Cockroaches are a common household pest. They are a type of insect belonging to the order Blattodea, a group of insects that includes termites and mantids. They have a flattened body with long, thin antennae and six legs. Cockroaches are omnivores and feed on anything, from plants to other insects to human food. Cockroaches can be found in every continent except Antarctica because they can survive in any environment as long as there is a food source available.
Nobody wants to find a cockroach infestation in their home and a good reason is that cockroaches aren’t the easiest pests to eliminate. It doesn’t help that cockroaches are quite unsanitary.
Knowing how to identify different types of cockroaches may be more important than you realise. While some species are similar, there are significant distinctions between them in terms of appearance, habitat, life cycle, and food. Identifying the cockroach type will definitely help for a more efficient pest control treatment.
The six most common cockroaches in Australia are listed below, along with some of their most distinct characteristics.
Australian Cockroach (Periplaneta australasiae)
The Australian cockroach is a reddish brown cockroach with a yellow stripe across its head, which is why it is sometimes mistaken for an American cockroach. The Australian cockroach, however, is significantly smaller, measuring 23-35 mm in length.
This cockroach prefers to spend days hidden in dark corners, under doors, and cracks and crevices. It enjoys damp, moist environments, such as the perimeter of your home or areas with access to water. Females can generate 12-30 egg capsules between adulthood and death, and egg casings can contain up to 24 eggs. After 12 months, Australian roaches reach maturity and die after eight months.
Australian roaches can be found in areas indoors that are close to food and water, such as sinks, bathtubs, cabinets, drains, and water pipes. The Australian roach enjoys rotting plants and vegetables and starchy materials like book bindings.
Oriental Cockroach (Blatta orientalis)
The Oriental cockroach is around 20-25 mm long. It is also called the “black beetle” because of its dark brown colouration. Males are smaller and have enormous wings that cover much of their body, whereas females are up to 5 mm larger and have no wings.
Oriental roaches can be found in many wet habitats, including drains, beneath patios and porches, and commercial building basements. Because of the abundant supply of water, they are frequently discovered in and around your pipes and drains. They are extremely adaptable and can also thrive in a natural, cool environment.
Female oriental cockroaches produce 16 eggs in every egg casing that take about two months to hatch. Adults live for six months on average. The existence of wings in males and wing stubs in females distinguishes them during the nymphal stages.
Oriental roaches eat trash and leaf litter. They’ll eat practically anything, even rotting organic stuff and garbage. This is the reason they are also known as dumpster divers.
German Cockroach (Blatella germanica)
A German cockroach can be identified by two darkly coloured stripes around its head. They are notably smaller and faster than the other cockroaches on this list, barely reaching a length of 13-16 mm.
The German cockroach prefers to live indoors in dark, damp environments such as kitchen and bathroom drains, crevices, and air ducts. Because they are food scavengers, they are frequently found in places where food is stored, such as cupboards.
The German cockroach has three life stages: egg, nymph, and adult. Female German roaches carry their egg casings around for 30 days until the 35-40 eggs within are ready to hatch. Their complete life cycle lasts about 100 days and they can produce three to four generations every year.
These cockroaches are omnivorous scavengers. Meats, carbohydrates, sweets, and fatty foods are particularly appealing to them. They may consume household products such as soap, glue, and toothpaste when food is scarce. In addition, they can go without food or water for long periods of time.
American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana)
American cockroaches are the largest prevalent pest species, measuring 35-40 mm in length. Because they were first discovered in Florida, they are also known as the “palmetto bug.” They are reddish-brown with a pale yellow line around the upper thorax and pale legs. Males can be identified from females because their wings extend past the tip of the abdomen. American cockroaches are exceptional gliders capable of flying short distances in warm weather.
The American cockroach prefers to live outside in the warmer months. Garden beds, behind the mulch, inside the outdoor BBQ, and outdoor entertainment furniture pieces are examples of warm and humid locations they prefer. These larger roaches may prefer to live and breed outside, but will invade your homes for food and water.
In their lifetime, females can generate up to 50 large egg capsules, each holding 12 to 16 eggs. They normally carry these for two days before dropping or glueing them to surfaces near food and water. The adult lifespan is 6-12 months, and nymphal development takes 6-12 months.
Adult American roaches may go for a month without food or water and up to three months without food. They prefer decaying organics to most other organic foods, including paper and clothing.
Brown Banded Cockroach (Supella longipalpa)
Brown-banded cockroaches are the cockroach world’s micro machines, measuring about 10-15 mm in length. They have a pale, glossy brown colour with very pale streaks running down the thorax and abdomen. These stripes may appear uneven or broken on nymphs and females, although they are usually visible. When viewed from above, nymphs and females are broad, while males are slender. The female’s wings are smaller, exposing the abdomen, whereas the nymphs’ wings are underdeveloped. They can fly, but only in extremely warm conditions.
They’re drawn to warmer buildings and appliances, hiding in ceilings and refrigerator motors. These cockroaches may leave tiny, dark droppings and cast skins on cabinets and shelves. They are regularly moved in furniture, luggage, and other household things, and in warm, humid circumstances, they can develop into persistent infestations. They are rarely seen during the day, preferring to conduct their business at night.
Female Brown Banded roaches produce approximately 14 egg capsules in their lifetime, each containing 10-18 eggs. They mature swiftly depending on the circumstances, reaching adulthood in 90 days if conditions are favourable. A brown-banded cockroach only lives for 130 to 315 days as an adult.
Brown Banded Roaches will eat almost anything but prefer starchy things like books and wallpaper paste. They have also been known to devour clothing items like nylon stockings.
Smoky Brown Cockroach (Periplaneta fuliginosa)
Smokey brown cockroaches are a smoky brown colour, as their names imply. They’re quite large, measuring 35-40 mm in length, with wings extending well beyond their bodies on average.
The Smoky Brown Roach likes to stay on the ground but can fly in warm weather with wings that overlap the body (male) or simply cover the abdomen (female). They’re nocturnal by nature and prefer to be outside in enclosed, warm, humid environments, such as sheds. They will, nevertheless, find their way inside your home in search of food.
Female Smoky Brown roaches lay 22-26 eggs in an egg casing in a dark place to hatch. They can produce up to 32 egg casings in a single life cycle.
Adults need 6-12 months to develop from juveniles. Females live an average of 218 days after reaching maturity, whereas males live an average of 215 days.
When water is accessible, it is not uncommon to see these insects drinking. While smoky brown cockroaches prefer decaying plant matter, these opportunistic feeders will eat almost anything that comes their way, including dead insects and faeces.
How to Deal with Cockroaches
Cockroaches are a common pest that can be found both indoors and out. Thorough inspection, reduction of supplies of food, water, and shelter, extensive use of insecticides or baits are all necessary for an effective pest management.
The first step in dealing with a cockroach infestation is to investigate. Locate the nest, which is usually in a dark, vibration-free environment. The German, Australian, and American cockroach are the most prevalent cockroaches you will discover in your home as they all enjoy warm, moist environments. This means their nests will often be found around plumbing systems in bathrooms and kitchens, within cupboard gaps, under drawers, and inside or underneath appliances.
Cockroach droppings may be visible around the nest’s location, or you can use your nose to sniff it out—most cockroach nests have a strong, nasty odour.
Leave Roach Infestation to Pest Police!
Because roaches are such a widespread pest problem in Melbourne, prevention only goes so far. The truth is that most homeowners will have to deal with a roach infestation at some point in their lives. While there are countless things you can do to keep cockroaches out of your house, nothing beats hiring expert exterminators like Pest Police.
Residential and commercial customers benefit from our high-quality pest inspection and control services. Our team of exterminators will help you permanently eliminate roaches from your properties. For additional information, contact us right away.