The document discusses cockroaches, including that there are over 4,000 species with about 30 that live near humans. It provides details on some of the most common pest species, including their size, habitat, and life cycle. The document also discusses cockroach behavior and how they communicate, as well as different control methods for getting rid of cockroach infestations.

1. The Cockroach
Cockroaches (or simply quot;roachesquot;)
are insects of the order Blattaria. This
name derives from the Latin word for
quot;cockroachquot;, blatta.
There are about 4,000 species of
cockroach of which 30 species are
associated with human habitations
and about four species are well
known as pests.
Cockroaches live in a wide range of
environments around the world. Pest
species of cockroaches adapt readily
to a variety of environments, but
prefer warm conditions found within
buildings.
Among the best-
known pest
species are
the American The spines on the legs were earlier
cockroach considered to be sensory, but
which is about observations of their loco motion on
1.2 inches sand and wire meshes have
long, the demonstrated that they help in
German cockroach is about ½ inch locomotion on difficult terrain. The
long, the Asian cockroach also about structures have been used as
½ inch in length, and the Oriental inspiration for robotic legs.
cockroach is about 1 inch in length.
Tropical cockroaches are often much
bigger, and extinct cockroach
relatives were several times as large Cockroaches leave chemical trails in
as these. their feces as well as emitting
airborne pheromones for swarming
and mating. Other cockroaches will
follow these trails to discover sources
of food and water, and also discover

2. where other cockroaches are h iding. There are sprays, baits and bait
Thus, cockroaches can exhibit stations. Sprays work well for contact
emergent behavior, in which group or kill but they won't get rid of your
swarm behavior emerges from a cockroaches. Cockroaches will sense
simple set of individual interactions. the smells and go back into the wall
and cracks and crevices and stay
away from these sprays until they are
gone. Baits seem to work best. I've
Cockroaches are mainly nocturnal and been treating for German roaches for
will run away when exposed to light. about 15 years now and all the
A peculiar exception is the Asian sprays do is rid your home of these
cockroach, which is attracted to light. pests for a short period of time. Sure,
you're going to kill a few. I've cleaned
many homes of German roaches and
baits work best. You can call a
professional but be careful. Not all
companies are honest.
Comparison of the Three
Common Roaches
Roach Gerema Orient America If you do it yourself than here's what
n al n you can do: Go to your local
Size(m 12-15 25-30 28-43 hardware store, home center or even
m) Walgreen's and buy some Combat
Habitat Heated 20- Heated Roach Bait Gel. It usually comes in a
Building 29*C Building syringe or tube and apply this gel in
Nympha 1.5 to 3 6 to 4 to 15 all cracks and crevices in your home.
l Dev 12 All kitchen cabinets ( you don't have
Stage to empty your cabinets ). Just apply it
(months in tiny dots about the size of a BB
) and no larger than a pea. Apply it to
Life 6-9 1.5 1.5 all corners of your cabinets and
Span months years years anywhere else you see roaches.
Ability No No Yes
to Fly
Even boric acid works well. If you
have a heavy infestation open up all
your electrical switch plate covers and
apply in the wall through the switch
plate covers.
How to Rid of Cockroaches
Personal Experience

3. I remember visiting Dallas, Texas Taylor, T. quot;How to Get Rid of
during the summer of 1987. I was Cockroachesquot;. Infobreaks Solutions.
marching with a Drum and Bugle November 13, 2008
Corps called ‘The Cavaliers’. Drum <http://www.nomorecockroaches.com>.
and Bugle Corps is a marching unit,
similar to marching band. Drum Corps quot;Wikipedia-Cockroachquot;. November 13,
solely exist to compete ag ainst other 2008
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockroach
such units. These groups travel
>.
around the country, from coast to
coast, competing against each other.
quot;Do-It_Yourself Pest Controlquot;. Do It
The groups usually stay overnight Yourself Pest Control, Inc./Pro Pest
(when not traveling) at high schools, Products. November 13, 2008
on the gymnasium floor. <http://www.roachcontrol.com/>.
During my stay at Highland Park High
School, an affluent suburb of Dallas Day, Eric. quot;American Cockroachquot;. Virginia
at the time, we unloaded our Cooperative Extension: Knowledge for the
personal belongings in to the gym. Common Wealth; Virginia Polytechnic
When we arrived, the lights were Institute and State University; Virginia State
turned on and all we saw were University. November 13, 2008
LARGE bug like creatures running <http://www.ext.vt.edu/departments/ent
toward the walls of the gym! I had no omology/factsheets/amercock.html>.
idea what these creatures were until I
was informed by our director that the
gymnasium was infested with
cockroaches! Disgusting! Needless to
say, the hosting group found
classrooms and hallways not infested
for us to stay. My first and ONLY
experience with cockroach es!
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