The Laziness Of Cockroach Pests Make Them Difficult To Eliminate From Infested Homes

Cockroaches are one of the most ancient terrestrial organisms, and experts state that the earliest species were around ten times as large as today’s species. Cockroaches are notorious for being resilient to a variety of extreme conditions that would rapidly kill most other organisms, and the most pestiferous and common cockroach pest species have evolved a resistance to most insecticide formulations. Since cockroaches existed millions of years before humans, and will continue to exist long after humans become extinct, it’s no wonder the pests are so hard to control. Of the more than 4,000 documented cockroach species, about 25 percent have established a worldwide habitat, and surprisingly, only 12 species are known for thriving in close association with humans.

Many people have noticed that cockroaches are able to move quickly, but this should not give the impression that cockroaches are highly active insects like ants or termites, as cockroaches are generally lazy creatures. When they are not fleeing from an enemy, mainly humans, cockroach pests spend nearly all of their time hiding in dark and moist areas within homes, particularly within wall voids and other inaccessible indoor areas. In fact, cockroaches can thrive and reproduce comfortably in tiny indoor concealments that provide only 2 or 3 inches of room. The majority of cockroaches infesting a home remain within well-hidden harborages while a small number of select cockroaches enter open living spaces at night to gather food sources. Since most indoor cockroach pests reproduce and live out their lives entirely within concealed areas, sizable infestations can go unnoticed for long periods of time.

Some German cockroach infestations are not noticed by residents until the pests begin to appear in open living areas during the daytime. This only occurs in heavily infested homes where cockroaches are unable to secure hiding spaces that are not already occupied by other cockroach pests. Although American and Oriental cockroaches can establish sizable infestations within homes in New York state, these two species prefer to dwell outdoors, but the German and brown-banded species dwell primarily indoors. German and brown-banded cockroaches are both around ½ inch in length or slightly larger, and the former is generally a darker shade of brown than the latter. German cockroaches are responsible for the vast majority of all cockroach infestation within residential homes in New York state, while the much larger American cockroach is the most common cockroach pest found within commercial buildings.

Have you ever smelled cockroach odors within your home?