Wherever man can survive, so can cockroaches. However, a human cannot survive without food for three months, go without oxygen for several hours, endure a nuclear war, and even live without its head for many days. – cockroaches are indeed more resilient than mammals.  These creature are an evolutionary masterpiece.

Cockroaches may become pests in homes, schools, restaurants, hospitals, warehouses, offices, and practically in any structure that has food preparation or storage areas.  In fact, a clever roach was found on Apollo XII, which landed on the moon.  Some cockroaches have been spotted on Russia’s MIR space station. 

Since roaches will eat anything, including feces, people, glue, hair, and concrete, they become carriers of many diseases. American cockroach, which comes into contact with sewers or pet droppings, may transmit Salmonella and Shigella food poisoning. German cockroaches are capable of transmitting disease-causing organisms such as Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, hepatitis virus, and coliform bacteria. They also have been implicated in the spread of dysentery and typhoid.   Indoor infestations of cockroaches are major culprits in childhood asthma.

Description
Cockroaches are medium-sized to large insects in the order Dictyoptera  They are broad, flattened insects with long antennae and a prominent, shield-shaped section behind the head called a pronotum. Some people confuse them with beetles, but adult cockroaches have membranous wings and lack the thick, hardened forewings of beetles. They are nocturnal and have a tendency to scatter when disturbed. Immature cockroaches, called nymphs, look like adults, but are smaller and do not have wings.

Habitat
Roaches are often found indoors in areas which are dark and damp.  Kitchens, bathrooms, basements, water heaters, cabinets, appliances, and tight gaps found in tile are favorite living quarters.

Common Cockroaches
Although there are approximately 3,500 species in the world, there are basically four types of cockroaches found in Tennessee.  The German and Brownbanded cockroaches inhabit buildings, whereas the Oriental, Smokybrown, and American cockroaches usually live outdoors or in masonry enclosures away from buildings, only occasionally invading buildings themselves.

The German Cockroach is the most common indoor species, especially in apartments and restaurants. They prefer food preparation areas, kitchens, and bathrooms because they prefer warm (70° to 75°F), humid areas that are close to food and water. Severe infestations may spread to other parts of buildings. This species reproduces the fastest of the common pest cockroaches: a single female and her offspring can produce over 30,000 individuals in a year.

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The American Cockroach prefers warm and humid environments, usually with temperatures in excess of 82°F. Under the right conditions, they readily live outdoors and are common pests in zoos and animal kennels. They are also common in sewers, steam tunnels, and masonry storm drains. Occasionally they forage from sewers and other areas into building, usually the first floor. A female and her offspring can produce over 800 cockroaches in one year.

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The Brownbanded Cockroach is not as common as the German cockroach in Tennessee. This species seeks out areas that are very warm most of the time, preferring temperatures of about 80°F.  Favorite locations include near the warm electrical components of appliances such as radios, televisions, and refrigerators. Brownbanded cockroaches prefer starchy food - e.g., glue on stamps and envelopes.  They also infest animal-rearing facilities, kitchens, and hospitals. Adult males sometimes fly when disturbed, but females do not fly. Each female and her offspring are capable of producing over 600 cockroaches in one year.

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The Oriental Cockroachis sometimes referred to as a water bug or black beetle. These roaches live in dark, damp places like water drains, woodpiles, basements, garages, trash cans, and damp areas under houses. They are more likely to occur in homes surrounded by vegetation – i.e. ivy, ground cover, and dense shrubs.  Areas where pets are fed is another common area. Oriental roaches prefer cooler temperatures than the other species and populations of this species often build to large numbers in masonry enclosures and water meter boxes. Each female and her offspring can produce nearly 200 cockroaches in one year.

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The Smokybrown Cockroach is usually found in decorative plantings and planter boxes, woodpiles, garages, and water meter boxes. They sometimes invade homes, taking refuge in areas such as the attic. Smokybrown cockroaches prefer the upper parts of buildings; they also may live under shingles or siding and sometimes get into trees, shrubs, and other vegetation during summer months. These roaches are less prevalent in Tennessee.

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