10 Facts About the German Cockroach

German cockroaches are one of the most common infestations in Atlanta GA - Active Pest ControlGerman cockroaches are the most abundant type of roach in the nation. German roaches are the fastest reproducing roach species, which is why they’re the most common type to infest homes and businesses. These cockroach infestations are typical in restaurants, hotels, nursing homes, and more, making it important to know how to identify this pest.

The experts at Active Pest Control share German cockroach facts to know in order to prevent them in your Atlanta GA or Knoxville TN home.

10 German Cockroach Facts

If you get a roach infestation, there’s a likely chance German roaches are the culprit. Some of the main things to know about German cockroaches include:

  1. German cockroaches can carry salmonella and other diseases.
  2. The pronotum (protective plate behind the head) on the German cockroach has two longitudinal dark stripes. This helps to identify them.
  3. The ootheca (egg case) of the German cockroach contains between 35–40 eggs, which take one month to hatch.
  4. German cockroaches have an extraordinary rate of reproduction. One female cockroach and her offspring can theoretically produce hundreds of thousands of offspring a year!
  5. A German cockroach takes from six weeks to six months to reach maturity.
  6. These cockroaches prefer areas of high temperatures and high humidity.
  7. They are able to climb on smooth surfaces because they have a sticky pad on their feet; this sticky pad is called an arolium.
  8. German cockroaches prefer to spend their lives hidden and protected. One sighting of a roach can mean many more are hidden inside walls, behind cabinets, inside appliances, and more.
  9. They regularly spread to new areas in a serious infestation.
  10. Cockroach skins have been tied back to causing severe asthmatic reactions in some people.

German Cockroach Prevention Tips

German cockroaches are infamous for eating pretty much anything they can find. Preventing them from infesting your home requires you to be vigilant about preventative pest control. To keep German cockroaches out of your Atlanta GA home, make sure to keep all food in sealed containers, secure your garbage securely, and store pet food in sealed containers with tight-fitting lids. Most importantly, properly clean your space on a regular basis, eliminate clutter, and be wary of carrying in old items before inspecting them.

German Roach Control

If you’re dealing with a German cockroach infestation, it’s crucial to enlist the help of a professional cockroach exterminator as soon as possible. German cockroaches aren’t just difficult to control, they can be dangerous, too! At Active Pest Control, we know how to implement cockroach control and prevention to keep you safe from German cockroaches year-round.

The Journey Of The German Cockroach

If you want to understand German cockroaches you must first ask yourself the question: Are French fries called French fries in France? It may seem strange but follow the logic. The French don’t recognize French fries as a French food. They call it Pommes Frites which is translated ‘fried potatoes’ in English. We know, boring, right? But, there is something to be learned here. Just because we have given this food a name that has the word French in it, doesn’t mean it actually comes from France. The same can be said about the German cockroach. Just because it has the word German in it doesn’t mean it came from Germany. In fact, in Germany, the German cockroach (Blattella germanica) has a different name. They call it the Russian cockroach. No doubt that thrills the Russians to no end. But, the truth is, those roaches probably came from somewhere in Asia by way of Russia. They certainly didn’t originate from Germany. That much we know for sure. So, when you see these nasty little tan insects racing across your wall at top speed or climbing around in your pantry, don’t blame those poor Germans. Don’t blame the Russians either. You really can’t blame any country in the world for having these dirty little bugs around. Here are some reasons why.

  • Cockroaches have been living with humans since the dawn of time. They love us because we provide the things they need: Food for their bellies, water to keep them hydrated, and a nice warm place to protect them from the cold–which they do not like at all. It isn’t filth that causes these pests to spread. So, it really isn’t the fault of any human that these pests are invading homes in the United States.
  • Cockroaches are a hitchhiking bug. It isn’t like the Germans filled a boat with a million cockroaches and ran them over to our country. Roaches get into bags, luggage, food crates, boxes, clothing, and a whole host of other things that humans like to move around. When people travel or move food goods, these pests spread.
  • Cockroaches are prolific breeders. Have you ever heard the term, “breeding like rabbits?” Cockroaches laugh from the belly when they hear that phrase. Roaches make babies like crazy. So, you can’t blame anyone that we now have these roaches living in America. All it takes is one roach to start a thriving population of thousands.

Okay. You probably get the point by now. These filthy insects are not the fault of the Germans, or any other people group on the planet. They are resilient creatures that are highly motivated to live where humans live and feed off what humans feed on. If you have German cockroaches in your Rome, Georgia, home, we can help. At Active Pest Control we have industry-leading residential pest control plans that are effective and affordable. Help stop the spread of German cockroaches.