The German Cockroach: 10 Facts to Keep in Mind

Cockroach infestations are one of the most feared, and for good reason. Not only are roaches a gross sight to behold, they also contaminate surfaces and carry potentially dangerous pathogens and diseases. The German cockroach in particular is feared for their ability to breed at rapid rates, making it easy for them to quickly spread throughout an entire property. German roaches are most commonly found in homes, multi-family units, restaurants, food processing facilities, hotels, and more, making them a constant threat to all property owners.

In this blog post, the experts at Rentokil share 10 facts to keep in mind about the German cockroach.

German Cockroach Habits & Behaviors

Because German cockroaches are such a common problem in properties throughout Northern Utah and Southern Idaho, it’s important to learn their habits and behaviors. The top things to know about German cockroaches include:

1. German roaches can be identified by their pronotum (protective plate behind the head), which has two longitudinal dark stripes.
2. German cockroaches have an extremely quick rate of reproduction. They can quickly spread throughout a building.
3. The ootheca (egg case) of the German roach contains between 35–40 eggs, which take a month to hatch.
4. These roaches are most commonly found in residential and commercial kitchens or bathrooms.
5. German cockroaches typically prefer areas of high temperatures and high humidity.
6. They live indoors primarily. They are only found outdoors occasionally in warm weather.
7. German cockroaches can carry or transmit diseases and pathogens that may be dangerous to humans.
8. German cockroach infestations may cause severe asthmatic reactions in some people.
9. They are able to climb on smooth surfaces because they have a sticky pad on their feet.
10. German cockroaches prefer to stay hidden in dark areas. They are often found inside walls, behind cabinets, inside appliances, and other rarely accessed areas.

How to Prevent German Roach Infestations

If you want to avoid dealing with the frustrations of a German cockroach infestation, it’s important to be proactive about preventing them in the first place. As we all know, roaches are attracted to filth and clutter. The key to keeping them away, then, is to maintain a tidy property! To keep them out, make sure to keep all food in sealed containers and secure your garbage cans securely. Lastly, continually check on dark, undisturbed spots in your home or business for evidence of roach activity.

What to Do When you Have German Cockroaches

If you’ve done all you can to keep German roaches out of your property and have spotted them in your property regardless, it’s time to call the exterminators at Rentokil. Our team will thoroughly inspect your property for the roaches before coming up with a German roach removal plan suited to your needs. Our goal is to keep you roach free all year long!