Cockroaches
German Cockroach (most common)
The German cockroach is the widest spread species in Ontario giving all other cockroaches a bad name. As adults they measure 10-15 mm, are yellowish/brown in colour with dark parallel bands. They feed mostly on food debris found in kitchens, pantries and appliances. They can also be found sometimes in bathrooms. Eggs are laid in cases with about 38 eggs per case. Females can produce up to 7 cases in a lifetime. The adult life span of the German cockroach is 125-150 days.
Brown Banded Cockroach
Often found in heated rooms with a temperature of 26 degrees Celsius the adult brown-banded cockroach is
10-14mm in length, brown in colour and the face and abdomen is a brown chestnut to black. Sometimes they can be found flying around lights. Females carry 16-18 eggs per case with about 14 cases in her lifetime. The adult lifespan is about 10 months. The brown-banded cockroach mostly feeds on book bindings and wall paper paste. This type of cockroach can be found in/around furniture, picture frames and bookshelves.
Oriental Cockroach
Oriental cockroaches measure 25mm, they are dark brown to almost black. The males front wing span covers ¾ of their abdomen. Females appear almost wingless. These cockroaches feed on decaying organic matter. They hid in damp, dark crevices near sewer pipes, basements, utility and service tunnels finding their way to basements, toilets, bathtubs, showers and laundry tubs. Female Oriental cockroaches lay 16 eggs per case and produce 8-14 cases in her lifetime, living up to 2 years.
American Cockroach
Measuring 30-40mm in length the American cockroach is shiny reddish brown with a yellow area of the pronotum. It is the largest in species size in Ontario and is also the longest living. Commonly found in grocery stores through produce shipping. Females lay 16 eggs per case and produce 10-15 cases in their 2-year life span. The American cockroach prefers a warm moist environment and is mostly found in and around hot water pipes close to human food debris, food storage, kitchens and produce.