The most common bug associated with filth is the cockroach. We all hate finding roaches in our homes or offices. Believe it or not, most roach species avoid us! The animals that infiltrate our homes are notoriously hard to eradicate. Roach elimination is tough because it varies in area and species.
Wisconsin residents encounter five cockroach species. Only one of these species is natural, and it hates inside! Let’s learn with this article what roaches are most frequent in Wisconsin, and how you tell them apart.
Cockroach Identification
The Dictyopteran order of insects includes cockroaches, which have over 4,500 species worldwide. Only 30 of that astonishing number live near people. Medium-sized cockroaches have six legs and two body-length antennae. They have glossy exoskeletons like beetles and are deep dark, reddish-brown, or amber. Individual marks and traits are species-specific.
The Five Most Common Wisconsin Roaches
Wisconsin has five common cockroach species. Cockroaches are among the most resilient and invasive insects. People who joke that only roaches can survive nuclear winter are about right! Because they can survive in difficult environments and eat nearly everything, new species can always arise in your area. This section describes how to identify the top five species and where they are likely to be found.
Timber Cockroach
Wisconsin has only one native cockroach, the Pennsylvania wood cockroach, which is rarely found indoors. The average length is one inch, and this species loves rotting plants, firewood, or tree bark. The males are light brown and the females are darker brown. Female wood roaches have body-length wings, but only males can fly. Nighttime wood roaches hide from the light, like many species.
German Cockroach
The most common urban cockroach is the German. This species likes multi-level dwellings, food preparation, storage, and plumbing fixtures. German roaches are half-inch long and pale brown with two darker brown stripes near their head. These species also release a foul-smelling liquid that stains.
American Cockroach
One of the most prevalent North American roaches is the American. This species is up to two inches long with body-length wings and a reddish-brown body with a yellow band behind the head. Food preparation spaces on single floors are ideal for American roaches. The American cockroach can live for three years.
Oriental Cockroach
Cold temperatures and indoor and outdoor environments don’t bother the oriental cockroach. This species is a quarter-inch in length and rich brown, sometimes black. Many believe oriental roaches are the dirtiest. Both their preference for rubbish or sewage regions and their bad odor contribute to this. As adults, these roaches live 6 months, but as nymphs, they might live three years.
Brown-banded cockroach
The brown-banded cockroach is less frequent in Wisconsin than the four species mentioned but still abundant. Because it prefers temperatures exceeding 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Males of this half-inch species have long, slender amber bodies with darker brown banding. Females are spherical and rich brown with amber banding. Brown-banded cockroaches like electrical outlets, wall hangings, furniture, and clutter. The species also jump suddenly when startled.
Conclusion
While cockroaches are often associated with unclean environments, only a few of the 4,500 species are commonly found around humans. In Wisconsin, the wood cockroach is the sole native species, rarely invading indoors. Among the invasive species are the German, American, Oriental, and Brown-Banded cockroaches, each with distinct characteristics and preferences.