Cockroaches at a Glance
Who: Cockroaches (Blattodea)
What: Insects that adapt to a wide variety of environments.
When: Year-round.
Where: World-wide, from tropical rain forests to suburban kitchens.
Prevention: Keep hygienic. Don’t leave out food, clean up messes and keep the sink clear.
The Cockroach
Of the 45000 or so known species of cockroaches, about 30 are associated with humans. While most cockroach species are quite content to stay out of your way (and out of your home), a few species are well known for simply being pests.
Habitat
Cockroaches live in a wide variety of environments around the world and are known to adapt well to new habitats. They typically prefer areas that are damp and moist, with a ready supply of food and shelter. This may be anything from your food closet and basement, to the flower garden outside your home or office. Species can either be nocturnal or diurnal and they are often caught inside scattering when the lights are turned on.
Cockroaches in Arkansas
The United States is home to several different cockroach species, but in Arkansas there are three species that you are most likely to encounter. They are the American cockroach, the German cockroach and the Smokeybrown cockroach.
American (Periplaneta americana) – measuring between one and two inches long, the American cockroach is a reddish-brown scavenger native to Africa that eats just about anything. They are considered aggressive and prefer warm, damp areas outside. Unlike other cockroach species, the American cockroach is good at flying.
German (Blattella germanica) – smaller light-brown species at about 5/8 of an inch long. They tend to be nocturnal and thrive around residential and commercial buildings. German cockroaches scavenge for food and can live up to a year.
Smokeybrown (Periplaneta fuliginosa) – typically between one and two inches long, these dark brown or black cockroaches prefer damp areas such as gutters or basements. Adults live about six months with females laying an average of 20 eggs each time.
