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German Cockroaches

German Cockroaches

The German cockroach, or Croton bug (Blattella germanica), is a small species measuring about 1.3 cm (0.51 in) to 1.6 cm (0.63 in) in length. Its coloration ranges from tan to almost black, featuring two dark parallel streaks running from the head to the base of the wings. Although equipped with wings, it is unable to sustain flight. This species is among the most common household cockroaches globally, inhabiting many human settlements.

Identification

German cockroaches are brown with two longitudinal stripes running down the thorax and measure between 1/2 to 5/8 inches in length.

Environment

These cockroaches thrive in heated human structures and are usually found in kitchens, hiding behind and under appliances, in cracks and crevices behind backsplashes, at counter edges, behind and under cabinets, in void areas around plumbing, and the backs of drawer wells. They often infest warm areas around appliance motors such as refrigerators and dishwashers.

Threats

German cockroaches can invade homes, leaving fecal matter and other debris in and around food and food preparation areas. They may enter homes through shipped boxes or products. Reproducing at a high rate, they complete a life cycle in 30 to 45 days, producing 30-48 eggs at a time, and can generate 3 to 4 egg cases in a lifetime.

Treatment

Eradicating German cockroaches is challenging due to their widespread infestation areas and difficulty in contacting them with insecticides. Common treatments inside homes include baits, sprays, or aerosol products, with baits being preferred. Roaches ingest the bait and disperse it back into their refuge sites, causing secondary and even tertiary killing effects as other roaches cannibalize the deceased. Sprays are applied to surfaces that roaches traverse or into harborage areas. Insect growth regulators (IGRs) reduce or eliminate egg production and cause mortality in immature forms of the German cockroach.