If you live in Florida, you may encounter different kinds of roaches in your home. And while roaches are a big nuisance to many homeowners, they are unfortunately, a fact of life. Here are some of the most common roaches you may find in your Florida home.
Smoky Brown Cockroach
This is a large roach that can grow up to 1.5 inches long. It has a shiny dark brown or black color and long wings that cover its entire body. It prefers to live outdoors in moist and shady areas, such as under mulch, leaf litter, or tree bark. However, it can also enter homes through cracks, vents, or gaps around doors and windows. The smoky brown cockroach feeds on various organic materials, including plants, fruits, garbage, and animal feces. It can also transmit diseases and cause allergies.
American Cockroach
This is another large roach that can reach up to 2 inches long. It has a reddish-brown color with a light yellowish sunburst design behind its head. The American cockroach also has long wings that enable it to glide short distances. It is one of the most widespread and adaptable roaches in the world. It can live in sewers, drains, basements, crawl spaces, attics, and kitchens. It can eat almost anything, including paper, leather, glue, hair, and dead insects. It is also known to carry bacteria, fungi, and parasites that can cause diseases.
German Cockroach
This is a small roach that measures about half an inch long. It has a light brown color with two dark stripes running parallel down its back. It does not have fully developed wings and cannot fly. It is the most common and troublesome roach in homes and businesses. The German cockroach likes to hide in warm and humid places, such as behind appliances, under sinks, in cabinets, and in crevices. It feeds on crumbs, spills, grease, and other food sources. It can contaminate food and utensils with its droppings, saliva, and body parts. These roaches also cause allergic reactions and asthma attacks for those prone to bad air quality.
Brown-Banded Cockroach
This is another small roach that measures about half an inch long. It has a light brown color with dark bands across its wings and abdomen. Fully developed males have wings but rarely fly . They prefer to live in dry and warm areas, such as on ceilings, walls, furniture, closets, and electrical devices. They feed on starches, glue, paper, fabrics, and cosmetics. It can also damage books, clothing, wallpaper, and paintings.
These are some of the common roaches you may find in your Florida home. They are not only annoying but also harmful to your health and property. If you are having issues with a roach infestation and aren’t sure how to alleviate these issues, contact your local pest control professionals for assistance. Don’t let your home be run by these creepy crawlers this fall!
