Brown-banded Cockroaches in Puerto Rico
The name “brown-banded” cockroach comes from the pronounced bands of color across the wings of adults and bodies of nymphs. In North America, the brown-banded cockroach is thought to be present in most states and lives in buildings that maintain relatively high temperatures. This cockroach is similar to the German cockroach with its small size and body shape, but can be distinguished by its lack of two dark stripes.
The brown-banded cockroach is a obligatory domestic roach, meaning they don’t really live outdoors and rely on the actions of humans to survive. This is why they are so commonly seen in San Juan and Ponce neighborhoods.
Brown-banded Cockroach Habitat
Brown-banded cockroaches prefer warmth and tend to be found up and away from the floor in closets or in heat-generating appliances. They also often inhabit furniture. The brown-banded cockroach is sometimes referred to as the “furniture cockroach” because it is distributed evenly throughout households, including non-food locations, such as bedrooms, under chairs and tables, and behind pictures and other objects on walls.
Brown-banded cockroaches are good climbers and can be active at night and during the day. Females seek out warm, dark places where they can attach their yellowish-brown egg capsules, and prefer walls, ceilings, tables, bedding or furniture. Brown-banded cockroaches feed on a variety of materials including human food, starches, dyes, glue, books, stamps and clothing.
Brown-banded Cockroach Behaviors, Threats or Dangers
These roaches will try to avoid contact with people. They are not aggressive and will rarely bite. Brown-banded roaches reproduce at an alarming rate and one female can produce up to 600 young in her lifetime. Brown-banded cockroaches are known to spread at least 33 different kinds of bacteria, making them a concern for any homeowner. Foraging cockroaches can be vectors of disease, depositing germs or bacteria in areas they inhabit and causing asthma attacks in some people sensitive to cockroach allergens. E. coli and Salmonella are both commonly spread by brown-banded cockroaches and can cause gastroenteritis and diarrhea.
If you suspect a brown-banded cockroach infestation, contact a professional cockroach exterminator for help.
Need help with Brown-banded Cockroach control?
We'll call you! Leave your information below.
