Cockroaches are highly adaptive insects that can survive on many food sources and in varied environments. There are over 4,600 cockroach species, but only 30 share habitats with humans, with the German, American, Australian, and Oriental cockroaches being the most common pest species. Effective cockroach control requires preventing access to food, water, and shelter as well as regular cleaning and maintenance to deny habitats. Monitoring with traps helps locate infestations and track treatment effectiveness. A combination of residual sprays, non-residual sprays, dusts, and baits applied according to label instructions can help control cockroaches, with baits being particularly effective as they allow slow ingestion of poison. Seeking

1. COCKROACH

2. COCKROACH FACTS
 There are around 4,600 species of cockroaches. But fortunately, only 30 species share the human habitat. Out of 30 only four of them are quite famous
as pests.
 The most common types of cockroaches are German cockroach, American cockroach, Australian cockroach and Oriental cockroach.
 Cockroaches are highly adaptive and that is the reason why they have been living on this earth way older than us, in fact older than dinosaurs too! If new
studies were to be believed, then they evolved 359 million years ago, in Carboniferous period.
 Another reason why they are so adaptable – they can survive on anything. They can eat debris, fruits, meat, other insects, our food, the list just goes
on… they can eat anything just to make sure they live.
 They are cold blooded animals. This means that they can maintain a low rate of metabolism and hence, can survive without food even for a month. But
they can’t stay thirsty. Most cockroaches die of thirst and in general cockroaches can stay without water for a maximum period of about 2 weeks.
 Guess what? They can live for around a week without their heads. But they can hold their breath for about 40 minutes, and they can remain in water for
a nice 30 minutes.
 These little creepy animals are fast runners by birth. Yes, not just the adults but the ones which are born run 3 miles per hour. Their hind limbs can move
27 times per second when they are running and just not that the spines on their legs allow them to maintain their speed on the walls without slipping.
 If there is anything which cockroaches can’t take is the cold. Yes, as mentioned they are cold blooded animals, so their temperature depends on the
temperature of the surroundings. If the surroundings are too cold, then there are less chances for a cockroach to survive. But there is one species of
cockroach called Japanese cockroach (Periplaneta japonica) which can survive a whopping -8 degrees Celsius. It hibernates. Even if it freezes it can
unfreeze itself when the temperature return to normal. They are the only ones to walk on ice.
 Cockroaches are thigmotropic i.e., they like to be touched on all sides! They like to be in contact with something solid from all sides of the body. Now did
you understand why cockroaches are in love with those crevices of your home?
 They are always blamed for spreading diseases and doing harm to humans, but they do good work for earth. They help in decomposing the debris
thereby help bringing the much-needed nutrients back to the soil. They also serve as food for other small animals like lizards, birds and in this way, keep
the food chain in good shape.
 China is not famous for eating cockroaches alone but equally famous for its cockroach farms. They rear cockroaches and guess what? It is a booming
industry there now and it has helped improving the economy of the country as well!

3. COCKROACH BIOLOGY
 Cockroaches are classified as order Blattodea. They are primitive orthopteroid
insects that are closely related with termites and mantids.
EGG Stage -The female cockroach lays eggs in a shell-like casing, known as the oothecae. The oothecae
holds quite a number of the eggs, roughly 15-20 eggs, which is dependent on the roach species. In the case of
a German cockroach, the numbers of the eggs can be as high as 40 of them. To ensure the safety of the eggs,
the female roach lays the eggs in a well-protected area where it remains until the eggs hatch. As for other
species, they carry around the oothecae on their backs while others will carry it on their abdomen. In a
lifetime, the female roach can lay up to 150 eggs.
NYMPH Stage - Nymphs will come to be once the eggs have hatched. This roughly takes about 14-60
days depending on the type of cockroach and the environment conditions. Nonetheless, the eggs will hatch
into the nymph stage by freeing themselves from the oothecae, where they have been enclosed.
The nymphs are a perfect replica of adult roaches only smaller and that they lack wings. Under this stage,
cockroaches will experience most of the changes in their life as they develop from young lings to adults. This
happens during the molting process, where the cockroaches shed out their exoskeleton. In result, they
increase in size. Looking at a cockroaches that has molted a while ago, it can easily be mistaken for an
albino. After each molt, the cockroach has a pale appearance but regains it dark color shortly thereafter.
ADULT Stage -The entire life cycle of a cockroach from the egg to the adult stage can last up to 600 days. After each molt, the nymph gets closer and closer to
the adult stage. In the final nymph stage, the roaches for one will have wings which were absent there before, or rather hidden. The average lifespan of a cockroach
depends on the species as well as the factors favoring its living such as temperature and climatic conditions and the nature of the environment, they currently are
in. The size and length of an adult cockroach will vary in size depending on the species with most of them ranging in between an inch longer, shorter or there about.
Once the cockroaches are adults, they can reproduce new offspring, repeating the life cycle all over again.

4. COMMON DOMESTIC COCKROACH
American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) is the largest species of common cockroach
and often considered a pest.
Appearance
Reddish brown with yellow band in
pronotum.
Size 1.5 – 2.0 inches
Habitat
Warm, dark, humid environment, can
be seen in drainage and sewers.
Reproductive Capacity 14 – 16 eggs/capsule
Life Cycle 600 days
Life Span 1 – 1.5 years
Able to Fly? Yes
German cockroach (Blattella germanica) is a small species of cockroach.
 It can barely fly, although it may glide when disturbed.
 Of the few species of cockroach that are domestic pests, it probably is the most
widely troublesome example.
 Particularly associated with restaurants, food processing facilities, hotels, and
institutional establishments such as nursing homes.
Appearance
Tan to almost black with 2
parallel lines running from
head to the wings
Size 0.8 – 1.0 inch
Habitat
Warm, dark, humid
environment, frequent on
kitchen sink, cabinets and
tables underneath
Reproductive Capacity 30 - 40 eggs/capsule
Life Cycle 100 days
Life Span 6 – 9 months
Able to Fly? No

5. COMMON DOMESTIC COCKROACH
Brown-banded cockroach (Supella longipalpa) is a small species
of cockroach.
 They need less moisture than the German cockroach, so
they tend to be more broadly distributed in the home, such
as in living rooms and bedrooms. They can often be found in
homes and apartments but are less common in restaurants.
They tend not to be found in the daytime, since they avoid
light. Generally preferred warmer temperatures and
surviving dryer conditions than German cockroaches.
Appearance
tan to light brown and has two light-colored bands
across the wings and abdomen.
Size 10 – 14 mm
Habitat
broadly distributed in the home, such as in living
rooms and bedrooms
Reproductive
Capacity
18 eggs/capsule
Life Cycle 100 days
Life Span 6 – 9 months
Able to Fly? Yes male
Oriental cockroach (Blatta orientalis), also known as the
waterbug (as they live in damp areas) or black beetle (as their
bodies are mostly dark), is a large species of cockroach.
 The male has long wings, which cover three quarters of the
abdomen and are brown in color and has a narrower body.
Both are flightless.
 They quite often use plumbing pipework to move into and
within buildings. They tend to move indoors during the
cooler seasons.
 Like other cockroaches, the oriental cockroach will eat
almost anything, but it eats where it lives and is often found
feeding on garbage, sewage, or decaying organic matter.
Appearance
dark brown or black in color and has
a glossy body.
Size 18 – 29 mm
Habitat
cool, moist, dark habitats. sib-floors,
sewers, drains and other damp
areas.
Reproductive Capacity 16 eggs/capsule
Life Cycle 365 days
Life Span 6 months
Able to Fly? No

6. EFFECTIVE COCKROACH MANAGEMENT
Prevention / Exclusion / Sanitation - Generally pest came from outside (no excuses for crawling insect pest as cockroaches). Cockroaches may intrude
facilities via deficiency in exclusion and sanitation plus go along with materials brought inside facilities (say…packaging materials from other facilities).
 Cockroaches need food, water and shelter. Do not allow food particles to accumulate in areas accessible to cockroaches.
 Repair faulty plumbing and eliminate unnecessary sources of water.
 Reduce shelter for cockroaches; do not store unnecessary newspapers, boxes, rags and similar items that provide hiding places.
 Inspect incoming materials from other facilities before having it inside your facility. Thoroughly inspect grocery bags, food containers, laundry, furniture, and
appliances for adult and immature roaches, as well as for egg cases.
 Dark, humid and moist areas shall be always kept dry and of course clean and organized.
Monitoring / Detection - Cockroaches tend to concentrate in certain areas. Controls are more effective if they are targeted at these specific locations.
 Insect glue house (small, open-ended boxes) contain an attractant and an adhesive substance that retains the insects once they enter will be a monitoring
device.
 Traps/monitoring devices are most effective when placed against walls under sinks, in cabinets and in basement corners. If two nights pass without a
capture, move the trap to another likely area.
 These devices will locate infestations, determine when populations require additional treatment, and to confirm effectiveness of treatment measures. Traps
can be effective in catching the occasional invader, but they will not eliminate established colonies.
Management with Insecticides - insecticides include residual sprays, non-residual sprays, dusts and baits. Use a combination for effective chemical
roach control.
 All cockroach insecticide labels contain important instructions and precautions to ensure effectiveness and to protect the safety of humans and pets. Read,
understand, and follow all label instructions when applying any pesticide.

7. EFFECTIVE COCKROACH MANAGEMENT
 Residual insecticide sprays - leave a toxic deposit on surfaces and will kill cockroaches for a certain time period, usually two to four weeks.
Apply to cracks and crevices where cockroaches hide and areas where they walk in search of food. Avoid over-applications that puddle or
off. Various insecticides (bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, deltamethrin, permethrin, cypermethrin, prallethrin, and tetramethrin), under a variety of
commercial names, are available for residual treatments against cockroaches. Some products are available to homeowners, while others
limited to licensed pest management professionals. Residual insecticide treatments are generally effective.
 Non-residual insecticide sprays - eliminate cockroaches only on contact. They will not eliminate an infestation but are quite helpful when
used with residual treatments. Several short-lasting aerosol insecticides contain active ingredients like pyrethrins and pyrethrum. They
cockroaches and can flush the pests out of their hiding places and force them into areas treated with a residual insecticide. This flushing
action also is useful to determine whether cockroaches are present. Flushing agents, however, can drive cockroaches into previously un-
infested areas.
 Insecticide dusts - can penetrate cockroach hiding places that other insecticides will not reach. When applied to dry locations, they have a
longer useful life than residual sprays. Some dusts contain conventional insecticides, while others contain inorganic chemicals. Boric acid, as
an example, is a non-repellent, white, inorganic powder chemically derived from boron and water.
 Baits - The biggest improvement in cockroach control in recent years has been the development of effective bait products.
 The Insecticide baits are available in small plastic containers (bait stations) or as a dispensable gel. Baits are safe for the environment and
harmful to people or pets. Slow-acting baits often work best. Use baits that have abamectin, boric acid, fipronil, or hydramethylnon as their
active ingredient.
 Bait stations can be stuck to the walls, but change them often because after they are empty, roaches will hide in them.
 Gel baits are very effective and can be placed in wall voids and cracks and crevices where the bait stations won't fit. If the gel bait is eaten
dries up, it will need to be replaced. Be patient; most baits take several weeks to see results. Cockroaches will use the bait as a food source,
but you must eliminate other food sources as much as possible during the time you are baiting. Some roaches will eat the bait and be
poisoned; others will be poisoned when they eat the dead roach bodies or the droppings. Don't use pesticides or household cleaners near
where a bait has been applied, as their use may repel cockroaches away from the bait.
 Set the baits in "hot spots" close to where sticky traps have caught roaches, or where you have seen
B

8. EFFECTIVE COCKROACH MANAGEMENT
Professional Pest Control:
If the situation is severe or if you are unclear as to what to do, professional pest control services are
available. These companies employ trained pest management professionals and have access to
insecticides and equipment that are not available to private individuals. Choose a company that adopts
Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Take note you're not paying them just to spray & etc. modern pest
management provider hired because of their service protocols base on science and technology.
Cooperation and mutual understanding of the program will be the key to successful pest management
program.