Generally two pairs of wings , although these may be reduced or even absent ; forewings have well developed veins and tend to be hardened , they overlap down the mid – dorsal line ; membranous hind wings are folded below forewings ; long whip – like , many – segmented antennae ; omnivorous , with mouth parts adapted for biting ; tarsi , 5 – segmented ; incomplete metamorphosis , with egg and nymph stages .
These are two main Species ( characteristics ) in UAE :
German Cockroach ( Blattella germanica ) .
Adult , 10-15mm long ; color , yellowish – brown with two longitudinal dark marks on pronotum ; wings well developed in both sexes ; can readily climb rough and polished vertical surfaces .
American Cockroach ( Periplaneta americana )
Adult , 28-44mm long ; colour , red – brown with yellow border around pronotum ; no yellow sub marginal stripes on forewings ; last segment of cerci , twice as long as wide .
Areas where found & Local Habitat .
Cockroaches infest commercial premises associated with the production or handling of food, as well as public buildings, domestic premises (such as apartment blocks), and labor camps. If present, they hide in cracks and crevices during the day around areas like sinks, drains, cookers, the backs of cupboards, and refrigerator motor compartments. Their preference lies in buildings with service ducts and complex plumbing installations. Infestations can occur through the introduction of egg cases or adult cockroaches via incoming laundry, raw materials, crates, packaging, or by entering buildings through routes like drains or refuse chutes.
Although occasionally found together, B. Germanica generally prefers warmer and humid environments, such as centrally heated buildings. On the other hand, P. Americana are tropical and sub-tropical species, but they can also be found in ports and shipping areas in temperate climates.
Sewerage Lines–
American cockroaches live in warm , dark , wet places , because they need to be near water . They are often found in sewers and basements , around pipes and drains
Hotels , Restaurants , Home
Cockroach problems are commonly found in restaurants . The massive amount of food , the never ending ordeal of keeping everything clean and abundant space for insects to hide and thrive makes it a wonder every restaurant doesn’t have an active cockroach population
Kitchens
The biggest pest problem in a kitchen is a cockroach infestation . Many people mistakenly believe that only ” dirty ” kitchens get cockroaches , but this is a myth . Every home or commercial kitchen has the potential to have a cockroach problem .
Labour Camp .
How to Prevent Cockroaches in your Residential .
Maintaining a high standard of hygiene plays a crucial role in controlling cockroaches. Preventing cockroaches from entering the home can be achieved by sealing entry points. When dealing with American cockroaches, it is important to address risks such as gaps around pipes, drains, and common walls with neighboring properties. To prevent German cockroaches, it is advisable to keep crumbs and food particles from accumulating in and around counters and cabinets in the kitchen.
Like with many pests, the most effective approach to control cockroaches involves keeping food and water inaccessible:
- Store food in containers or sealed plastic bags.
- Promptly clean up all garbage and spills.
- Remove food debris from under refrigerators and ovens.
- Wash used dishes immediately after meals.
- Take pet food, water, and litter trays indoors overnight.
- Use sealed bins for garbage disposal.
- Avoid leaving liquids in sinks or buckets overnight.
Detection and monitoring are important aspects of cockroach management. Initiating the process with a thorough visual inspection helps identify potential cockroach harborage sites. Continuous monitoring is essential to identify specific cockroach infestations in the area. This monitoring should be sustained even after treatment to assess the effectiveness of the management efforts in reducing the cockroach population.
The typical signs of a cockroach problem are:
Seeing live insects– cockroaches are nocturnal and hide during the day. You will most likely see them when turning on the light in the kitchen at night.
Dead insects.
Egg cases and cast skins-cockroaches shed their skin 5-8 times as they mature.
Droppings – cockroaches leave a dust of black droppings less than 1mm wide and of varying lengths.
Odor- established cockroach infestations produce an unpleasant, musty smell.
Damage – cockroaches will attack organic goods including leather and books.
Sample IPM( Integrated Pest Management ) Program for a Cockroach Infestation in a Home.
1. Use sticky traps to locate cockroach habitat (With Bait or Pheromones Tablets).
2. Lower the cockroach populations by vacuuming areas where traps indicate cockroaches are residing. Steam-clean infested kitchen equipment and appliances to remove grease if possible.
3. Initiate an education program for students, staff, custodians, and building maintenance personnel to gain cooperation.
4. Inspect all incoming items for cockroaches and their eggs.
5. Improve sanitation and waste management procedures to reduce cockroach food sources.
6. Reduce cockroach access to water and habitat by repairing water leaks, caulking cracks, and scheduling other building repairs.
7. If the previous activities have failed to reduce cockroach numbers, apply insecticidal dusts, baits, or gels in cracks and crevices in hard-to-clean areas.
8. Monitor weekly and fine-tune management methods as needed until the problems has been solved. Continue monitoring monthly or quarterly to ensure that sanitation measures are maintained and to detect any incipient buildup of cockroach numbers.
Cockroach Control Methods
Physical Controls.
- Mechanical Barriers. The roaches can travel up the outside of a building and enter through an open window, weep hole, or ventilation duct. Screening these openings will prevent them from using these entry points. The males are also attracted to lights at night. However, roaches are not generally a problem since they need high humidity to survive and usually die within buildings. Screens can also be placed behind grill covers, and over vents and floor drains to prevent cockroach entry.
- Vacuuming. A strong vacuum can be used to pick up live cockroaches, as well as their egg cases and droppings. A vacuum will greatly reduce the amount of cockroach debris that becomes airborne during cleaning. Airborne cockroach debris (fecal material, body parts, and cast skins) can cause allergic reactions in sensitive people. If the cockroach population is large, vacuuming is a way of quickly reducing the population. Once a large portion of the population has been eliminated, it is much easier to affect the remaining cockroaches with other treatment measures.
- Trapping (Sticky pheromones Trap). This is not a good option due to cockroach allergens. Although traps will often capture a number of cockroaches, in most situations trapping alone will not produce a sufficient degree of control.
Chemical Controls.
If the problem cannot be solved using nonchemical methods alone, integrating a pesticide into your management program may be necessary. In such cases, pesticides must be used in accordance with the approved label directions of Our Ministry. During pesticide applications, applicators should always wear protective gear.
When there is a need for insecticides, they should be applied as crack and crevice treatments or in the form of bait formulations. Crack and crevice treatment involves applying small amounts of chemicals directly into the cracks and crevices where insects hide or enter. This type of treatment is particularly effective against German cockroaches, as they spend the majority of their day concealed in dark cracks, crevices, and voids. It is important to avoid broadcast spraying of insecticides, as it significantly increases the risk of exposure and can contribute to cockroach resistance when the pesticide’s residual activity diminishes and cockroaches are exposed to sublethal doses. Whenever possible, this general treatment approach should be avoided.
If a broadcast spray becomes necessary, it is recommended to apply it when family members will not be present for a few days, following Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices. Spray formulation insecticides should not be used around furniture. However, plastic bait stations can be placed in and around computer equipment if cockroaches establish a harborage inside.