Plant City Pest Control: All you need to know about the Asian Roach
Even if a bomb falls, Asian Roaches will prowl Florida streets, like armored cars, unless controlled by Plant City Pest Control services.
The Asian cockroach or Asian roach is relatively new to the United States. They were first identified in the mid-80s when a heavy infestation was found in Plant City, Florida. Today, their infestation has spread into the southeastern United States. Although Asian roaches look almost identical to German roaches, their behavior is distinctly different. Like German roaches, Asian roaches are also a common sight in Florida. These strong fliers are abundant in outdoor and also invade indoors. They are very hard to get rid of. Calling Plant City Pest Control can help systematic eradication.
Identification
The Asian cockroaches appear almost similar to German cockroaches. On close inspection, it can be observed that the abdomen of the Asian roaches is white and that of the German roaches are colored. Unlike the German roaches, the Asian roaches have narrow and long wings that extend beyond their body. It helps them to fly better than the German roaches. The egg cases of the Asian roaches do not protrude far like that of the German roaches. They have six legs and have an oval shape. The antennas protrude sideways. On microscopic examination, you will find that the 8th segment of the abdomen of the Asian roaches is different from that of the German roaches. One must look for their behavior, rather than the look while identifying Asian cockroaches. Consulting Plant City Pest Control can also help to identify them.
Reproduction and lifecycle
Asian Cockroaches are oviparous. It means that the eggs develop outside the body of the mother. They are most fertile during the period from February to May and August to September. These are seasonal. You may see a large number of adults in the late summer and spring. Like other cockroach species, they also go through three stages of development; eggs, nymphs, and adults.
- Eggs: On average, a female Asian roach lays approximately 4 oothecae or egg cases during its lifetime. Each of these cases contains 35 to 40 eggs. It carries the egg sack until the time of hatching and drops it in a secure place. The first ootheca is produced around 13 days after it becomes an adult and it takes around 19 days to hatch. However, this may vary depending on the environmental condition.
- Nymphs: Just after hatching the nymphs are white. They pass through several molting stages and gradually turn to dark brown and their skin also hardens. While the female nymphs take a little longer than the male nymphs to become adult, they take 67 days to reach adulthood on average.
- Adults: The nymphs emerge as adult Asian roaches after the final molting and become sexually active. The female Asian roaches have a longer lifespan than males. The average lifespan of adult females is around 104 days and that of the males is around 49 days.
Habitat
The Asian roaches are not native to the USA. It is believed that these traveled from Japan on boats importing goods. They are now also found in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Texas besides Florida. Asian roaches are primarily outdoor insects. They prefer to live in shaded areas with leaf litters, near mulch, compost, and dense grass. These roaches live in a heavily-dense population and can multiply very fast once they settle indoor.
Food habits
Asian cockroaches are omnivorous like their cousins and have similar food habits. They live on eating human food, pet food, garbage, agricultural corps, decomposed organic matters & wastes, and other unpleasant things.
Do they fly?
Asian cockroaches have strong wings and can fly more than 100 feet at a time, especially when they are disturbed. The activities of these nocturnal insects increase as the sun sets down and they are attracted to bright lights. As such, they fly into well-lit homes through open windows and doors. They are mostly seen sitting on the TV screen and light sources. It also helps to separate them from German roaches that are not attracted to lights.
Threats and dangers
As Asian cockroaches eat anything and everything, they feast on the garbage and all sorts of decomposed organic matters. It makes them a great carrier of bacteria and pathogens. These can contaminate cooking pots, utensils, and foods. Their body secretion also changes the taste and flavor of foods. The most frightening aspect of American cockroaches is their ability to fly. They can fly from one room to other making the entire home vulnerable. These can also cause an allergic infestation.
Getting rid of Asian roaches
Asian roaches are strong fliers and can spread across large areas. It makes them exceptionally tricky to control and get rid of. They are attracted by lights, especially the brighter ones. Moreover, these do not enter the house any specific pathway that can be blocked.
The first and foremost thing for preventing Asian roaches is to keep the area around the house clean and tidy. One must remove the damp piles of leaves and keep the grass short. It will make the place unattractive to them.
Additionally, the inside of the house must also be kept clean. The no dirty dishes and food crumbs are great food sources for the Asian roaches. Those should be removed. So wash them and also wipe the kitchen counter clean. Further, the garbage should be disposed of regularly and storage should also be organized for preventing Asian roach infestation.
In case you have found Asian cockroaches around the home, it is always best to take the help of the Plant City Pest Control services. They have the knowledge and skill to assess the situation and can implement the best eradication plan.
Conclusion
Asian cockroaches are primarily outdoor pests living in grassy areas and gardens. They sometimes fly into the homes. These unwelcome pests can grow into a huge population and is hard to control once they become the primary pest. Only professional help from Plant City Pest Control services can keep those away from your home.