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There are many different types of roaches found in New Jersey and the eastern coast of the United States. Species such as the German cockroach, American cockroach, brown-banded cockroach, oriental cockroach, mediterranean spotted cockroach, Surinam cockroach, and the Pennsylvania wood cockroach are seven of the most common found here.
Types of Roaches in New Jersey
Ever wonder about the different types of roaches in New Jersey? If you’re a Garden State resident, you know that thousands of insects enjoy your yard as much as you do. Many of these bugs are beneficial; however, some of them are nothing but pests. These creepy crawlers long to invade your home, and one that you don’t want to see in your domain is the dreaded cockroach.
Facts About Cockroaches
It’s been said that spiders spin their webs in the king’s castle, meaning that spiders and insects invade the rich and the poor. It doesn’t matter if you live in a multimillion-dollar condo on the Jersey Shore or a humble apartment in the city; many types of roaches are a threat. Knowing a little bit about these vile creatures may help you prevent or eradicate an infestation.
Have you ever turned on your bathroom light and saw a cockroach zoom across the floor to take cover? Be reassured that you’re not alone in this alarming dilemma. Archeologists have discovered crude drawings of various types of roaches in caves that are thousands of years old. So, our earliest ancestors fought unwelcome bug invasions too.
Entomologists believe that some types of roaches pre-date the evolution of human beings. They may be one of the oldest insect species on earth. Since they have adapted and survived the millennia, it’s no wonder why they are so hardy to this day.
Cousins by the Dozens
Cockroaches belong to an order of insects called Blattodea, a Latin word that means “fear of light.” It’s apparent when you flip on a light that all types of roaches run for their lives. They are distant cousins to another destructive home invader, the termite.
There are at least 4,500 types of roaches in the world. Fortunately, only 30 of them are notorious pests. Seven of these seem to prefer the climate and hospitality of New Jersey. It’s possible to have one or more species claim squatter’s rights in your home, and they are some of the most unwelcome guests.
If you can look at a live cockroach or a picture of one without being squeamish, you’ll notice its identifying features. Like other insects, all types of roaches’ bodies are divided into three sections: head, thorax, and abdomen.
They also have six legs that are appended from their thorax. While some species can fly, most have flightless wing buds. All types of roaches in New Jersey are insects, but they aren’t actual bugs like beetles and their relatives.
7 Common Types of Roaches in New Jersey
The types of roaches that infest homes can become a health threat to humans and pets. They carry several diseases like salmonella, and they can spoil thousands of dollars of food. Here are seven types of roaches in New Jersey that call the state home:
German Cockroach
It’s a good chance that if you spot a cockroach scurrying in your New Jersey home or business, it’s a German cockroach. These disgusting vermin are spread across the globe and are one of the most prominent types of roaches in America. Unlike some varieties, they prefer the warmth and comfort of human dwellings.
German cockroaches in New Jersey can grow up to five eighths of an inch as an adult. Their coloring ranges from golden to dark brown. During their lifespan between 100-200 days, females can lay up to 250 eggs. No wonder they can multiply and infest a home so quickly.
They are nocturnal and feast on any food that humans enjoy, tainting it with their germs, saliva, and fecal matter. You’ll usually see them around the kitchen, pantry, and bathroom. German cockroaches love to stay warm, so they are prone to nest in walls and behind appliances. These types of roaches love being around the coziness of your electric system, which provides ample heat and comfort.
American Cockroach
The American cockroach is one native species that fills you with hostility rather than pride. As their European cousins, American cockroaches are frequent pests that congregate anywhere people live. What makes them even grosser is that this species can often fly during summer’s heat and humidity. They share the same ravaging appetite as German cockroaches have, which means your kitchen is a smorgasbord for them.
Unlike other types of roaches, these cockroaches prefer dampness and water. American cockroaches often invade a home through sewers, faulty pipes, and drains. You can only imagine the untold filth they bring in on their feet and bodies.
These pests have a reddish-brown color and can live for up to two years. Further south, they’re often called palmetto bugs because they usually seek refuge under palmetto plants. They can put whatever cute name they like on them, but they are still a nasty roach.
Oriental Cockroach
As their name implies, these types of roaches are native to lands in the East, and they’ve migrated all over the world. Males can be up to one and one-fourth inches long, while females are usually one inch. Their bodies are almost black and can easily be mistaken for common water bugs. They can live to the ripe old age of one year.
Oriental cockroaches also prefer to find damp places in your home to live, such as around water pipes, drains, and basements. They don’t have the speed and agility as the other types of roaches, so they might be the ones you see more often when you flip on the lights.
Brown-Banded Cockroach
You might encounter this hungry pest in your kitchen or bathroom, as they share characteristics of several of the other roaches. The brown-banded cockroach is about the same size as its German cousin, but they have a different color variation that helps to distinguish them. They are usually a shade of light tan and have two dark ring colorations around their body. Males of this species are also flyers.
They seek warm areas by heaters and appliances and are less likely to hang around pipes and drains. Females can lay up to 210 eggs during their lives, which is usually about 200 days. At that rate, infestations can happen quickly, and the problem can be out of control before you even notice.
Mediterranean Spotted Cockroach
If you lived in New Jersey before 1948, you would have never seen this overseas pest. Entomologists first encountered these types of roaches in the Garden State this year, and it’s been problematic to inhabitants since that day. What’s worse is that both male and the female Mediterranean spotted cockroaches fly, and they can reproduce without traditional mating rituals.
They are a light, almost yellow color with tiny dots on their body. If there is anything positive about these types of roaches, it’s that most only live about 40 days. Also, they reproduce outdoors and aren’t likely to multiply once they fly into a house or building. Like moths, these types of roaches are attracted to light during the night for mating, which makes them easier to identify than most roaches. Typically cockroaches like darkness and avoid light.
Pennsylvania Wood Cockroach
Another anomaly of cockroaches found in New Jersey is the Pennsylvania wood cockroach. Males of the species are flyers, and they’re also attracted to nocturnal lights, as their Mediterranean spotted cousins. The males are usually about an inch long, while females measure about three-fourths of an inch. The females also are a darker red color to distinguish them from the males.
These types of roaches are generally found in woodpiles or any place around decaying plant matter. It’s their preferred place to mate, and they will rarely breed when they’re indoors. However, they can be a nuisance outside in your yard and foliage around your foundation. The good news is that if one makes it into your abode, they are highly unlikely to set up a home base. They prefer the great outdoors and are eager to get back outside.
Surinam Cockroaches
Like the Pennsylvania wood cockroach, this species is also predominantly an outdoor pest. Surinam types of roaches prefer warmer climates of the southern United States, but sadly, they’ve made their way into New Jersey. They are about the same size as their Pennsylvania cousins and are also drawn to vegetation.
Surinam cockroaches in New Jersey survive on plant material and lay their eggs in the ground, so they aren’t household pests. If you happen to see one of these dark brown types of roaches with short antennae, it will undoubtedly be a female. This species can lay eggs without mating and are often pests in gardens, nurseries, and patio plants.
What to Do with All Types of Roaches?
No matter which types of roaches you’re dealing with in New Jersey and beyond, none are welcome in your home. If you have spotted one of these appalling insects, you need to act fast to avoid an infestation. Professional extermination with Kapture Pest Control can be your answer to a vermin-free home.
Time is of the essence as these types of roaches can multiply rapidly. Don’t try to handle these overwhelming insects with over-the-counter sprays from the hardware store. For every roach you do encounter, there are always 100s more lurking in your walls that you don’t see. Therefore, professional assistance from Kapture Pest Control is always advised to manage all types of roaches in New Jersey.
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