Cockroaches are one of the most unpleasant, difficult to remove and even dangerous types of pests that can enter a home. Find out what types of cockroaches are most common in the apartment and the characteristic behavior of each of them. This will help to timely detect the threat of infection and its further spread in residential premises.
How to understand that there are cockroaches in the apartment
With all the richness of species diversity, all representatives of cockroaches are characterized by several features, the most striking of which is the need for water. Therefore, it is not difficult to detect traces of pests in the apartment:
- Check-in occurs first from the kitchen and bathroom - these are the places you inspect first.
- Signs of the presence of cockroaches are traces of their vital activity: accumulations of black dots (excrement) in places where insects often stay, empty oothecae - translucent oblong capsules of eggs, fragments of wings and shells shed during molting.
- When the light suddenly turns on, the insects scatter - although all varieties of cockroaches are not afraid of lighting, they feel uncomfortable in the light.
- If the apartment is heavily infested, a specific smell begins to appear.
Since insects lead a secretive lifestyle and gravitate towards water, their favorite habitats are the following areas: under the sink, behind and under the refrigerator, in the recesses of wall cabinets and drawers of kitchen furniture, inside kitchen appliances.
Other household pests
Bugs, like all creatures, have their rightful place on this earth. But no one wants this place in our house. But, whatever one may say, insects make their way into our homes.
Dust mites
As annoying as it may be, there are dust mites in every home. Because they feed on dead skin cells, dust mites can thrive on any fuzzy surface that might contain tasty particles, be it carpet, upholstery, bedding or children's toys. While you can't completely eliminate mites, you can reduce their numbers by practicing regular cleaning practices.
Wash bedding in hot water at least once a week, and vacuum carpets and furniture regularly. To remove dust mites from stuffed animals or items you don't want to wash, place them in the freezer. Seal the items in a ziplock bag and place the bag in the freezer for at least 48 hours—dust mites will not survive a deep freeze.
Weevils
These insects typically enter your home from the grocery store. Adult weevils take up residence in rice and other grains to lay eggs, so you may not know you brought pests home until they hatch and are crawling all over your pantry!
The fastest cure for infection? Get rid of any unsealed dry foods, including flour, cornmeal, oats, rice, pasta and packaged foods that come in pre-opened bags. Then discard anything unpacked as soup mixes or gelatin. Even if weevils don't eat these foods, they may enter drawers to hide, only to emerge later to contaminate your food. After you've thrown away the infested food, clean out your pantry shelves and spray the entire area with insecticide. Once the liquid has time to dry, you can replenish the supply.
centipedes
They can be classified as beneficial insects. They don't destroy your home or pollute your pantry, but instead feed on bad bugs like termites, moths, and cockroaches. But if you just don't like coexisting with these multi-legged neighbors, trap them or spray insecticide around baseboards, doors and windows. In the meantime, prevent future infestations by sealing cracks and crevices where they might enter the home. Millipedes thrive in moist environments, so you may also want to invest in a dehumidifier.
Fruit midges
It's amazing how quickly a fruit fly infestation can get out of control. You might notice one fly buzzing around your fruit in the morning and then come home from work to see half a dozen more. It's not your imagination; These flies are multiplying - and fast! Fruit fly larvae hatch within 24 hours of laying eggs, so you will need to act quickly to get rid of them.
Place the fruit in the refrigerator. Also, immediately wipe down cutting boards and counters after preparing food and throw away trash daily. If, despite these preventive measures, you notice a few fruit flies, create a simple trap by filling a small glass halfway with apple cider vinegar. Then add a tablespoon of dishwashing liquid and leave the glass. The flies will fly into the glass, but will not fly out.
Why are cockroaches dangerous?
Like any insects that feed on waste, representatives of the cockroach order carry an increased threat of transmitting pathogens. According to WHO statistics, they rank second after flies in terms of the risk of infection:
- tuberculosis;
- salmonellosis;
- diphtheria;
- helminthiasis;
- infectious hepatitis, etc.
All types of cockroaches molt, and the products of their molt, according to scientists, are one of the reasons for the development of allergies. Insects spoil and contaminate food, and their very rustling and presence in the apartment is already a cause of psychological discomfort.
Insect bites
Cockroaches bite when they lack food or water. Obviously, bites are not a manifestation of wild aggression, but only a way to replenish missing nutrition and survive. The following areas of the body are most affected:
- elbow and knee bends, eyelids, lips (bite off particles of skin);
- skin near the eyes and lips (they bite women and children during sleep);
- skin in the nasolabial fold.
Let us remind you that a cockroach bite is disgusting, disgusting and dangerous. The area where the skin is damaged may become inflamed. Sometimes an infection carried by parasites can get into the wound. Pests sometimes bite off eyelashes and eyebrows in children's sleep. Injures existing skin lesions.
Cockroaches can feed on sweat, secretions of the sebaceous glands, saliva and feces. It's safe to say: cockroach bites are quite dangerous. Damaged areas almost always swell and become inflamed.
There is an opinion that there is a species of cockroaches that feed on eyelashes. In practice, almost all members of the family can eat the hair of the human body.
The most common types of cockroaches in the apartment
Despite the species diversity, only 2 species are widespread in the post-Soviet space.
Red cockroaches
The second name of this species is Prussians. Most often found in city apartments: the body length of an adult (imago) is 10-17 mm, color from light red to dark brown. Adults live 5-6 months, experiencing 6 moults before this. One female is capable of laying 200-300 eggs during her life cycle, and for this she only needs to mate once.
The nymph (larva) emerging from the egg is light-colored, but as it matures it darkens. In an insect colony, only 25% are adults, the rest are in the nymphal stage.
Black cockroaches
As for the black variety of cockroaches, they are better suited for living in their natural environment. As a rule, they are found in private houses: under the floor, porch, in wall voids. If they settle in cities, they live in storm drains and sewers, semi-basements and basements, and when cold weather sets in, they penetrate into apartments.
They differ from red ones in color (from red-brown to black) and in size: males - 25 mm, females - up to 32 mm. When entering a dwelling, they run only on a horizontal surface. Like red cockroaches, they spoil food and are carriers of diseases.
General characteristics of the squad
Cockroaches in lat. Blattoptcra, or Blattodea. They belong to the order Cockroach-like, cockroach family of insects. Genus – Polyphaga. Species differ from each other in body size, appearance, behavior, but the structure is the same for all. What does a cockroach look like:
- The body is elongated, oval, flat. Length from 1.7 cm to 10 cm.
- The head is heart-shaped or triangular.
- The mouthparts are gnawing. Well developed jaws.
- Large black eyes.
- The foreback is powerful, large with transparent wings.
- The elytra are hard and dense. In some species they are shortened or absent altogether.
- Legs running, shins with spikes.
- The abdomen is flat, elongated. At the end are the genitals. Modern species have a hidden ovipositor. A pregnant female can be recognized by the presence of an ooteca - a capsule at the end of the body.
A photo of a cockroach is presented below.
Least common types of cockroaches
Actually, there are more than 4.5 thousand species of cockroaches in nature, but only a few, in addition to the ones mentioned above, are rarely found near humans.
Egyptian cockroach
Despite the name, this species lives in the south of Kazakhstan, Central Asia, the Caucasus and Crimea. Males have wings and a body length of up to 25 mm, females are wingless and resemble small turtles (up to 45 mm). They are carriers of dangerous viruses and causative agents of allergic diseases.
American periplanet
If we consider all types of cockroaches living near humans, this species has the largest size (up to 50 mm) and color from brownish-red to chocolate brown. The main difference is that they can fly. They feed on organic residues, recently even switching to paper, shoes, soap, book bindings, etc.
Turkestan cockroach
Individuals of this species are very rare. They reach a length of 20-25 mm. Habitat: Central Asia and adjacent regions.
turtle cockroach
The turtle lives in arid regions of the planet: Africa, Central Asia, and southwestern North America. Females are much larger than males (up to 40 mm) and resemble woodlice in appearance - the body is divided into segments. In summer cottages they hide under boards, slate, and bricks. May pose a risk of contamination of meat when eaten by pets.
Lifespan
You may remember the joke that cockroaches existed before dinosaurs and outlived them by many thousands of years. This joke is only part of a joke, and the rest, alas, is true. The remains of cockroaches are, along with the remains of cockroaches, the most numerous traces of insects in Paleozoic deposits. Cockroaches adapt very well to changing conditions. They only need water and food to live.
Life expectancy is determined by the availability of food. Different types of cockroaches live their lives. Prussians can survive without food for up to a month, and blacks - up to 70 days. In conditions of food shortage, cannibalism is common among them. And sometimes cockroaches can bite people.
It might surprise you, but these creatures can live with their heads missing! The experiments carried out are stunning: an insect deprived of a head will live for several more weeks. This is explained by the structural features. They breathe over the entire surface of their body. The nervous system, scattered throughout the body, retains basic reflexes. However, a headless creature will practically lose orientation in the world around it and will not be able to remember and learn.
Cockroach control company "Sandez-Eco" in Ivanovo
The discovery of even 1-2 cockroaches or traces of their presence in an apartment carries the threat of the spread of pests and the colonization of residential premises by numerous colonies.
The rapid growth in numbers, secretive lifestyle and the ability to enter any room through communication passages make all types of cockroaches in the apartment practically indestructible. But only for home methods.
By contacting a professional SES service, you will solve the problem quickly and efficiently. After all, here you will be offered:
- modern methods of destruction;
- the latest drugs;
- experienced specialists;
- special equipment.
In Ivanovo, such services (and not only) are provided: more than 7 years on the market, low prices, conclusion of a contract, guarantee. Call us and our specialist will advise you completely free of charge.
Why are cockroaches so tenacious?
How did these arthropods from the class of insects known to us simply as cockroaches spread so widely? Cockroach species are distinguished by their diversity, ability to adapt to the environment, and are unpretentious in food. Also, all types of cockroaches reproduce quite quickly. There are a number of other factors that contribute to survival:
- They quickly hide, thanks to their ability to crawl into any cracks.
- The structure of the legs is equipped with suction cups, with the help of which the insect quickly moves over different surfaces.
- Activity at night, which allows you to rarely meet a person.
Features of fighting methods
Large and small cockroaches.
It is necessary to combat even the smallest insects, because they will grow up and breed.
But the good news is that they have a thinner shell and weaker protection, so it’s easier to nail them, and the drugs penetrate more actively.
Even if the small cockroaches quickly disappear, you need to repeat the treatment procedure after 2 weeks. They can slow down their life activity and simply move to more distant places for a while. Without food, with enough moisture, mustachioed pests can live for about a month.
The remaining methods of control are identical to those used to clear the premises of adult individuals.
American variety
Overseas brother of black and red insects. He himself comes from Africa, from where he came to the United States with containers of food. According to its characteristics, it is somewhat reminiscent of a Prussian, but differs in a flatter body and high speed of movement.
Under natural conditions, these insects live in the tropical forests of hot Africa, however, they have perfectly adapted to the conditions of human dwellings. They exhibit a high degree of aggressiveness. They can bite domestic animals and sleeping people.
In Russia, this type of insect is not very common.
