No one wants to come across one of these pests. It’s often a sign that more cockroaches are around, and they’ve already been busy inside your home.
These common pests prefer dark, moist places to hide and can potentially spread bacteria and diseases. Cockroaches are also fast and small, making them difficult to catch and trace. Read on to learn more about common types of cockroaches and how to get rid of them.
How To Identify a Cockroach
While there are many species of roaches, they all share some attributes that make them relatively easy to recognize. All of them have:
- Six legs
- Oval shaped, flat bodies
- Shiny black or reddish-brown color
- Threadlike antennae
- Fast movements
- Wings that lay flat against their backs (although not all fly)
Think you may have cockroaches in your home? Contact us today to see how we can help.
How Many Different Types of Roaches Are There?
There are over 4,500 cockroach species¹ worldwide and about 55 types of roaches in the USA. Thirty of those are considered pests, while other types appear beneficial in their habitats. There are four common types found in Las Vegas.
Cockroaches are highly resilient and difficult to kill. They can live without water for over a week, without food for a month, and even 45 minutes without air! They can survive extreme heat and cold and thrive on just about anything, including:
- Starches
- Sweets
- Greasy foods
- Meats
- Decayed plants or animals
They can even survive on things like books, glue, stamps, leather, fingernails, hair, soap, and more. They are not picky eaters, so they’ll likely find some tasty treats in even the cleanest home.
RELATED: 8 Reasons Why Cockroaches Are Attracted to Your Home
Common Types of House Roaches
There are six main cockroach species that plague homes in the United States. These include the American Cockroach, Oriental Cockroach, German Cockroach, Brown-banded cockroach, Smokey Brown Cockroach, and Australian Cockroach.
Here are some specific details about different types of roaches with pictures to help identify a pest that may be lurking in your home.
1. American Cockroach
The American cockroach is the largest species found in homes, including in Las Vegas. Reddish-brown to brown color and up to 53mm in length, both males and females have wings to glide and can fly short distances. They live up to two years and are likely to be found where food is present.
2. Brown-Banded Cockroach
These females have wings that are reddish to dark brown in color but are unable to fly. Brown-banded roach males have dark brown wings at the base, which lighten towards the wingtips and are another type of flying cockroaches. Both males and females have two light yellow stripes down their backs, live between three and 12 months, and can jump. You may see these in your Las Vegas home.
3. German Cockroach
These are the most commonly found species in Las Vegas, with a light brown color and two dark brown stripes behind the head. They grow to be 13-16mm long and live up to 12 months. They produce around 50 eggs in each egg case, which is more than any other species.
If you suspect you may have German cockroaches in your home, work with a professional cockroach control company before it’s too late. They reproduce at alarming rates, which can leave you with a home infestation before you know it!
4. Smoky Brown Cockroach
If you’re wondering what type of roaches fly, these cockroaches are strong fliers with wings extending beyond their bodies. They can grow up to 38mm long, are shiny black or mahogany-colored, and have extra long antennae. These roaches prefer warm, humid environments and like to be outside.
The smoky brown cockroach can accidentally enter homes by being carried in through a woodpile or boxes stored in the garage and will eat just about anything. Fortunately, these roaches do not call Las Vegas “home.”
5. Oriental Cockroach
This species is also known as the water bug or black beetle and can also be found in Las Vegas (although not as common as German cockroaches). It has a glossy black or dark brown color. The females can grow to be 32 mm long, while males are usually 25 mm long. They are not able to fly and only live about six months. They mainly feed on decaying organic matter such as those found in the kitchen garbage can.
6. Australian Cockroach
This species prefers humid climates but can tolerate warm temperatures as long as water is available. They look very similar to the American cockroach but are slightly smaller in size (23-35mm) with yellow streaks on the thorax and sides. They prefer a more plant-based diet and often reside around the perimeter of buildings. This type of cockroach is not found in Las Vegas.
Regardless of the types of roaches infesting your home, contact Fischer's Pest Control at (702) 815-7894 for help.
Need help with a roach infestation in Las Vegas? Contact us today for a free estimate.
Where Do Cockroaches Like To Hide in Las Vegas?
Cockroaches are nocturnal and like to hide in warm, moist places. Here are some common spots they may be found in Las Vegas homes and buildings:
- Bathrooms – Roaches are attracted to anywhere there is moisture. They will eat soap residue, toilet paper, tissue, skin flakes, or hair in bathrooms.
- Kitchens – You may find them in nooks in kitchen cabinets, around pipes, under sinks, dishwashers, stoves, and fridges where it may be warm. Even small appliances such as microwaves, coffee makers, toasters, and blenders may provide the warm, dark environment they prefer.
- Laundry Rooms – Roaches often live under sinks and near pipes that extend into a wall or behind washers and dryers where there is warmth.
- Basements – Look along the base and corners of a basement, in-floor cracks, or behind baseboards for these pests. They like to eat cardboard and paper, so check any areas where you may have storage or recycling.
- Drains – In warmer climates, look for cracked pipes, drains, or other entry points leading into your home. They eat garbage bits, so anything in the sink could serve as a food source.
How To Get Rid of Roaches
Unfortunately, if you find a cockroach living in your home, there’s likely more to be found. They lay egg cases (called oothecae) containing anywhere from 16-50 eggs!² These critters are most active at night, so you may not notice them until you have an infestation.
Natural Roach Killer
Natural remedies such as diatomaceous earth, baking soda, boric acid, borax, citrus, essential oil, or glue strips may kill cockroaches and deal with minor pest problems. However, the best solution is to get help from professional pest control as soon as you uncover one in your home, as it may be a sign of a bigger problem.
Don’t wait for an infestation to get out of control. Contact us today for fast and efficient pest control that fits your budget.
Sources:
¹Nuwer, Rachel. (11 December 2013). How Many Species of Cockroaches Plague Humanity? Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
²Hand, Jeffrey and Ascerno, Mark. (2019) Cockroaches. The University of Minnesota Extention. Retrieved 5 January 2022.