American Cockroaches vs. German Cockroaches
Cockroaches are easily one of the most disgusting pests around your home. Even the more bug-tolerant individuals will often turn heads to cockroaches. Cockroaches bring a laundry list of issues that make them dangerous for human health. Unfortunately, Oregon residents are constantly roaming from home to home. Two of the most common species are the American and German cockroaches. These species present different physical and behavioral traits that are important to understand.
American Cockroaches vs German Cockroaches Physical Appearances
When identifying cockroaches in your home, judging a book by its cover is okay. They come in an oval shape with two antennae and six legs. American and German cockroaches have wings, but American roaches will fly. Both species vary significantly in physical appearance.
Size
The American cockroach is much more giant in size than the German cockroach. American roaches can range anywhere from 1 ¼ to 2 ⅛ inches. In contrast, German cockroaches will only grow to about ½ to ⅝ inch.
Color
The American cockroach will have a reddish-brown color with distinct markings near the back of the head. German cockroaches are typically light brown with faint parallel stripes running down their backs.
American Cockroaches vs German Cockroaches Behavior Traits
Both cockroaches are highly undesirable but typically present varying behavior traits.
German Cockroaches
These roaches are generally more reserved and prefer to live indoors. They are crafty at getting around, often catching rides from luggage, grocery bags, shipping containers, and packaging.
They prefer warm and humid environments and have a broad palette of various kinds of food sources. German cockroaches will eat just about anything that comes their way and provides some more form of nutrition.
American Cockroaches
The American cockroach prefers to live outside, but they are certainly not opposed to going inside. American cockroaches prefer to stay in warmer, humid, and darker environments which sewers often provide a suitable climate. Unlike the German cockroach that eats almost anything tasty, American roaches prefer fermenting material like fungi. They will eat crumbs found in between appliances and even food left in drains.
Life Cycle Of A Cockoach
Every species goes through the same three life stages: Egg, Nymph, and Adult. It does not matter whether it is American Cockroaches vs German Cockroaches; they share similar life cycles.
Egg
Cockroaches will typically lay ten to fifty eggs at one time that will hatch in fourteen to one hundred days. Wild cockroach populations are dangerous because they can apply several batches of eggs throughout one year.
Nymph
A cockroach will remain a nymph as they undergo several different molts. Each molt, they will shed their skin each time, growing larger until they reach adulthood. The nymphal stage will last for about one to three months.
Adult
After their final molt, cockroaches reach their final phase in life as adults. During this phase, they will begin to reproduce and grow their colony numbers. American cockroaches have about a year, whereas German roaches only live for five to seven years.
Common Hiding Places For Cockroaches
There are several places that both American Cockroaches vs German Cockroaches can hide in and outside a home. Some of those places consist of:
Kitchens – These are the most common places to find active cockroaches. They are attracted to food and grime, and the kitchen provides plenty of both.
Appliances – Under and behind appliances offer some of the best places for cockroaches to hide. Often pest professionals find major harborage points behind refrigerators, ovens, and dishwashers. The heat from the constantly running appliances makes it enticing for colonies to set up shop.
Pipes – It is not uncommon for cockroaches to crawl up plumbing lines to access the home. American roaches love living in sewers, making finding their way up plumbing lines more likely.
Gaps and Cracks – Cockroaches will harbor behind walls and squeeze in and out of any available opening. A half-inch gap in baseboards in kitchens is ideal for cockroach activity.
Prevention
Taking extra precautions to prevent no matter if it is American cockroaches vs German cockroaches will help reduce the likelihood of an infestation. Unfortunately, cockroaches can still find their way inside and begin to grow before ever realizing it. Here are a few helpful tips to prevent the chances of a cockroach infestation:
Inside
- Wipe away any crumbs lying around on the ground, countertops, or kitchens.
- Take the trash out and ensure no other garbage is lying around.
- Seal up gaps or cracks inside the home, specifically focusing on kitchens and bathrooms.
- Keep pet food and other dry food items in sealed containers.
Outside
- Regular maintenance will reduce places for cockroaches to hide among overgrown vegetation.
- Make sure trash cans have lids closed shut at all times.
- Trim bushes, plants, and trees away from the house.
- Move firewood piles at least one hundred feet away from home.
- Empty pet food bowls at night.
- A quarterly pest control program will greatly wipe away cockroaches and other pest activity!
Stop American Cockroaches vs German Cockroaches Activity
At first sight of cockroach activity around your home, contact Prime Pest Solutions. American cockroaches vs German cockroaches both have aggressive breeding cycles, making your home prone to entire infestations. Getting rid of cockroaches can be an uphill battle that you should not face alone. Our team will use highly targeted techniques to slowly kill off the whole colony and ensure they stay gone!
