other children. In one study of 476 asthmatic inner-city children, half of the children’s bedrooms had high levels of cockroach allergen in dust. Symptoms of cockroach allergy include sneezing, runny nose, skin reactions, and eye irritation.Īsthma-related health problems from cockroaches seem to be most severe among children in inner-city areas, but they may also be significant even in nonurban children. In fact, cockroach-induced allergies and asthma are some of the most serious problems caused by these pests. In addition to possible disease transmission, cockroach excrement and cast skins may cause allergies in some people. They can enter human ear canals, and they sometimes gnaw on the fingernails of sleeping children. They potentially can transmit disease organisms on their body parts. They can contaminate food, imparting an unpleasant odor and taste. Most people are very intolerant of cockroaches, and for good reasons these pests can adversely affect human health in several ways. ![]()
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