Description
| Size | 1/2 in. |
| Color | Males are brown and females are brown-black; both sexes have a light-colored band running across their wings. |
| Body Structure | Narrow, oval-shaped body with antennae and banded wings. |
| Characteristics | Females carry an egg capsule, holding up to 18 eggs, for 2-3 days and then deposit the capsule under a protective surface near food. Eggs can hatch anywhere from 30-100 days after being laid. Nymphs take anywhere from 3 to 9 months to develop into adults. The typical lifespan of a brown-banded cockroach is approximately 1 year. Also, unlike some other species, brown-banded roaches are capable of flight. |
| Habitat & Behavior | Brown-banded roaches are omnivorous scavengers and will eat anything from plant to animal material. They are largely nocturnal and prefer warm, dry locations as opposed to moist habitats. Brown-banded roaches often are found lurking around furniture, in cabinets or in closets. In fact, furnishings are a favorite place for females to deposit egg capsules. |
| Prevention & Treatment | Sealing cracks and crevices where roaches can enter your home is a good first step to preventing infestation. Seeing a single brown-banded cockroach may indicate that there is a larger infestation in your home. Do-it-yourself treatments, such as store-bought boric acid roach treatments or foggers, if applied incorrectly may be ineffective and/or pose a health risk to your household. If you suspect a cockroach infestation, it is important to contact a pest control professional who can identify the roach species and treat it accordingly. Find out more about roach elimination services. |
