INCORPORATED

1987

ACCREDITED
APCA Members are required to possess TAFE or APCA Pest Control Certificate and extensive field work experience in the pest control service industry


 
Australian Pest Control Association
 
APCA Pest Control Certificate course details
 

 

Week 2 - Day 8 - Cockroaches


ESSENTIAL READING BEFORE COMMENCEMENT OF COURSE:


Urban Pest Management in Australia: 2004 Edition, UNSW Press, Sydney

by J Gerozisis and P Hadlington - Chapter 11 - Pages 104 to 113.

Chapter 11 – Household Pests -cockroaches - structure - life cycle - habits - omnivorous feeding habit - nocturnal behaviour - thigmotactic behaviour - gregarious behaviour - grooming behaviour - why cockroaches are considered pests - contamination - annoyance or fear reaction - odour - allergic reactions - bites - disease transmission - important pest cockroaches - german cockroach - American cockroach - smokybrown cockroach - Australian cockroach - brownbanded cockroach - oriental cockroach - cockroach control - inspection survey - non-chemical methods of prevention and control - chemical control - surface sprays - space sprays - dusts - baits and traps - control by natural enemies


Pest Status
The pest status of cockroaches mainly stems from their loathsome appearance; their speed and unpredictable movement; their frequent presence in large numbers; their characteristic odour and their habit of contaminating food and surfaces with their droppings and regurgitation marks.  There is also strong evidence to suggest that they are potential carriers of disease.  Above all, they are often found in areas of poor hygiene thus adding to their image of being completely undesirable.  To many people, their presence can be a source of considerable emotional stress.


Scientific Names

German Cockroach                                         Blattella germanica

American Cockroach                             Periplaneta americana

Smoky Brown Cockroach                             Periplaneta fuliginosa

Australian Cockroach                             Periplaneta australasiae

Oriental Cockroach                                         Blatta orientalis

Brown - Banded Cockroach                 Supella longipalpa


Identification Techniques

German Cockroach                                         Blattella germanica

Adults

Light tan to medium brown in colour, measuring 10-5 mm in length.  The wings cover the entire abdomen of the female and all except the abdominal tip in males.  There are distinct dark parallel bands running the length of the pronotum separated by a lighter stripe.  Females are stouter and often darker than the males.

Nymphs

These resemble the adults in general shape but lack wings.  They are generally darker in colour with a single light stripe running about halfway down the back.

American Cockroach                             Periplaneta americana

Adults
Reddish to chocolate brown in colour except for a tan or light yellow band on the pronotum.  It measures 30 - 45 mm in length.  The wings are fully developed in the adults of both sexes, extending slightly beyond the abdomen in males but are approximately as long as the abdomen in females.  Females are slightly stouter than males.
Nymphs
The first five nymphal stages are almost uniformly pale brown but the sixth develops paler patches on the pronotum.  Wing pads appear in the third or fourth instar.

Smoky Brown Cockroach                             Periplaneta fuliginosa

Adults
Entirely shining brownish-black in colour, it measures 30-35 mm in length.  Wings are fully developed in both sexes.  Females have stouter abdomens.

Nymphs
Older nymphs are usually uniformly very dark but young nymphs have whitish markings on the back behind the head.  The antennae have white tips.

Australian Cockroach                             Periplaneta australasiae

Adults
Generally slightly smaller (30-35 mm in length) than the American cockroach, it is reddish - brown in colour with a pale ring around the pronotum and a pale yellow stripe on the lateral margins of each forewing.  Wings are fully developed in both species and extend slightly beyond the tip of the abdomen.  The female is slightly stouter.

Nymphs
These are dark brown in colour with yellow spots on the thorax and abdomen.

Oriental Cockroach                                         Blatta orientalis

Adults

Adults are shiny, dark brown to black in colour and vary in 16 length from 20 to 24 mm.  The wings of the female are greatly reduced whereas the wings of the male cover about 2/3 of the abdomen.  The female is slightly stouter than the male.  Both adults and young lack an arolium (foot pad) between the claws thus preventing them from climbing.

Nymphs
These are similar to the adult in general shape but tend to be darker in colour.

Brown - Banded Cockroach                 Supella longipalpa

Adults
Similar in size (15-20 mm long) to the German cockroach, (male 13-15mm long, female 10-12mm long) it is readily distinguishable by the two bands of light yellow or cream across the back.  These bands are obscured by the wings in the adult.  The adult male is slender in appearance with its wings extending beyond the tip of the abdomen while the female has shorter wings, which expose a considerable portion of the broad abdomen.

Nymphs
These generally resemble the adults but the light coloured bands on the back are more distinct.


Reproduction Capacity

GERMAN COCKROACH


Number of oothecae produced by female

4 - 8

Incubation period of ootheca

17 days (av)

No. of eggs per ootheca

30 - 40

Period of nymphal development

40 days (av)

Adult life span

125 - 200 days

AMERICAN COCKROACH


Number of oothecae produced by female

15-70

Incubation period of ootheca

25-60 days

No. of eggs per ootheca

12-28

Period of nymphal development

150-830 days

Adult life span

females 90-700 days

 

males    90-360 days

SMOKEY BROWN COCKROACH


Number of oothecae produced by female

17 (av)

Incubation period of ootheca

35-70 days

No. of eggs per ootheca

22-26

Period of nymphal development

180-440 days

Adult life span

160-300 days

AUSTRALIAN COCKROACH


Number of oothecae produced by female

12-15

Incubation period of ootheca

40 days (av)

No. of eggs per ootheca

24-28

Period of nymphal development

200 days (av)

Adult life span

240 days (av)

ORIENTAL COCKROACH


Number of oothecae produced by female

5-10

Incubation period of ootheca

40-80 days

No. of eggs per ootheca

12-18

Period of nymphal development

males    165 days (av)
females 280 days (av)

Adult life span

60-275 days

BROWN-BANDED COCKROACH


No. of oothecae produced by female

5-18

Incubation period of ootheca

40 days (av)

No. of eggs per ootheca

16-18

Period of nymphal development

50-275 days

Adult life span

90-300 days


Common Breeding Sites

German Cockroach                                         Blattella germanica
German cockroaches require warmth, moisture and food and may be found wherever these conditions are met.  Common areas of infestation include kitchens, pantries, laundries and food processing plants.
Nymphs and adults have similar habits and are usually well concealed during the day except when populations are large, in which case all available harbourages may be occupied.  They prefer to rest on wood rather than metal surfaces.
They are general feeders but seem to prefer fermented foods.  Soft drink syrups are highly favoured.  If adults have water, they can survive for about a month without food but without food or water, they die in less than two weeks.

American Cockroach                             Periplaneta americana

The American cockroach prefers warm, moist dark areas.  The upper limit of preferred temperature is 33 C. In warm areas they are abundant in dumps, outbuildings, woodpiles and living on palm trees.  Adults have well developed wings but seldom fly.  They may glide considerable distances if they take off from a tree or rooftop. Indoors, these cockroaches may be found in restaurants, bakeries, abattoirs and all premises where food is prepared or stored.  In homes, they may be found in sub-floor areas and roof voids.  In addition, they are a very common pest of steam ducts, sewer manholes, latrines and sumps.  They were once common in ships but this role has been largely usurped by German cockroaches. American cockroaches will feed on a wide variety of foods but they seem to prefer decaying organic matter.  They will also feed upon book bindings, manuscripts, clothing and glossy paper with starch sizing.  Syrups and other sweet materials are also favoured.  Adults can survive two or three months without food but only a month without water.

Smoky Brown Cockroach                             Periplaneta fuliginosa
This species is similar in requirements to the American cockroach and may be found infesting the same areas.  It may be found in homes, garages, schools, restaurants and food manufacturing areas. It is an excellent flier and may be found on roofs and in gutters associated with bird droppings.  Reports indicate that it will feed quite readily on bird droppings but its natural food material is vegetable or plant matter.

Australian Cockroach                             Periplaneta australasiae
This species prefers warm climates as evidenced by its distribution in Australia.  Indoors, its habitats are similar to American cockroaches and it may be found coexisting with them. Outdoors, it may be located under the bark of trees, under log piles and in other areas with moist, decaying vegetation.  It can be a pest in greenhouses.

Oriental Cockroach                                         Blatta orientalis
Nymphs and adults have similar habits.  Due to their preference for cooler temperatures, they may be found outdoors and in unheated buildings.  They may live in yards, in garbage dumps, in flowerbeds and on the outside wall of buildings. Indoors, they may be found in the lower levels of buildings where it is cooler.  They may infest drainpipes and sewers or live inside cavity walls.  They are seldom found in upper levels of buildings probably because of their inability to climb or fly. They will feed upon all kinds of refuse and decaying organic matter, being especially fond of garbage and the contents of discarded tin cans.  They can live for a month without food if they have access to water but die within two weeks without water.

Brown - Banded Cockroach                 Supella longipalpa

Unlike the German cockroach, this species spreads throughout infested premises.  It prefers high locations - on ceilings, high on walls and behind picture frames.  They prefer temperatures of 27 C or higher and do not require as much moisture as German cockroaches.  They dislike light and are not normally seen during the day.  They are fair fliers. Their preferred foods seem to be starchy materials such as sizing and wallpaper paste.  Adults will die within two weeks without food and water.


Chemical Controls

Inspect area thoroughly for harbourages especially situations of warmth close to sources of food and moisture eg. Refrigerator motors, hot water services and dishwashers.  Look for live or dead insects, cast nymphal skins, egg cases, droppings, regurgitation marks and the characteristic cockroach odour.  Avoid the use of flushing agents at this stage as this may cause the cockroaches to disperse without picking up a lethal dose of insecticide.

HEAVY INFESTATIONS

Using a crack and crevice needle with a low-pressure treat all areas of actual or potential infestation with an approved residual - a wettable powder or suspension concentrate for porous or semi-porous surfaces; an emulsion concentrate can be used for non-porous surfaces.  Areas that should be treated with a liquid spray include all cracks and crevices, behind sinks, cupboard drawers (both sides of shelving), cracks in skirting boards, behind broken wall tiles, behind dishwashers, under and behind laundry tubs or similar areas.  Apply chemicals to point of "run-off" but do not over spray.  This form of treatment ensures that chemical is deposited in the cockroach harbourages and is the most effective control method devised.

            Never use liquids around electrical apparatus.

With a rubber bulb powder blower, apply a light coating of dust to all electrical apparatus eg. Refrigerator motors, around gaps and pipes in hot water services, freezer motors and switch boxes.  Take care not to apply to condenser coils or refrigeration equipment.  Washing machine motors, dishwashers and neon lights may sometimes need treatment.  Do not apply dust heavily as the cockroaches will avoid it.  Do not apply it where it can be blown onto foodstuffs, food preparation surfaces or cooking utensils.  Do not apply it in areas, which become wet.  Cockroach  gel baits may be used instead of dust in these locations.  Ensure they are not contaminated with insecticides.

For Periplaneta spp. - dust roof void with Arimitsu blower or pressurised equipment.  The sub-floor area can be treated with liquid spray or with insecticidal dust.  Be aware of possible infestations in sub-floor or in wall cavities.

 

Wherever possible with heavy infestations, provision should be made for one or service calls, preferably at approximately fortnightly intervals, where all areas should be reinspected and the appropriate treatment carried out.

Suggest improved sanitation and proofing measures to the client where applicable

IPM Non-chemical Methods

  • Inspect all incoming stock
  • Seal cracks and crevices
  • Segregate new stock from old
  • Place wire mesh over drains
  • Keep tight lids on garbage bins
  • Keep lids on al food containers

Useful Website Links
http://www.ipminstitute.org/school_biblio_buildings.htm#Cockroach

 

APCA is an independently incorporated association - since 1987