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What are Cockroaches?
- Sometimes confused with black beetles from the garden, cockroaches are distinguished by their very long whip-like antennae, flat oval bodies and rapid, jerky gait.
- There are three main pest species of cockroach present throughout the UK.
These are:
The Oriental cockroach (Blatta orientalis)
The Oriental cockroach can reach 20-24 mm in length in its adult stage, is almost black in colour and is often associated with cooler, less humid areas such as drains.
The German cockroach (Blattella germanica)
The German cockroach can reach 9-14 mm in length in its adult stage, is yellow-brown in colour and is often associated with warmer, more humid areas such as kitchens and boiler rooms.
The American cockroach (Periplaneta americana)
The American cockroach can reach 30-35 mm in length in its adult stage, is red-brown in colour and is often associated with cooler, less humid areas such as drains and sewers.
- Cockroaches grow in stages, from ‘mini-cockroach’ nymphs to maturity in 6-12 months (for Oriental cockroaches) and 6-12 weeks (for German cockroaches), depending upon the environment they are living in.
- Female cockroaches carry a capsule containing their eggs, which can be dropped near to a suitable food source just prior to their hatching. It is a myth that ‘squashing’ a cockroach will release the eggs and produce more cockroaches!
- Cockroaches will literally eat any organic matter from food to the build up of dirt in drains!
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