WOOD COCKROACHES VS GERMAN COCKROACHES

Upon the first sighting of what you determine to be a cockroach, panic settles in. “Do I have an infestation?” you wonder. Visions of a hoard of large brown bugs infesting your home plagues your thoughts, and are enough to give anyone nightmares, but let’s pause the panic for a minute. Do you know what kind of a cockroach is in your home? This step is essential in determining whether you may have an infestation or not.

While wood cockroaches and german cockroaches are generally grouped into the same category, they are different in terms of destruction and prevalence in a home.

Wood cockroaches, are common outdoor/indoor dwelling insects native to North America and found throughout Ontario. Their normal habitat is moist woodland areas but they frequently become a household/cottage nuisance pest in Ontario Cottage Country, particular around Georgian Bay, Muskoka, Lake of bays, and anywhere in Ontario cottage country.

The German cockroach is one of the most common and prominent cockroaches in the world. These insects are commonly associated with restaurants, food processing facilities, hotels, nursing homes, apartment buildings, residential homes, and well just about anywhere.

Identification

Wood Cockroach

Wood cockroaches are very similar in appearance to the common household cockroach called the American roach; flat, oval body, long antennae, spiny legs, chestnut brown color. However, wood roaches are slightly smaller, about 3/4 to 1 1/4 inch long, and the adults, especially the males, appear tan because of the colour of their wings. Adults and large nymphs of the wood roach can be recognized by a pale, creamy white or transparent stripe on the outer edge on the thorax. The pale edge extends onto the first 1/3 of the front wings of the adults. Positive identification of small nymphs is more difficult and usually requires microscopic examination.

German Cockroach

The German cockroach is a small species of cockroach, measuring about 1.3 cm (0.51 in) to 1.6 cm (0.63 in) long; however, they are known to get slightly bigger. It can be tan through brown to almost black, and has two dark parallel streaks running from the head to the base of the wings. Although it has wings, it is unable to sustain flight.

Prevalence

Wood Cockroach

Wood roaches are not secretive; like their cousins and they are active both during the day and at night and they are less likely to scamper out of sight when approached. Also, they will wander about the house without congregating in any particular location.

The males are attracted to lights at night and limiting porch light use in late May through July when males are flying might be of some benefit. Outdoor and Indoor treatments around windows and doors and along the foundation and proper crack and crevice treatments inside will help in reducing wood roach numbers. Some baits have proven to be successful in some situations.

German Cockroach

The German cockroach is very successful at establishing an ecological niche in buildings. It is very hardy and can be resilient and difficult to control. This is because of the large number of nymphs produced from each egg case, the short period between birth and sexual maturity, and their ability to easily hide due to their small size. This cockroach is also smaller than many other species so it can more easily hide and fit into very small cracks and crevices to evade humans.

This cockroach can be seen in the day occasionally, especially if there is a large population or if they have been disturbed. However, sightings are most commonly reported in the evening hours as they are most active at night. This type of cockroach can emit an unpleasant odor when excited or frightened.