Learn How To Get Rid Of Roaches
Getting Rid Of Cockroaches:
Know Your Enemy!

© Copyright 2009 - GettingRidOfRoaches.net - All rights reserved

Americans typically deal with three species of cockroach: the German, the Oriental, and the American cockroach. Their names can be deceiving however, as the creeps are believed to have come from northeastern regions of Africa.

Cockroaches were not created to live along side human beings. Only one percent of all species are classified as pests. It is only because of human beings growth and intrusion into foreign territories and lands that we even encountered these insects. Cockroaches find it easy to travel from one to another by means similar to our own. It is very easy for a cockroach to stow away in luggage or shipments. These insects then find there way into our homes simply looking for food and shelter.

The German cockroach is the most common of them all. It’s often called ‘a human with 18 knees’ because it’s thriving wherever man lives, eating the same foods, sharing the same habitats. Measuring roughly a ½ an inch in length, this little bug is distinguishable due to its light tan or brown color with two distinctive dark bands running vertically along the top of its body. Although it has wings, this insect is unable to fly. But it will run like hell for two reasons: if it sees food or if it needs to hide from the bottom of a shoe. The German Cockroach is ‘well know’ among restaurant-owners and for a good reason. The creep is always looking for food and that makes a restaurant a cockroach heaven. But your own domestic kitchen will do as well.
German roaches are rarely seen outdoors. They hide during the day, closely packed in small cracks and crevices near food and water.
The German Cockroach is hard to get rid of because of the speed they reproduce.

The Oriental cockroach, also known as the "water bug", is larger than its German cousin measuring about one inch at maturity. This is considered to be the creep of all creeps, the filthiest of all house-infesting roaches. They love decaying organic matter and can be found under floors and inside walls but these creeps prefer damp basements and cellars. Other favorite hide outs are near leaky water pipes and beneath refrigerators and washing machines.
The oriental cockroach is very dark brown or black and only the male is capable of flight lengths of 2-3 meters, or 3-9 feet. The female of this species is wider than the male and has short wings that cannot sustain flight.

The American cockroach is the largest of the three species. Roughly 1 ½ inches long, this cockroach is incredibly swift moving and well equipped for flight. The American cockroach is believed to have immigrated from northeastern Africa as well, but had already established a strong foothold in southern United States by the time it had been properly named. American cockroaches are reddish-brown with yellow discoloration behind the head. American cockroaches typically do not invade and reside inside human dwellings, preferring to scavenge off the land as a means to survive. However, they can be found on occasion inside a residence, seeking shelter from the cold. They often invade from sewer systems. Grocery packages are also a favorite transport.