Jun 22, 2012 – Give Them A Place To Live
QUESTION:
I have noticed a couple of questions asking about American and Oriental cockroaches living inside. How is that possible with the living conditions not conducive for them to survive, at least for long periods of time?
ANSWER:
Perhaps it is because you are in dry Nevada that you would not consider the interior of a structure to offer respite to these large roaches, but in many regions of the U.S. and the world the humidity is much higher and these roaches will often find conditions indoors that are perfect for them. What is needed is the "triangle" of life for pests - food, moisture, harborage. Even in your arid region a large structure may have an elevator shaft, a basement, or some other lower area where things stay cooler and damper, and roaches that find their way in from the outside could survive there and move from that harborage to seek food. A restaurant may have a steamy kitchen or dishwashing area that provides the conditions needed for the roaches. I once identified roaches in a restaurant as Australian roaches, a species that needs very high moisture to survive. We traced their presence to the dishwashing room where the floors were constantly damp, the humidity high, and the roaches were hiding within the walls.
View past Ask Mr. Pest Control questions.
I have noticed a couple of questions asking about American and Oriental cockroaches living inside. How is that possible with the living conditions not conducive for them to survive, at least for long periods of time?
ANSWER:
Perhaps it is because you are in dry Nevada that you would not consider the interior of a structure to offer respite to these large roaches, but in many regions of the U.S. and the world the humidity is much higher and these roaches will often find conditions indoors that are perfect for them. What is needed is the "triangle" of life for pests - food, moisture, harborage. Even in your arid region a large structure may have an elevator shaft, a basement, or some other lower area where things stay cooler and damper, and roaches that find their way in from the outside could survive there and move from that harborage to seek food. A restaurant may have a steamy kitchen or dishwashing area that provides the conditions needed for the roaches. I once identified roaches in a restaurant as Australian roaches, a species that needs very high moisture to survive. We traced their presence to the dishwashing room where the floors were constantly damp, the humidity high, and the roaches were hiding within the walls.
These also are pretty mobile roaches that may live outdoors in damp landscape but move inside through available gaps to forage for food. This is why exclusion efforts should be part of the overall management effort for the large roach species. If the interior does not provide the necessary living arrangements for them they may come in, feed, and move back outside, so preventing their entry is critical.
View past Ask Mr. Pest Control questions.
