The St. George area is unlucky enough to have four cockroaches infesting its cracks and crevices daily. They are the American, Oriental, German, and Turkistan cockroaches. Luckily three out of the four are exterior roaches preferring yard clippings and mulch.
The American cockroach will reach 2 inches at full growth and can fly. However, their flight looks something like a drunken pilot with no concern for stick or throttle control; not the most graceful flight pattern you will admire in nature. The American cockroach’s primary diet is dead or dying organic material. Yard clipping, mulch, bark, fallen leaves, all of these items makes up the staple of American roaches diet. This diet is shared with the other three exterior roaches, the Oriental and the Turkistan. The major difference between the American and the other two roaches is their breeding potential. The American cockroach needs a full year to develop from its first instar (baby roach) through its final instar (adult roach). This is important in pest control because it can offer an opportunity to extend service coverage from monthly to bi-yearly in some cases. While they are the largest roach in St. George, in the opinion of the bug guy, this is the best roach to have. (Americas Below)
The Oriental cockroach will reach an inch or so and look like someone took black boot polish to them and polished’em up. They are shiny black and require a great deal of moisture. They predominantly live in irrigation control boxes and the sewer system. If you are like me and take your dog on evening walks you will be able to watch them climbing out of manholes after sundown. An interesting tid-bit about Oriental roaches in St. George is that they have undeveloped wings. They are called wing-pads and look like stunted wings which stopped growing halfway through development. In all actuality, you are watching the slow process of evolution unfold before your very eyes.
The Turkistan cockroach is the most prolific in St. George, Hurricane, and surrounding communities. Typically local home and business owners will call once the nymphs (juvenile roaches) are seen. Below is a great picture of a nymph and an adult. The nymphs are a deep red with a black rear end. They will have this look throughout their juvenile life. The yellowish tan roach is the full grown Turkistan cockroach and they too can fly…poorly. Unfortunately this roach has a very high breeding potential and is the primary reason for monthly or every-other month service plans.
The final roach is the German but we will be able to discuss thatmenace at a later date. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to ask us a question through the website or give us a call at 435-628-2700. Thank you for your time.