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Oriental Cockroach

Oriental cockroaches are often called water bugs because of their preference for dark, damp, and cool areas such as those under sinks and washing machines, and in damp basements.  This species, which is less wary and more sluggish than the others, of concern because it often travels through sewer pipes and lives on filth.

Adult Oriental cockroaches are about one inch in length.  Both male and female adults are very dark brown, nearly black; their bodies usually have a somewhat greasy sheen.  Females have small, functionless, rudimentary wing pads and broader, heavier bodies. Males have wings that cover only about three-quarters of their abdomen.  Males are apparently unable to fly.

Nymphs and adults have similar habits and are found with decaying organic matter indoors and out.  Indoors, Oriental cockroaches prefer dark, moist areas such as under porches, sewers, drains, crawl spaces, dark, damp basements, and floor drains.  They can be found outdoors in abandoned cisterns and water valve pits; in yards; beneath leaves; in bark mulch around shrubs, flowers, and foundations; in dumps, stone walls, and crawl spaces; and in garbage and trash dumps and trash chutes.  Both nymphs and adults are sluggish and are usually situated at or below ground level indoors.  They are seldom found on walls, in high cupboards, or in the upper floors of buildings.  At times large numbers occur in one great mass around leaks in the basement or crawl space areas of homes.  Oriental cockroaches are generally found outdoors during warm weather, but in periods of drought there may be considerable movement into structures, apparently in search of higher humidity.  They may enter the home in food packages and laundry, or merely come in under the door or through air ducts, garbage chutes, or vents.

Prevention Tips

To prevent Oriental cockroaches from infesting your space, vacuum often.

Keep a spotless kitchen.

Seal all entrances around utility pipes and ventilate crawl spaces to prevent moisture buildup.

Rinse cans and bottles before putting in trash and transfer garbage outdoors into roach-proof receptacles.

Inspect sacks, cartons and boxes, etc., brought into the home and destroy any roaches.