Types of Cockroaches
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Cockroaches, a small order of insects (Blattodea) consisting of five or six families and approximately four thousand species, make up for their limited taxonomic status by ranking high on the pest status index.
Hardly a household around the world gets by without some sort of cockroach infestation at one time or another.
Most Blattodea species live in tropical environments, where they not only occupy residential areas, but they also occupy a variety of wood and water habitats.
Approximately twenty-five native and introduced species occur in the United States. Perhaps three species:
- German Cockroach (Blattella germanica)
- Oriental Cockroach (Blatta orientalis)
- American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana)
make the majority of residential pest and public health pest lists. Most areas around the United States also have one or two additional species known to cause problems.
Most research suggests that their proclivity to congregate in large numbers creates conditions for allergic reactions and asthma in human populations. While they are known to carry diseases, little research exists documenting the cockroach as a transmitter of diseases to humans.
Keeping households cockroach free begins by denying them food and water sources. Proper sanitation practices and plumbing maintenance serve as the best practices to prevent infestation. Wet basements, bathrooms and kitchens caused by leaky pipes, for example, serve as open invitations for cockroaches.
When necessary, a variety of low toxic cockroach baits and dusts have reached the market that effectively deal with established infestations.
© 2009. Patricia A. Michaels