Brownbanded Cockroach

Brownbanded cockroaches can be detected by examining the premises after dark with a flashlight. During the day, probing hiding places with a wire will expose roaches.

Looks like

The brownbanded cockroach is about 1/2 inch long and is mostly dark reddish-brown with tan bands running across the body

Environment

They prefer to hide in warm, elevated areas near the ceiling, behind wall decorations and loose wallpaper, in closets, beneath or inside upholstered furniture, and in electrical appliances such as TV sets, stereos, radios, and toasters.

Usual location

They develop and live throughout the building, making control difficult. No room or furniture is immune to infestations, and one may find tiny, dark droppings and cast skins on cabinets and shelves. The roaches are commonly transported in furniture, luggage, and other items in houses and soon develop into annoying infestations under warm, humid conditions.

Diet

Feed on starchy materials and even non-food items like nylon stockings.

Life Cycle

Brownbanded cockroaches live about 200 days and a female can produce 320 young.

Health Risks

Brownbanded roaches can foul food, damage wallpaper and books, eat glue from furniture and produce an unpleasant odor. Some homeowners are allergic to roaches. The pests can contaminate food with certain bacterial diseases that result in food poisoning, dysentery, or diarrhea.