Cockroaches: What’s The Difference?

Hey there! Did you know three of the most common types of cockroaches could be lurking in houses around Australia? Let’s get to know them a little better.

Meet the Cockroaches

1. German Cockroach

These small insects are brown with two black stripes on their thorax. They are 1.3 to 1.6 cm long and have wings, but they don’t fly very well. They thrive in damp environments, such as kitchen cupboards and bathrooms.

2. Oriental Cockroach

These are also dark brown to black, but they’re bigger – they’re around 2.5 – 3 cm long. Their wings are useless for flying, so you won’t find any of them here! They do well in cooler, moist areas, such as in drains, sewers or basements.

3. American Cockroach

If you’re looking at a reddish-brown cockroach with a pale yellow border around their pronotum, you’ll have found the American cockroach, who prefer dark, damp, and quiet spaces.

Spotting an Infestation

Keep an eye out for these signs:

• Live Insects: Cockroaches are nocturnal, so you can notice them if you turn on the kitchen light in the middle of the night.

• Case Egg and Shed Skins: Cockroaches moult or leave behind their skin- 5-8 times as they mature.

• Droppings: Dust-like, black droppings, each less than one mm wide.

• Bad Smell: A musty odour might indicate you have some unwanted visitors.

• Damage: They will chew organic items such as leather and books.

Heads Up

German cockroaches have an affinity for hiding in electrical equipment. We’ve heard tales of them getting people into all kinds of trouble, from triggering fire alarms to chewing up the wiring around light fixtures. Not only is that an annoyance but can also pose a fire hazard!

Friendly Advice

Cockroaches are one of the most prevalent and least-loved pests out there. They also present a health risk because they can carry diseases such as salmonella and gastroenteritis, and may cause serious illness, particularly in homes with children, the elderly or those with compromised immune systems, also their droppings can trigger childhood asthma.

Roaches can reproduce fast, its better to take fast action. If you see German cockroaches, don’t wait; seek assistance ASAP! And while you might think store-bought sprays at least provide some relief, they usually do not completely address the problem. The longer you wait, it will take more time to eradicate, and bad infestations may require several treatments.

Keep in mind, the German cockroach reproduces like mad and soon discovers it’s not just your kitchen they want, but the rest of your house!

Ace Termite Treatment Kalamunda offers all pest control services in Kalamunda and surroundings. Feel free to contact us at (08) 6275 6540 or visit our website:

https://acetermitetreatment.com.au/