Cockroaches

The American cockroaches one of the largest pest cockroach species and is commonly associated with drains, sewers and warm damp areas around buildings. WHERE AMERICAN COCKROACHES ARE FOUND American cockroaches are commonly found in roof voids, subfloors, drains and sewer systems. They are often associated with warm, damp areas and may enter buildings from outside through drains, pipes and gaps around foundations. GENERAL INFORMATION The American cockroach is one of the largest pest cockroach species and is found worldwide. It is often transported between locations by attaching its egg cases to food packaging, boxes and pallets, allowing it to spread easily through trad and transport. APPEARANCE The American cockroach is the largest of the common pest cockroaches. Adults are reddish brown in colour with a pale yellow border around the pronoun, which is the shield-like section behind the head. Adults have fully developed wings and can fly short distances, particularly during warm weather. HABITAT In warm climates American cockroach often lives outdoors, but in cooler conditions it may move indoors in each of warmth and moisture. When inside buildings they usually live in wall cavities, roof voids and subfloor areas rather than in living spaces. They are commonly associated with drains, sewers, grease traps, rubbish areas and damp basements. Infestations are often found in hospitals, bakeries, food stores, warehouses, factories and domestic homes. FOOD SOURCE American cockroaches prefer decaying matter but will also feed on human and animal food, paper products, book bindings and clothing. When water is available, adult cockroaches can survive for two to three months without food. MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS American cockroaches favour warm, moist and sheltered environments and may be associated with roof and wall voids, subfloors, drains, sewers, grease traps and garbage areas. Management should therefore focus on identifying these harbourage areas, reducing favourable environmental conditions where practical and applying professional treatment to relevant areas when required.

The Australian cockroach is a large outdoor cockroach commonly found in gardens and around buildings in warm climates. It usually lives outside but may enter homes or structures when searching for food, moisture or shelter. WHERE THEY ARE FOUND Australian cockroaches are normally found in gardens, around vegetation and in subfloor areas. They may also shelter in wall cavities, roof voids and other protected areas around buildings. GENERAL INFORMATION The Australian cockroach is commonly found in warm and subtropical regions. Although it mainly lives outdoors, it may occasionally enter buildings, particularly where food, moisture or shelter is available. APPEARANCE The Australian cockroach is a relatively large cockroach with a dark brown body and a distinct yellow marking on the pronotum, which is the shield-like section behind the head. The forewings also have clear yellow markings along the outer edges. BREEDING Female Australian cockroaches may produce up to 20 egg cases during their lifetime. Each egg case may contain up to 24 eggs and is either dropped or glued to a suitable surface. After hatching, the young cockroaches may take 6 to 12 months to develop into adults. Adult cockroaches live for approximately 4 to 8 months, meaning the total life span may range between 10 and 20 months. HABITAT Australian cockroaches prefer warm subtropical to tropical conditions and are usually found outdoors. They commonly live in greenhouses, under bark or leaf litter in gardens, and around wood piles. They may also be found in subfloor areas, wall cavities, roof voids and around utilities in factories or other buildings. FOOD SOURCE Australian cockroaches prefer food of plant origin but may also feed on a variety of organic materials found in their environment. MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS Australian cockroaches are predominantly associated with outdoor environments, including gardens, vegetation, leaf litter, bark and woodpiles, although they may also occur in subfloors, wall voids and roof voids. Management should consider outdoor harbourage, moisture and vegetation around the property as well as areas where cockroaches may be entering or sheltering within the building. Professional treatment may be appropriate where established activity is identified.

The Brown-banded cockroach is a small indoor cockroach that can live throughout many areas of a building. Unlike some other cockroach species, it does not require high moisture levels and is often found in warmer, drier locations inside homes and workplaces. WHERE THEY ARE FOUND Brown-banded cockroaches are usually found indoors and may hide in many different areas of a building. They can often be found in cupboards, wardrobes, cabinets, behind bookshelves, under furniture or behind wallpaper. GENERAL INFORMATION The Brown-banded cockroach is very active and may be found throughout a building rather than being limited to kitchen areas. Because it can live in a wide range of indoor locations, infestations may spread through many rooms if not properly controlled. APPEARANCE The Brown-banded cockroach is a relatively small cockroach. Adults are pale brown in colour with a very light band across the thorax and abdomen. Males have long wings that extend past the abdomen, while the female’s wings are shorter. BREEDING Female Brown-banded cockroaches produce egg cases that contain up to 18 eggs and may lay around 13 egg cases during their lifetime. After hatching, the young cockroaches usually take 2 to 4 months to develop into adults. Adult cockroaches may live for up to 6 months, giving the species a total life span of about 8 to 10 months. HABITAT Brown-banded cockroaches prefer warm indoor environments and are commonly found in homes, offices, hospitals, restaurants and storage areas. In domestic homes they may live in wardrobes, dressers, cabinets, behind bookshelves or under furniture. Unlike German cockroaches, their activity is usually scattered throughout a building rather than concentrated around kitchen areas. FOOD SOURCE Brown-banded cockroaches will eat a wide variety of food sources and organic materials that are available to them. MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS Brownbanded cockroaches can be distributed through many parts of a building rather than being concentrated around kitchens. Harbourage may occur in wardrobes, cabinets, furniture, drawers, behind bookshelves and other warm, sheltered locations. Management may therefore require inspection and treatment across a wider area of the building, together with attention to potential harbourage sites.

The German cockroach is the most common cockroach species found inside homes, restaurants and food preparation areas. Because of its small size and rapid breeding cycle, infestations can develop quickly if they are not properly controlled. This species prefers warm environments close to food and moisture and is often found hiding around kitchen appliances, cupboards and cracks or crevices inside buildings. WHERE THEY ARE FOUND German cockroaches are usually found inside buildings in warm areas close to food and moisture. They are commonly found around fridge motors, microwaves, toasters, ovens and other electrical appliances. They may also hide under sinks and cupboards, inside drawers and cabinets, and in cracks and crevices around kitchen areas. GENERAL INFORMATION The German cockroach is one of the most common cockroach species found worldwide because it lives closely with humans in their buildings. Its small size allows it to hide in tiny cracks and crevices and its rapid breeding ability allows populations to build up quickly. For this reason, control efforts usually need to be regular and ongoing to prevent infestations from becoming established. APPEARANCE The German cockroach is a relatively small cockroach. Adults are light amber brown in colour and have two dark longitudinal stripes on the pronotum, which is the shield like section behind the head. Adult cockroaches have wings but rarely fly and normally only use them to flutter to the ground if disturbed. BREEDING The German cockroach is the most fertile breeder of the common pest cockroaches. It takes about 40 days to develop from egg to adulthood. The female carries an egg case containing about 30 to 40 eggs until the young cockroaches are ready to hatch. HABITAT German cockroaches prefer environments that provide warmth, moisture and food. They usually hide in cracks and crevices around kitchens and food preparation areas during the day and become active at night. If they are seen during the day or outside kitchen areas it usually indicates that a large population is present. Infestations are common in restaurants, food outlets, hotels, hospitals, warehouses, food factories, schools, nursing homes and domestic kitchens. FOOD SOURCE German cockroaches will eat almost any organic material found in food preparation areas including crumbs, food residues and built up grease. If water is available adult cockroaches can survive for up to a month without food. MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS German cockroaches commonly establish in warm areas close to food and moisture, particularly kitchens and food-handling environments. Their small size allows them to harbour in narrow cracks and crevices around cupboards, sinks, drawers and appliances. Because German cockroaches reproduce rapidly, successful management requires careful identification of harbourage areas and targeted professional treatment. Monitoring and follow-up treatment may also be required where established infestations are present.

The Smoky Brown cockroach is a large outdoor cockroach commonly found around gardens and vegetation. It prefers warm environments and is most often associated with timber, leaf litter and outdoor structures around buildings. WHERE THEY ARE FOUND Smoky Brown cockroaches are normally found outdoors, particularly in timber fences, wood piles and garden areas. They may occasionally be seen around buildings where suitable shelter and moisture are available. GENERAL INFORMATION The Smoky Brown cockroach has a similar life cycle and behaviour to the American cockroach. It is mainly an outdoor species but may occasionally enter buildings when attracted by lights or searching for shelter. APPEARANCE The Smoky Brown cockroach is a relatively large cockroach. Adults are dark brown to almost black in colour and do not have the pale markings seen on some other cockroach species. They have fully developed wings and can fly short distances, particularly during warm weather, and are often attracted to lights at night. BREEDING Female Smoky Brown cockroaches produce egg cases containing up to 26 eggs and may lay around 20 egg cases during their lifetime. After hatching, the young cockroaches usually take between 6 and 12 months to develop into adults. Adults may live for 6 to 12 months, meaning the full life cycle is typically between one and two years. HABITAT The Smoky Brown cockroach is mainly an outdoor pest and rarely infests the living areas of buildings. It may sometimes be found in garages, sheds, roof voids, subfloor areas or around grease traps and drains. However, it is most commonly associated with gardens, greenhouses and plant nursery environments. FOOD SOURCE Smoky Brown cockroaches mainly feed on plant material and organic matter found in outdoor environments. MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS Smokybrown cockroaches are primarily associated with outdoor environments and may occur around gardens, vegetation and other sheltered areas. They may also be encountered in garages, sheds, roof voids, subfloors, drains and grease-trap areas. Management should consider outdoor harbourage and environmental conditions around the property as well as locations where cockroaches may be entering or sheltering around the building.

The Oriental cockroach is a medium-sized cockroach that prefers cooler, damp environments. It is commonly associated with drains, subfloors and moist outdoor areas, and is more frequently found in the cooler southern regions of Australia. WHERE THEY ARE FOUND Oriental cockroaches are normally found in dark, damp areas where moisture is present. They are often associated with drains, damp subfloors, basements and other sheltered areas around buildings. GENERAL INFORMATION The Oriental cockroach is considered a significant pest in many parts of the world and is particularly associated with damp environments around buildings. APPEARANCE The Oriental cockroach is a medium-sized cockroach that is dark brown to black in colour. Males have wings that cover most of the abdomen, while the female’s wings are much smaller. BREEDING Female Oriental cockroaches produce egg cases containing up to 16 eggs and may lay around 14 egg cases during their lifetime. After hatching, the young cockroaches may take between 6 and 18 months to develop into adults. Adult cockroaches usually live for 3 to 6 months, giving the species a total life cycle ranging from approximately 9 months to 2 years. HABITAT Oriental cockroaches prefer cooler climates and are often found in the southern regions of Australia. They are commonly found outdoors under leaf litter, bark and other organic material, as well as in damp subfloors and around drainage systems. FOOD SOURCE Oriental cockroaches feed on a variety of decaying organic matter. They may also feed on materials such as wallpaper paste, paper products and book bindings. MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS Oriental cockroaches favour cool, damp environments and may occur around drainage systems, damp subfloors and sheltered outdoor areas. Management should include identifying and, where practical, reducing excessive moisture, improving drainage and addressing suitable harbourage. Professional treatment may also be required where established cockroach activity is present.