Jun 11, 2012 – Out of Sight, Still There
QUESTION:
Do cockroaches in the desert Southwest states burrow into the ground?
ANSWER:
The cockroaches comprise a very large group of species in North America. We tend to think of them in terms of the pest species that invade our structures and often set up their own homes inside, such as German, American, Oriental. But, there are many other species, and some of these are native species that have adapted well to living in the conditions in their chosen environment. The desert species have adapted to living with very little moisture, but still need to hide in darkness and stay out of sight, and for this they may very well burrow into the soil. I have found some light colored species myself in the Mojave Desert, hiding in the sandy soils around the base of plants, or under fallen plant materials resting on the soil.
View past Ask Mr. Pest Control questions.
Do cockroaches in the desert Southwest states burrow into the ground?
ANSWER:
The cockroaches comprise a very large group of species in North America. We tend to think of them in terms of the pest species that invade our structures and often set up their own homes inside, such as German, American, Oriental. But, there are many other species, and some of these are native species that have adapted well to living in the conditions in their chosen environment. The desert species have adapted to living with very little moisture, but still need to hide in darkness and stay out of sight, and for this they may very well burrow into the soil. I have found some light colored species myself in the Mojave Desert, hiding in the sandy soils around the base of plants, or under fallen plant materials resting on the soil.
So, yes, it is very possible that you have some regional native species that may be discovered when someone uncovers their hiding places. You are going to have far fewer problems with the large exotic species such as American and Oriental, living in the landscape outside structures there in Las Vegas. They have such a high requirement for moisture that the dry climate is just too harsh for them. This is not to say there will not be any of them, as they nicely adapt to what we offer, such as underground passages like storm drain systems and sewers. But, they just will not do as well as they might in the wetter, more humid southeastern parts of the U.S.
Another species that has managed to enter and continue to live in the U.S. is the Surinam Cockroach, and this is more common along the southeastern states to Texas as well, but found now and then inside structures in other parts of the country. This is probably a native of South America, but travels to new places in the soil of plants, and I have seen it in California, although rarely. It prefers to burrow in the soil to hide during the daylight hours, and you might find this in the soil of interior plants or in commercial interiorscapes.
View past Ask Mr. Pest Control questions.
